Hi guys. I saw ENT etc yesterday. I spent the whole day meeting with different docs, specialists. They all went away and convened and came back and told me what will happen. I have surgery on the 12 September. Will have part of my tongue removed, then tongue flap (docs here call it free flap) from my wrist. I am having my lymph nodes removed from the left of my neck. They are getting to my tongue through my neck underneath my jaw. Will have all the usual treatment with that, trach, etc. They are thinking radiation will be done. I have been told to have this cancer so young, it usually is an aggresive type. My question is: If it is aggresive, should I even consider not having radiation. Should I insist they do radiation? I know it is a hellish time having radiation, but from your experiences, should I just go the whole hog and get it all done? I know it may be a silly question - but I have only met one other person here in NZ who has had this cancer (they are 47 y o) I am young and otherwise healthy and feel I can handle the agressive treatment. I dont want to have to be told in years time it is coming back and have radiation then. Docs (here in NZ) are perplexed as to why I have it so young. My paternal grandmother died of oral cancer in her 60's. I dont have any information about her experiences. My maternal grandmother died of liver cancer. My aunt has had several lip cancers removed, my mother has to have mamograms every few months, but no worries yet. My uncle died of lung cancer in his early 40's. So you can see my family history. I dont expect any huge responses from this...just a yay or a nay to radiation :p Take care everyone. Thank you for sharing your thoughts.