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mokus
mokus Member Posts: 63 Member
in Head and Neck Cancer #1

I had the dissection of left adenoids couple months ago and things been going well.  Gaining weight and strength.  Able to eat adequately, but...

 

suddenly my whole neck is swelling up all around.  Not huge swelling but like a single rope of swelling all under my chin from side to side with no pain, but the numbness that came with surgery on left side of my face has not abated but has also spread.  I guess that I have, in fact, developed some pain when swallowing over the past few days but only when throat is dry.

 

Guess I gonna be going back under the knife...Undecided

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  • wmc
    wmc Member Posts: 1,804
    #2
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    Maybe not just yet.....

    You had a neck dissection which removed lymph nods. That might just be all it is. Swelling from the lymph finding a new way to drain. It is a very elaborate systemand that just might be what the swelling is. First always let your doctor's know of any changes. It is always best to let them say it's nothing, or come in and we'll tale a look. So many have swelling from neck dissection. I just got lucky and never had any.  Not sure what it is but get with your doctor, and let us know. 

    Thoughts and prayers always.

    Bill

  • mokus
    mokus Member Posts: 63 Member
    #3
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    wmc said:

    Maybe not just yet.....

    You had a neck dissection which removed lymph nods. That might just be all it is. Swelling from the lymph finding a new way to drain. It is a very elaborate systemand that just might be what the swelling is. First always let your doctor's know of any changes. It is always best to let them say it's nothing, or come in and we'll tale a look. So many have swelling from neck dissection. I just got lucky and never had any.  Not sure what it is but get with your doctor, and let us know. 

    Thoughts and prayers always.

    Bill

    TYVM Bill.  I have a scheduled PET and Oncology visit tomorrow so I will get the low down and post it here

  • phrannie51
    phrannie51 Member Posts: 4,716
    #4
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    I'm feeling the same way as Bill....

    ...that after the neck dissection, the lymph nodes have to find another way to drain....and they haven't found a perfect route yet....in other words lymphodema.  I had it for several weeks after treatment, and every once in a while I can feel it starting to swell now....tho not even close to what it once was. 

    I don't think you'll be going under the knife again....I don't.  I think they will show you how to massage the fluid out from under your chin.

    p

     

  • phrannie51
    phrannie51 Member Posts: 4,716
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    mokus said:

    TYVM Bill.  I have a scheduled PET and Oncology visit tomorrow so I will get the low down and post it here

    I'll bet money your PET scan is

    free and clear.....you better come back and let us know!!!

    p

  • yensid683
    yensid683 Member Posts: 349
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    one other area to evaluate

    I had a neck dissection in early October of '21 with the attendant lymphatic drainage issues and swelling.  Fast forward to Thanksgiving in 2012 and I developed cellulitis.  It started similar to what you're describing, swelling to the point that it looked like I was smuggling tennis balls in my neck, and it didn't really have any pain until it really got going.

    your's may be different, but it could be an area to review

  • Hondo
    Hondo Member Posts: 6,636 Member
    #7
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    Hi mokus

     

    The swelling could be a lot of things being you just had treatment a few months ago, wait and see what your doctor says and go from there.

     

    Tim

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