Welcome to OCF, Craig! You certainly have one difficult decision to make! In the years Ive been a member of OCF, Ive seen others in the same situation. Some have only had surgery while others opted to get rads. Im sorry but I do not remember which members were in that situation or what the long term outcome was. This type of decision carries with it worrying and anxiety no matter what choice you make. You will still worry and think "what if" which has no positive outcome.

One thing that may help you decide is if your cancer location was base of tongue or tonsil areas that was caused by HPV+. Patients who have their cancer caused by HPV generally fare better and have fewer recurrences. Talk this over with your doc if this fits your situation. You should also consider your age, the younger you are the easier it can be on you. Another thing that may help is if you would go for a second opinion prior to deciding. If you are able to get into a comprehensive cancer center (CCC) where a team based approach puts all the specialists on the same page that would enable you to hear what the whole team recommends.

Reading thru the main OCF section may help you understand everything a little better and make it easier to make your decision. Ive included a link to that and also to the lists of top hospitals and CCCs.

Main OCF Site, Understanding section

List of Cancer Centers

US News Best Hospitals List