Hello JC. I'm so sorry that you have to deal with this.
It is scary and especially so when you dont really know/ understand what is happening. It is so easy for our minds to take us to horrible places and to imagine the worst. My advice is to wait until you have seen the surgeon, then you will be clearer as to what is going on and what the plan is.
I would also recommend that you get a second opinion before you commit to any surgery. This is best done at a Comprehensive Cancer Center ( CCC ). These centres have a multidisciplinary approach and your case is discussed by a tumour board before a treatment consensus is agreed. These centres see many many patients with your type of cancer and research has proven that they get the best outcomes for their patients.
Keep us posted. We are here to help and support you.
Tammy

Caregiver/advocate to Husband Kris age 59@ diagnosis
DX Dec '10 SCC BOT T4aN2bM0 HPV+ve.Cisplatin x3 35 IMRT.
PET 6/11 clear.
R) level 2-4 neck dissection 8/1/11 to remove residual node - necrotic with NED
Feb '12 Ca back.. 3/8/12 total glossectomy/laryngectomy/bilat neck dissection/partial pharyngectomy etc. clear margins. All nodes negative for disease. PEG in.
March 2017 - 5 years disease free. Woohoo!