HI Pookie -
I just wanted to add our experience. When my husband was first diagnosed back in '02, he also had a neck dissection, but there was no cancer in any nodes, so it was a unanimous decision not to undergo radiation/chemo. I DO remember them saying, depending on staging of the cancer once surgically removed, that even finding cancer in up to one node, if the cancer is contained and small, rads MIGHT NOT be recommended. He has had 3 recurrences, but because he is monitored so closely, they catch them early and they are surgically removed. His last one on his lip was in situ and may have been sun damage, not really related to the cheek and gum cancers he had before. He is doing well. Good luck on your decision making process. Warmly, JaneP