Let me give you some advice - surgery is a fairly easy do. Hopefully they will remove your nodes as a precautionary measure. Even if none show on a scan that doesn't mean there isn't microscopic cancer there. After that depending on a your path results you may have to have rads and chemo this totally blows and I am being kind - but with this type of cancer caution can cost you I'd you try to skimp on treatment. If they tell you do it - do it. Sometimes people manage to get by without rads and chemo - even a neck dissection - only to face a recurrence. HPV related cancers (base of tongue- tonsil) tend to be a whole different deal as the respond well to rads and chemo - but if your cancer is a non HPV cancer throwing the book at it the first time out can only serve to help you. Even if they do tell you they got it all - no further treatment needed, get to know what's normal for your neck and mouth and keep a close eye on it, hugs and best of luck.