Hi John, and welcome!

I am a newbie here myself and have almost the same cancer as you do (mine is thought to be T2N1), on the same side, but definitely HPV+. I will have my wisdom teeth out in two days and start RAD in 2-3 weeks, so everything very similar to your situation.

I can not offer any advice as I am still learning about everything involved but can certainly offer support as I am in a very similar boat.

I hope you get tested for HPV fairly soon. From what I understand,SCCs positive for HPV have better prognosis and respond to treatment better as well.

Best of luck with everything!

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