Hello @tomczyfe. You have had good responses from others who have had cancer similar to yours. My head and neck cancer was ear origin so I'm not much help for you, but I did have select neck dissection at the same time as my temporal bone resection to remove the tumor. Radiation with chemo started 5 weeks later. I just wanted to add that you might benefit from a speech therapist who can provide exercises to possibly speed up your voice recovery. And also consider a mental health therapist to help you resolve your feelings about your surgery and the loss of sleep worrying. Large cancer centers or their associated assistance groups could provide you with a contact. My husband has dealt with multiple complications from his bladder removal due to bladder cancer and the first of those was because we listened to the doctor and chose one route over the other. Many surgeries and procedures later and the acceptance of his decision, the important fact is freedom from cancer. We can deal with all the other issues as they arise if the cancer is gone.
Our new normal is often not easy to live with but we are living and we must make the best of it. Set yourself some short term goals and celebrate as you reach them. One day 15-20 years from now you too may be giving advice to new patients. Hang in there and know it will get easier.