Carol in RH: I have to agree with Rosie. I had the radiation and chemo (cisplatin) treatments and then surgery which was the recommended treatment based on a study which was in progress at that time. In fact, they wanted me to be a part of the study until noticing that my tonsilectomy disqualified me from participating. They went ahead with the treatment, though, with the best indicated results to that time in the study, which was rad & chemo then surgery after the tumor was reduced in size. After my surgery, the pathology report showed that the cancer had been completely destroyed. There was no cancer left in any of the lymph nodes after surgery. The rad/chemo had killed it all and I could have forgone the surgery. But I wanted the nodes removed completely so there was no chance of a recurrance from that location. I have since heard somewhere that the rad/chemo then surgery regimen is the newest preferred treatment for neck tumors. So it is a good idea to have both in my opinion.