MIA -- I think you've already decided to head to MDA but here is my story -- I had a growth just above my collar bone on my right side in 05. I was told cancer is a spectrum and, while I didn't have risk of it spreading throughout my body, it was locally aggressive and 'cancer like' and they were concerned about it spreading to my spine and brachial plexus. My doctors in Austin wanted to go in and do very invasive surgery and remove the tumor and a bunch of healthy tissue around it. They told me the nerve damage would likely result it in my not being able to move my limbs on my right side. I went to MDA and they said that was bullshit. One of the top head and neck surgeons in the world (a longhorn) handled my surgery and I had no detrimental effects on my movement. After surgery one of the top radoncs in the world created a radiation plan for me. I did radiation (daily I think) for 6 weeks (at MDA) and then went back monthly, then 3 times a year, then 2 twice a year for the next 4 or 5 years. I have been fine since getting the call clear in 2011 or so.