Hello @big123 and welcome. This certainly isn't something to have in your life plans at your age but here you are. As a patient, not a doctor, there has been a lot of success with drugs such as Keytruda in place of radiation with HPV +16 variant SSC. We know that radiation therapy has had an excellent track record in stopping or holding off SSC but you are correct in the assumption that there will likely be damage both short and long term from radiation. Ask around if drugs might be a better option. Second opinions here can be a life(style) saver.
If radiation is the only option, the side effects can be worked out over time usually. For me it was the only option twenty years ago, yet I still fly airplanes, ride horses, play a bugle, laugh, cry, live life. It's not the end, just a really bad bump in the road.
If you have any questions as you go along, there are a lot of good folks here who can help you out. Courage!