Dee,I believe your being there for your MOM is as vital to her recovery as a team of doctors is. If you don't have the book "Chicken Soup for the Surviving Soul" find it and read it with your MOM.
Speaking personally here, I have tried to learn all I could about H&N cancer since my husband's diagnosis and have finally concluded that I can't understand in 3 or 4 months what it has taken the specialists yrs of schooling to understand. You said above that your MOM has a good team working with her. You are gonna need to put your faith in them, listen well, ask questions when you need to and Be there when your MOM needs you the most. The folks here will support you as best we can. Amy