Having neck dissection next Wed very nervous don't know what to expect

Welcome to our little corner of the world. It sucks that you have to visit this site but you found the best support group on the web.

I had stage 4 resulting in a full neck dissection, they removed my epiglottis, part of the base of my tongue, a few lymph nodes, and my uvula. I also had a tracheotomy for about 3 weeks and feeding tube about 5 weeks until I learned to swallow again. They put me out at 7:30 AM and I never woke up until after 9:00 that evening. This took place December 18, 2009 and I started radiation February 17, 2010 and ended March 30, 2010.

I’ve said this many times, if I can do it anybody can do it. For me the surgery wasn’t as bad as the radiation, but we stress everyone is different. I started feeling the effects in three days they told me I would begin to feel in about ten. I was ready to call it quits but went through with it and I am certainly glad I did because it increased the odds that I could sit here five years later and help you get through it. The best advice I can give you is stay positive, have your husband or someone (caregiver) go with you for all appointments so they can help remember all that is discussed including what to expect. Once they expect you to start swallowing again practice practice practice. Stay hydrated which goes along with the swallowing in the event you don’t they will want you to get another feeding tube. I lost 92 pounds during my treatment and they threatened a feeding tube but I needed to drop some weight anyway.

How about next year on April 19 2016 you get up and say to yourself Jeff was right if he can make it through it anyone can.

As stated above you found the best support group on the web, there are many fine folks on this site that can help you travel that bumpy road ahead. Hell we will even hop in the driver seat and steer you around the potholes. Without sugar coating it this may be the toughest thing you ever have to go through, hang in there and stay positive. We are here for you.

Enjoy the day………………I do…………….every one of them

      Jeff

hi Karen.  i just want to welcome you to the family but so sorry that you had to join us.  I will be praying for the surgery to go well and for a fast and smooth recovery.  will you be having any other treatment, rads or chemo?  I hope not.

God bless you,

dj

Hi, Karen.

Welcome to the family. Hopefully you will look back in a few months and feel you had some awesome brothers and sisters to help you during this time. My experience was with T2, N2c, M0, Stage 4a, HPV neg, BOT, and I finished treatment six months ago.  While I did not have surgery,  I did have radiation with chemo and will be happy to offer support if you need it. You have a great team of advisors on this site, so don't hesitate to ask questions about anything. Many of us will be praying for you too. I'd like to echo the advice about bringing someone with you to appointments. I also kept a notebook to write down questions and took it with me to all appointments. In it I wrote down the doctor's answers and any suggestions so they wouldn't be forgotten . Keeping a journal was helpful as well. If someone asked when a symptom started, it could be looked up easily. Please let us know how you are doing after your surgery. 

Beth 

I had a radical neck dissection of the right side.  I have three nodes removed (that were all positive) and the others tested ok.  The recovery from the surgery was surprisingly not too bad.  I spent two days in the hospital and then the next few days to a week were pretty uncomfortable, but not terrible.  Some of the lingering effects you MIGHT have you should know about and ask your doc.  There is a nerve that they have to move (most times) that results in the inability to lift your arm (obviously depends on which side they are working on which arm is effected) and you may have a complete loss of sensation in your neck and side of your face. Both come back with time (and or physical therapy).  Mine was done in June of last year and I've got about 75 % of the feeling back on the side of my face and my neck.  Scar tissue and your lymphatic system making new pathways might also be an issue as my right side is still very hard.

All in all, as far as major surgery goes, not too bad.  You should be REALLY happy they found it this early (stage 2).

Good luck and don't be afraid to ask questions.  The folks here are an amazing source of great information.

Joe Cortney

I had a stage 2 tumor on the inside of my left cheek. The surgeon had to take most of my cheek out (the inside part, so nothing that shows), and replace it with a skin graft from my leg. He also sliced my neck from my ear down about three inches and then across to about my adam's apple and remove lymph nodes for biopsy. He took thirty which were all negative. I was in the hospital for five days, mostly on a feeding tube until I could prove that I could swallow. After four weeks, I went back to work, but I wasn't done there. I had to have radiotherapy, but had to let the surgury heal first. Had my teeth checked to make sure they were healthy enough, or they were going to pull them preemptively, ( the ones in the back on that side.) I had 33 treatments done daily Mon - Fri. for seven weeks. This was two years ago, and in June I will have a Pet scan which will, if neg, show me as cured.

Long term effects: I am losing my hearing in the left ear, and have pretty bad tinitus. I no longer have to shave the left side of my face. I am supposed to get a chest x-ray every year for the rest of my life. But thank the good Lord, I am still on the right side of the grass.

Dale