We know that statistically, at the time of diagnosis, 28% of stage one and two oral cancers have an occult met to the cervical nodes of the neck which cannot be seen by conventional scanning technologies until it actually grows. This is from peer reviewed published papers, so the doctor is statistically right. The real question is do you feel lucky? 70% of the people could essentially get away without a neck dissection or radiation to the cervical nodes. The fact is that no one can tell you if you are in that 70%. For me this was a non-issue since I had bilateral cervical node mets at the time of my diagnosis, and I was way down the pike. This is a decision that you should make based on what you know, not the doctor. You have to decide if you want to know for sure, or you want to take the 70% chance that everything is OK. Just take a look at how many recurrences we have on this board alone. In all likelihood, many "recurrences" are not actually that, but the original cancer cells that were a non visible (occult) micro metastasis that weren't treated - but a year later they have prospered to the point where they are big enough to be seen on a CT or MRI. Many patients, while having radiation to the primary tumor also get neck radiation at the same time. IMRT radiation is making this even more popular as the ability to map the primary and then apply additional radiation to the paths of known progression and cervical nodes which can receive lesser and more targeted therapeutic doses of radiation prophylacticly, without the horrendous side effects that those of us that got blasted to the max are dealt. This doesn't give you an answer but a question. Perhaps a discussion with another doctor to balance your input and opinions would be in order.