Roger --

It sounds as if you were first seen by a local doctor who has recommended what sounds like fairly serious surgery and radiation. You then went to Cancer Treatment Centers of America in Illinois, which has NO head and neck specialists on its staff, based on the information provided on its website. (None of the other CTCA facilities have head and neck specialists either, according to the website info.)

This area of the body is involved in many diverse functions -- eating, talking and breathing, for starters. You need to be evaluated by a TEAM of doctors who deal ONLY with this disease. Call the IU cancer center -- the sooner, the better.

All the best --

Leslie