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Follow up post surgery

Nous Defions
Nous Defions CSN Member Posts: 33 Member
in Head and Neck Cancer #1
I had my post surgery follow up with the doctor last Friday. The primary was found in my right tonsil. It was completely encapsulated and it was about 2cm in size. All of the other biopsies taken during surgery came back clean.

They did not remove my upper right lymph node, which is driving me crazy knowing that it is malignant. The doctor said that it should respond to the radiation. I hope that he is correct.

Anyway, It looks like 6 weeks of rads and maybe 1 or 2 chemo sessions at this time.

Will
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Comments

  • jim and i
    jim and i CSN Member Posts: 1,788 Member
    #2
    So happy it was
    So happy it was encapsilated. I believe the rads will take care of that lymph node. My husbands lymph nodes were clean half way through rads. Praying things continue to go well.
    Debbie
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  • katenorwood
    katenorwood CSN Member Posts: 1,912
    #3
    Things sound good...
    Will,
    From what your saying everything sounds pretty good hunh ? I'll be thinking of you and praying all continues to move forward and all outcomes positive ! Katie
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  • Nous Defions
    Nous Defions CSN Member Posts: 33 Member
    #4
    jim and i said:

    So happy it was
    So happy it was encapsilated. I believe the rads will take care of that lymph node. My husbands lymph nodes were clean half way through rads. Praying things continue to go well.
    Debbie

    Thank you Debbie

    Thank you Debbie
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  • phrannie51
    phrannie51 CSN Member Posts: 4,716
    #5
    My lymph node was about the size
    of a small golf ball by the time I started chemo and rads....within 3 weeks, it was all but gone. You'll be glad that they are taking this route, when it's all said and done. You and I will get out 3 month PET scans and probably find out those nodes are fine, and we don't need a neck dissection (on top of everything else we have to do....I sure don't want it).

    p
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  • Nous Defions
    Nous Defions CSN Member Posts: 33 Member
    #6
    phrannie51 said:

    My lymph node was about the size
    of a small golf ball by the time I started chemo and rads....within 3 weeks, it was all but gone. You'll be glad that they are taking this route, when it's all said and done. You and I will get out 3 month PET scans and probably find out those nodes are fine, and we don't need a neck dissection (on top of everything else we have to do....I sure don't want it).

    p

    That's what I'm praying for.
    That's what I'm praying for.

    Will
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  • CivilMatt
    CivilMatt CSN Member Posts: 4,725 Member
    #7
    good report
    Hi Will,

    Your follow up sounds good and your doctor sounds pretty positive about the route he has chosen. Believe me, one lymph node is no match for radiation. Take a deep breath, relax and count your blessings.

    Best,

    Matt
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  • Nous Defions
    Nous Defions CSN Member Posts: 33 Member
    #8
    CivilMatt said:

    good report
    Hi Will,

    Your follow up sounds good and your doctor sounds pretty positive about the route he has chosen. Believe me, one lymph node is no match for radiation. Take a deep breath, relax and count your blessings.

    Best,

    Matt

    Matt,
    That is exactly what I
    Matt,
    That is exactly what I am doing, however it does bother me that the lymph node is still there. Every time I touch my neck or look in the mirror it is always the first thing that I see or touch.

    Will
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  • Nous Defions
    Nous Defions CSN Member Posts: 33 Member
    #9
    katenorwood said:

    Things sound good...
    Will,
    From what your saying everything sounds pretty good hunh ? I'll be thinking of you and praying all continues to move forward and all outcomes positive ! Katie

    Thank you Katie.
    Will

    Thank you Katie.

    Will
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  • hwt
    hwt CSN Member Posts: 2,328 Member
    #10
    Nous Defions said:

    Matt,
    That is exactly what I
    Matt,
    That is exactly what I am doing, however it does bother me that the lymph node is still there. Every time I touch my neck or look in the mirror it is always the first thing that I see or touch.

    Will

    ask your doctor
    Don't hesitate to tell your doctor your concern. You wanted it surgically removed and he said radiation "should" take care of it. Just tell him you would like to better understand his decision as it is still causing you concern. You are your own best advocate.
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  • CivilMatt
    CivilMatt CSN Member Posts: 4,725 Member
    #11
    you are doing good
    Will,

    I could tell you to stop touching it. If the lymph node shrinks to nothing there won’t be anything to remove. If it doesn’t go away with these treatments I presume other actions will be taken, maybe surgery. It sure doesn’t hurt to shrink the critter first. On my neck, they had to dissect my Jugular Vein to extract the vermin (it was a very delicate surgery, I need my Jugular Vein)

    I know I felt better having it out, but read about many people here who had no surgery with exceptional results. Hopefully, you will also have great results.

    Wishing you the best,

    Matt
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  • Pam M
    Pam M CSN Member Posts: 2,196
    #12
    Jump On It With Both Feet
    Defiez le monstre!

    I, too, was very disappointed to hear that my doctors were not considering surgical removal of my diseased nodes up front. It took very little time during treatment, though, for my affected nodes to react. I did end up having surgery afterward to finish up a stubborn node, but the largest one was completely wiped out without surgery. Good luck.
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