I could have had the surgery (Stage 2-3 squamous cell) after the chemoradiation, but I chose not to: I am 72, my husband and I are living our best life, and I just did not want a year taken out of my life, and his. Having the surgery does not guarantee one will stay cancer free, and for many, the quality of life is not there afterward. I am now 1 7 months away from finishing the chemoradiation, have a PET scan and ultrasound endosocopy w biopsies of each third every quarter, and, so far, no sign of recurrence. Shortly after the decision to turn down the surgery, we booked a 20 day cruise from Lima to Buenos Aires, which we just completed. We were gone almost a month, enjoying Lima before boarding our ship, and then a few days in Buenos Aires when off the ship. It was the trip of a lifetime. My next round of tests will late April. Optimistic. That is my personal decision.