First off when the cancer is also in a lymph node as well it usually indicates a more advanced staging than originally thought. Tongue cancer, by its very nature, is more difficult to treat and very aggressive. If it were me I would hit it with all they've got in the arsenal.

Three years ago you probably would have ended up with a recurrence that would kill you. So now you have to choose nasty side effects or early death - is it really a choice?

Side effects vary all over the map. Most people here speak of the worst case. Some have driven themselves to therapy every day and continued working. The type of radiation is crucial - IF you are a candidate for IMRT, it will vastly improve your QOL issues afterwards.