There is no straightforward answer for this. Sometimes radiation and/or chemo are given in advance of surgery to shrink the tumor and present smaller margins for the surgery.

Radiation, after surgery, can damage the flap if one is in place. It also "bakes" all of the area that has just started healing.

It's really all about having a discussion with the team about the risks and benefits of the different treatment protocols and which one you have the highest degree of confidence in.

I my case, I opted for RT and Chemo based on the consensus of my team with "salvage surgery" as an option if need be.

I did have 2 reoccurences not long after the initial one. Just had the ENT visit a few days ago and he didn't see anything excpet that raw dead jawbone. Thanks all and gotta thank my Angels too.

What many don't understand about cancers, in general, is that they send out "tentacles" (like an octopus) in search of blood supplies. That's why the clear margin thing is such as issue and clear margins don't absolutely gaurantee that the cancer is totally gone, so in advanced cancers, stage II and up RT and chemo are used as a prophylactic measure.

Most cancers, (like mine) remain asymptomatic, until they become large enough to press against other organs. So pain isn't neccessarily a cancer indicator in itself. More then likely, it's thrush, an infection or some other cause. Which is perfectly plausible considering that the immune system typically crashes post Tx.

First and foremost...don't beat yourself up about your decisions...it's really pointless as what is is.

I had rads/chemo first to shrink my tumors and then had them surgically removed as well as reconstruction. It's worked out so far for me as I'm still here, but everyone responds differently to treatments and there is no gaurantee that it won't recurr as we've seen many times on these boards. What will be will be and we just have to deal with what comes when it comes.

Anyway, keep your chin up

Eric