Surgery Scheduled...........anxious!!

Postal59
Postal59 Member Posts: 8
in Head and Neck Cancer #1

My husband has 3 different kinds of cancer, colon cancer that is now in his lungs, prostate cancer, and was diagnosed with small cell neck cancer in his neck last November. Primary was never found but possibly "hiding" in tonsil. Only has one lymph node on left side of neck that grew extremely fast to 4.6cm. Had chemo and radiation and shrunk to 2.5. Now scheduled for surgery to remove the tumor. He is 65 years old and very active as a mechanic, racecar builder, and golfer. My biggest concern was the possibility of limited use of his shoulder after surgery, but after all of the posts I have read here, I wonder if that should be the least of our concerns. He had no bad side effects after the radiation and chemo. Has no problems swallowing or eating. He does have a constant tickle in his throat, and needs to keep something to drink handy. I see a lot of other problems people are talking about having and it all sounds so scary. However, this surgery still seems to be the best route to take. Just wondering if my husband will have a good quality of life afterwards. His other cancers have been held at bay by peiodic chemo treatments and are slow growing. If anyone else has had the surgery he has to have with only the one tumor/lymph node removed, I would love to hear about your experience.

Comments

  • BeenThereDoneThat
    BeenThereDoneThat Member Posts: 33
    #2
    Fore!!!

    Dear 59, I had radical neck dissection, chemo, and radiation in 2004 for neck tumors. I also had an 'unknown primary'. I am still here. Trust in the doctors. Sounds like he is in good hands with you around!

    As for golf, I was still able to play. I stink....but I stunk before the surgery!

    Take care. Sendin prayers and positive thoughts your way.

  • Postal59
    Postal59 Member Posts: 8
    #3
    BeenThereDoneThat said:

    Fore!!!

    Dear 59, I had radical neck dissection, chemo, and radiation in 2004 for neck tumors. I also had an 'unknown primary'. I am still here. Trust in the doctors. Sounds like he is in good hands with you around!

    As for golf, I was still able to play. I stink....but I stunk before the surgery!

    Take care. Sendin prayers and positive thoughts your way.

    Thank You!

    Thanks for your response, as well as prayers and positive thoughts. Glad you are doing so well and  I find your success very encouraging! If not for having GOD on our side, there's no way we would have made it this far!! I too, will be praying for your continued wellness!

     

  • bebo12249
    bebo12249 Member Posts: 181 Member
    #4
    i had tonsil and lymp node

    i had tonsil and lymp node removal. Interference with shoulder movement is somewhat unusual but it happened in my case. After 6-10 months it resolved and my golf game is back to normal. Your husband my not experience any shoulder problems at all.. goog luck.

  • Postal59
    Postal59 Member Posts: 8
    #5
    bebo12249 said:

    i had tonsil and lymp node

    i had tonsil and lymp node removal. Interference with shoulder movement is somewhat unusual but it happened in my case. After 6-10 months it resolved and my golf game is back to normal. Your husband my not experience any shoulder problems at all.. goog luck.

    Encouraging!

    Thanks so much for your response. They may remove his tonsil too, not sure yet. But if they feel thats where the cancer can hide, I sure hope they do. I know there are no guarantees but he is somewhat encouraged hearing of other people's success.

  • CivilMatt
    CivilMatt Member Posts: 4,722 Member
    #6
    Postal59 said:

    Encouraging!

    Thanks so much for your response. They may remove his tonsil too, not sure yet. But if they feel thats where the cancer can hide, I sure hope they do. I know there are no guarantees but he is somewhat encouraged hearing of other people's success.

    Welcome. You have had enough, "NO CANCER FOR YOU".

    Postal59,

    Welcome to the H&N forum, where your life went down three cancer avenues.   I am sorry about that; you have just been through a bummer deluxe.

    I am just a one time (better  be, hope to high heaven), Stage IVa, SCC, BOT, 1 lymph node, HPV+ (surgery, radiation & Erbitux).  I have been clean and NED for 6+ years and so far so good.

    I had the surgery on my tongue and I had a Jugular Vein Dissection to untangle and remove that dirty rotten body invader which messed up my life.  (Messed up are two strong words, but far from ruined and closer to speed bump). The surgery was a breeze and I healed up quickly and had virtually no pain.

    I wish your husband a good ride (better than the norm), it sounds like he deserves it.

    Matt

     

  • Postal59
    Postal59 Member Posts: 8
    #7
    CivilMatt said:

    Welcome. You have had enough, "NO CANCER FOR YOU".

    Postal59,

    Welcome to the H&N forum, where your life went down three cancer avenues.   I am sorry about that; you have just been through a bummer deluxe.

    I am just a one time (better  be, hope to high heaven), Stage IVa, SCC, BOT, 1 lymph node, HPV+ (surgery, radiation & Erbitux).  I have been clean and NED for 6+ years and so far so good.

    I had the surgery on my tongue and I had a Jugular Vein Dissection to untangle and remove that dirty rotten body invader which messed up my life.  (Messed up are two strong words, but far from ruined and closer to speed bump). The surgery was a breeze and I healed up quickly and had virtually no pain.

    I wish your husband a good ride (better than the norm), it sounds like he deserves it.

    Matt

     

    Thank YOU!

    Thanks so much for sharing your experience, and for wishing us luck! Hoping for the best!!! This forum is a blessing!

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