Mica, I had tonsil cancer as well. Initially had a tonsilectomy, then rad/chemo, then modified radical neck dissection. Had a similar week to the one you are having in that I questioned whether the surgery was necessary. Especially given what the doctor said as a possible side effect being loss of use of the right arm. He said that even as a surgeon he would have the surgery and learn to operate left handed. I thought about it for a week and even thought about only removing 4 of the 5 lymph nodes (composed of about 35 lymph glands). What made me decide to have the surgery was imagining how I would feel if I had a recurrance and hadn't had the surgery. I would always wonder if it was due to not having the lymph nodes removed. I wanted to everything I could do to beat the disease and not ever look back and say "If only I had ..." This way, if I have a recurrance, I can always tell myself that I did everything I could do to kill this disease. Consider how you would feel if you don't have the surgery and something happens.

As far as the post op situation, the surgery was no big deal at all. The tonsilectomy was much worse, the rad was the worst, the neck disection and chemo was about the same. I am having some post surgical issues with range of motion of neck and shoulder, am in physical theropy, also, but a small price to pay for the clear conscience of having done all I could do to make sure no recurrance happened. And to get that report of clear pathology report and clear CT scans at first post treatment scan. I would always recommend the surgery, but you have to make that decision. Good luck and I will pray for guidance for you.