Hi Tina,
It's too soon to freak out. Everyone responds differently to treatment. My skin only got a mild sunburn. There was blistering inside my mouth but that didn't happen for 3 or 4 weeks. It was the worst in the weeks post treatment. Most of us do go into depression - it's a normal side effect, but not usually until post Tx.

At least the surgeon came out and gave you the decision to make. I am confused - was he the one at the CCC or was the CCC recommending RT/chemo? I doubt that she jumped 2 stages in 3 weeks. Sometimes they really can't accurately stage it without surgical exploration or lymph node removal and biopsy. Tumors grow at the same rate as normal tissues. They estimated that mine was 2 years old when they finally Dx'd it. It was 2 months from Dx to the beginning of Tx.

Vanity is one issue - staying alive is another. Save your strength for the fight.