Hello again,
And thanks again for all the info and support. Apologies for the typos/missed words in my previous post: my English is pretty good (or at least I would like to believe so smile ) but my typing is not.

David, I believe the main reason they are removing the lymph nodes is that it would be the only way to tell if the cancer has spread there, as PET was not clear. When discussing possible radiation followup, it was also mentioned that the size and the location of the tumor was such that the radiation dose and extent would be much greater if it were not to be removed.

T, that is reassuring to hear.

I am off to my pre-op tests. Thanks again everyone!

36, female, left tonsil HPV+ SCC, T2N1
8/28/13 SCC in left tonsil
9/12/13 surgery:TORS and selective neck dissection (levels II-IV), 23 nodes removed
9/18/13 post surgery biopsy: 2mm clear margins, a 7mm lymph node positive in level IV, no ECL
10/28/13 rad begins, 30 treatments, tomotherapy
12/09/13 radiation ends!
2/10/14 papillary thyroid cancer
2/26/14 PET shows clear neck other than thyroid cancer, but with high uptake in an ovarian cyst
2/27/14 thyroidectomy
3/5/14 pelvic ultrasound