Hello everybody

thank you very much for your prompt and extensive replies. I feel stronger with your support.

Just came back from the meeting with my cancer board an New York Eye and Ear hospital. My insurance doesn't cover MSKCC and neither does my income, but NYEE is a very reputable institution too. They know it all about the stuff above the shoulders.
I'm very confident with my surgeon and radiation oncologist. They both were trained/worked at MSKCC for a long time.
My problem is, that both of them offer the same outcome probabilities, which are quite good, with either treatment protocol. I have to choose.

one way is surgery (14 hours, free flap, unilateral neck dessection for lymph nodes removal, cutting through lower jaw bone). Seven days in hospital, which is only 15 min from my home. Based on surgery findings unilateral RT might or might not be needed.

Second way - unilateral RT for 6-8 weeks

Both doctors say that I am in the "gray area", where both protocols are legitimate. Of cource if it was them each would choose his own specialty.

I'm just a patient. How can I make my choise.
(I am leening towards radiation, because I feel I'll be more in control.)

I'm going for second opinion to Yale next Monday.

Any thoughts? Thank you!