Brett,
So sorry to hear your news. My husband had STage IV BOT/larynx as well. Having had rad 10 years prior he needed to have the surgery as 1st line of treatment, He had total glossectomy and partial laryngectomy, which left his vocal cords but removed epiglottis. So he can speak and they think he'll be able to swallow liquids (thin and thick). Is partial laryngectomy an option for you?
Doreen

Stage IV scc base of tongue/larynx
Total glossectomy/partial laryngectomy/radical neck dissection 4/05 followed by chemo and rad. Tonsillar Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma 1996(cured and not related)