Dear Sharlee -
I have to add our 2 cents worth to your decision making, although like the others mentioned, your physicians have to be your primary authorities. My husband has had 3 oral cancers, but radiation was not pushed for any, by surgeons or radiologists. His were T1s with N0 with neck dissection following first surgery in 2002. He has since had 2 more pop up, all in cheek and gum area, all removed surgically, with clear margins and well-differentiated. He's lost 3 teeth in the processes and had his jaw shaved to be sure cancer wasn't in bone. Now, we have no idea if he had rads after first diagnosis, that he would have had the recurrences, but his radiologist's opinion was that another oral cancer would have occured, regardless. His latest scans and tests have all been clear and good, so we are praying that's it. He has/had leukoplakia, so we think something (like metal in his fillings/crowns?) MAY have triggered a reaction in the leukoplakia, but we may never know that for sure. We do know that most of his gold/alloy crowns/fillings are now gone.
Hope this helps you. If you have any questions, just email me. Warmly, JaneP