Is your husband having radiotherapy too? I would say that with surgery and radiotherapy you would need a few months off work although I have heard of people working through treatment, would you believe. After surgery alone you can feel quite good quite quickly but in my case (back when I was working as a substitute teacher) it took me a while to get my confidence back to return to the workforce. Every occupation will be a bit different. I remember the radiation oncologist say 7 months recovery for surgery and radiotherapy.

1996, ovarian cancer surgery + cisplatin and taxol.
September, 2007, SCC of left lateral tongue. Excision.
October, 2009 recurrence in scar tissue, T1NOMO. Free flap surgery from left wrist - neck dissection. 63 year old New Zealander. No chemo, no RT.
February, 2014. New primary in left buccal mucosa. Marginal mandibulectomy, neck dissection, right arm free forearm flap. T1N0M0 but third occurrence and some areas of concern: RT started 8 April and finished 19 May.