"Lilt":
Best wishes with your upcoming procedure. Your head is probably spinning with all kinds of thoughts at a time like this. I understand-- I've been through it myself. I went through the whole deal after diagnosis in April 06 when the lump in my right neck turned out to be SCCA.
During the subsequent "exploratory" procedure the docs removed my tonsils as a precaution, but they didn't find the primary tumor where they expected it to be (base of tongue) Instead they found a pea-sized tumor in my right tonsil. Rather than waiting to recover from the tonsilectomy and oral surgery to remove a couple of my molars before having a radical neck dissection, we decided to begin IMRT and chemo ASAP.
I chose to have a chemo port and PEG from the beginning-- I knew things would be difficult and I figured it would be better to have them put in before I really felt bad. Glad I did-- they turned out to be a real help.
After 7 weeks of that "fun" and 2 months recovery, I finally had my neck surgery in Oct 06. I've been "clean" 19 months.
So, if you have any questions or just need a first-person perspective I'll be glad to help if I can.
BTW- this is the first time I've ever posted anything on line. Sorry if I've run on too long, but I tend to be "chatty".
God Bless You and your family.