Can you remove lymph nodes in neck area without radical dissection?

ricklevans
ricklevans Member Posts: 16
edited March 2023 in Head and Neck Cancer #1
I just spoke to a friend at work who's husband has hodgkin cancer. She told me had had lymph nodes removed from his neck and he was in and out of the hospital. I have two lymph nodes that may need to be removed, can they remove them without radical dissection? Is this possible?

Comments

  • galeh
    galeh Member Posts: 3
    #2
    neck dissection
    I sure don't know everything about it but I know they and do what they call modified neck disection. Probably miss a couple days work, be in the hospital overnight, if they do nothing but take out a couple nodesl, but if there is a reason to take them out, they probably do more.I wish you the best of luck. If you have cancer in them, they will likely do more.
  • MLC53
    MLC53 Member Posts: 109
    #3
    I was diagnosed with SCC of the left tonsil in the spring of '07. There were two lymph nodes involved on the left side of my neck. My cancer team decided to just do radiation and chemo for seven weeks without any surgery at all. It has been 20 months since my treatments ended. I have had two PET scans since then and the results have shown no signs of cancer. In my case the lymph nodes were zapped (removed) without surgery. Thank God! Good luck to you!
  • ricklevans
    ricklevans Member Posts: 16
    #4
    MLC53 said:

    I was diagnosed with SCC of the left tonsil in the spring of '07. There were two lymph nodes involved on the left side of my neck. My cancer team decided to just do radiation and chemo for seven weeks without any surgery at all. It has been 20 months since my treatments ended. I have had two PET scans since then and the results have shown no signs of cancer. In my case the lymph nodes were zapped (removed) without surgery. Thank God! Good luck to you!

    thank you

    thank you
  • Stainless
    Stainless Member Posts: 4 *
    #5

    I thought I just had cancer on base of tongue but looking at scans and asked if my lymph nodes were affected. I thought the Mass was pushing out on them. Oh yeah, they are too. I said PET Scan showed no spread. Well cancer in neck rarely spreads he tells me and tumor on tongue is receding good. He seems to be less concerned of lymph nodes on sides of neck. Ask questions and be your own advocate. Radiologist said there is 60% chance this will work and you will have to have tongue removed and live on feeding tube if not (read shock). I read about robotic surgery Does anyone have experience with any of this?

  • wbcgaruss
    wbcgaruss Member Posts: 2,482 Member
    #6

    Stainless, can you give us a basic story from the beginning? From what you have written it looks like you already have had scans and some treatment. Like where was your original cancer and what stage is it and is it isolated in one area? From what I am reading you had a PET scan and I assume before that possibly a CT Scan with contrast and you should have had a biopsy to verify cancer and what type. Squamous cell cancer is typically what we get with Head & Neck. With more information, we can comment inn a more informed manner.

    Wishing You the Best

    Take care, God Bless-Russ

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  • Stainless
    Stainless Member Posts: 4 *
    #7

    My basic story is 3 months ago I had swollen lymph node. I researched it and waited a few weeks as advised and contacted GP who ordered CT Scan which showed a mass at base of tongue. I thought it was pushing out on lymph nodes which was my mistake, it included them. I was told by oncologist & radiologist to go on vacation we had been committed to for 2.5 years. When I get back I got PET Scan and was told Cancer had not spread. I assumed if it had spread to lymph nodes it would quickly spread through body. Yesterday I was told this was not the case. I’m 4 out of 7 Cisplatin chemos in and 14 of 35 radiations down. I’m doing pretty well but am told the next few weeks will be rough. Staying positive but doctors are brutally honest and what I read tells me one day it will recur. I was a very active 66 year old male.

  • wbcgaruss
    wbcgaruss Member Posts: 2,482 Member
    #8

    Stainless thank you for more details. So you have been reading up on this and have a good idea of what to expect, that is good. Absolutely stay positive and I always prayed on the situation. You will get through this, it may take up to a year for full recovery but you will feel good again and be cancer free and be the active 60's male you were before. Don't think of recurrence that's just statistics and it doesn't mean you will have that happen after all someone has to be in the negative percentage of statistics.

    Wishing You the Best

    Take Care, God Bless-Russ

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