Meeting with my radiologist two days prior to my surgery I asked the question if I can skip the surgery to remove my tumor that came back after incomplete primary tumor removal and just begin the radiation to remove it instead. She told me they always like to remove the tumor surgically if possible. She said they can learn more by removing it. They can study the depth and size and if it started to spread from the one side of the mouth to the center or over center. Knowing this they can concentrate on the areas needed to be treated. Also, by using the radiation to remove it they might have to adjust the radiation dosage higher to do so which is risky to other areas in the oral cavity. With this surgery much more of my tongue was removed than the first time.