Ashley, he should go for the radiation. I was treated at Dana-Farber last year. They have an excellent alternative therapy department--The Zakim Center---right in the building where you can get acupuncture, reiki, and massage therapy to help with side effects. I took full advantage of all alternate therapies that my insurance company would cover. If your insurance doesn't cover these therapies, they are available for a lower rate than you would pay outside the hospital.
As Jeff said, head and neck cancers are paricularly sensitive to radiation.