Hi Frank, we are a case of HPV positive who have had a recurrence. Kris was then treated with surgery - salvage surgery, which was quite brutal. But a year later he is alive and well. A recurrence is not a death sentence.
I think your mind is getting away from you though. You have not yet had a biopsy or even a scan. So you do not yet even know that you do in fact have a new cancer.
If this is a cancer, it is in a different location from your last diagnosis, so would be a completely new field for radiation - if that is indeed required.
I certainly hope you have a NED/NAD . But if not, believe me, it can be well treated and you will still live a good life.
Tammy

Caregiver/advocate to Husband Kris age 59@ diagnosis
DX Dec '10 SCC BOT T4aN2bM0 HPV+ve.Cisplatin x3 35 IMRT.
PET 6/11 clear.
R) level 2-4 neck dissection 8/1/11 to remove residual node - necrotic with NED
Feb '12 Ca back.. 3/8/12 total glossectomy/laryngectomy/bilat neck dissection/partial pharyngectomy etc. clear margins. All nodes negative for disease. PEG in.
March 2017 - 5 years disease free. Woohoo!