Cathy, give the COH people a shot at helping you, at least for a second opinion. In my case, which is very different from yours, the doctors told me I would have no problem recovering from surgery, but I would live with the effects of radiation forever.

I'm not saying this to scare you about radiation. It may be the very best way to go for your situation. I'm suggesting that second, and third opinions are worth every bit of effort they take.

Cathy, I too would urge you to get several opinions on your best course of treatments. If I could have done surgery alone It would have been a snap compared to radiation. Radiation sounds nice and conveniant but compared to the surgery it was considerably more challenging (and the long term effects can be a real pain).

My comments here are NOT to influence you away or towards either treatment. Just do whatever gives you the best outcome as per the experts (and don't worry if that includes some changes in the way you look). Squamous cell is not a cancer to fool with. That is why you should have more doctors give their opinion.

I wish you well.