My husband also had tonsil cancer that went to three nodes. He had a radical neck dissection to remove node as well as his tonsil and tumor. This doctor felt this was Dan's best bet at beating this. After he healed he had radiation with 3 rounds of Chemo.
I guess every doctor has their way and all patients are of course different....Dan did have his mandiblectomy (spelling wrong I am sure) so they would get the tumor and tonsil out in one piece do to wear it was located.
It has been 3 years and 8 months, he had his latest CT scan last week and we find out results this week. Dan said he wanted to be hit with it all at once and be done with it
Good luck to you