NEWLY DIAGNOSED

MGKRN
MGKRN Member Posts: 1
edited March 2014 in Head and Neck Cancer #1
I have just been diagnosed with poorly differeniated squamous neck cancer, and I have my neck dissection in 1 week and I am only 31. I have so many questions regarding what I will look like afterwards. My doctor said I will have a big scar and my neck will be sunken in, how bad will it look? I know I sound really vain but I can't get over that part. I haven't even thought about radiation and chemo.

Comments

  • timreichhart
    timreichhart Member Posts: 194
    #2
    about your scar
    Welcome to the boards I had a neck biopsy done on my right side back of march of this year and as of today you cant really tell I have the scar. Only time you see the scar is when your right by me or near me. Just think in this way that you caught it and it can be cured with all right treatments out there today's meds. Also dont believe what your doctor says about the scar its not true trust me. Just let you know I am only 25 and I am also married and I was just as scared as you are now but to tell you the truth I don't worry about the looks/scars I just know that I am lucky to be alive and have very supportive family and very supportive wife.

    Please if you have any other questions please ask them this board got really good members and they can tell you alot more stuff then what I can tell ya.

    Best of luck during your treatments.
  • sweetblood22
    sweetblood22 Member Posts: 3,228
    #3
    timreichhart said:

    about your scar
    Welcome to the boards I had a neck biopsy done on my right side back of march of this year and as of today you cant really tell I have the scar. Only time you see the scar is when your right by me or near me. Just think in this way that you caught it and it can be cured with all right treatments out there today's meds. Also dont believe what your doctor says about the scar its not true trust me. Just let you know I am only 25 and I am also married and I was just as scared as you are now but to tell you the truth I don't worry about the looks/scars I just know that I am lucky to be alive and have very supportive family and very supportive wife.

    Please if you have any other questions please ask them this board got really good members and they can tell you alot more stuff then what I can tell ya.

    Best of luck during your treatments.

    Hi there. I know I was very
    Hi there. I know I was very scared about what I was going to look like too. I do have a pretty wicked scar, some paralysis on my left lower lip, and my left side sags a little but it really isn't bad. I had my left salivary gland and 23 lymph nodes removed. To be honest they gave me some pretty worse case scenarios. I was scared because they really don't know until they get in there and poke around. In the grand scheme of things it could have been way, way worse for me. I try no to complain. I am here and still kickin and probably wouldn't be if they didn't take the tumor out.

    Actually I have pics posted on my expressions page of my stitches.

    I know it's hard, but some of us carry battle scars and we learn to own them and wear them proudly. I hope all will be well for you. There are many wonderful people on this site that have been my rock. I am glad you found this site, wish I found it before my surgery and rads.

    Blessings,

    sweets
  • mixleader
    mixleader Member Posts: 267 Member
    #4
    Scar
    Hi, MGKRN. When I first saw my scar in May of this year, I thought I looked like a total freak and I expected small children to go running in terror at my sight. However, my scar is fading after about 5 months and it is not nearly as visible as it once was. And, my scar is a doozy. It starts just above my right earlobe and goes down the right side of my neck to the base. Then, it goes all the way across my neck to the left side of my neck. This is because I had a parotid gland and the left half of my thyroid taken. The bottom line here is that it looked awful, but it is getting better. I wish you luck in your battle and try to take things one day, and one problem, at a time. It all tends to get overwhelming, or at least it certainly did to me. Stay strong.
  • Fire34
    Fire34 Member Posts: 365
    #5
    MG
    MG
    Sorry to hear about your diagnosis. You have come to a great place with a lot of info from a lot of great people. I wish I would have found this site before my treatment. I also had poorly differentiated scc. of the right neck stage VIa hpv+.
    I underwent a clinical trial at U of Chicago and they performed surgery on only 5% of the cases.
    I have a different outlook on life. When you complete treatment and you will, and your scans start coming back clear and they will. A positive attitude is a must and after treatment, you will look back and say I beat the monster and I am alive.
    BestWishe & Prayers on your upcoming treatment
    Dave
  • Shellysa
    Shellysa Member Posts: 12
    #6
    I had 30 lymph nodes removed
    I had 30 lymph nodes removed in May...5 months later you have to look very hard to find a scar. Initially, the scar was about 6-7 inches long and looked quite wide. I started massaging the scar and applying Mederma about the beginning July....the scar was virtually gone by the beginning of August.
  • delnative
    delnative Member Posts: 450 Member
    #7
    Shellysa said:

    I had 30 lymph nodes removed
    I had 30 lymph nodes removed in May...5 months later you have to look very hard to find a scar. Initially, the scar was about 6-7 inches long and looked quite wide. I started massaging the scar and applying Mederma about the beginning July....the scar was virtually gone by the beginning of August.

    Honestly
    The scar is the least of your worries.
    I had 30-some lymph nodes removed on the right side of my neck. I'm certainly not disfigured. Sure, you can tell my neck is somewhat sunken-in if you get real close, but if I don't know you well, that's not likely to happen.

    --Jim in Delaware
  • josh r.
    josh r. Member Posts: 264 Member
    #8
    throat cancer
    Hi MG,
    I suggest that you meet with a Hematologist-Oncologist for a possible alternative treatment. I too was scheduled for surgery when a neighbor-survivor suggested that I meet with his H-O. I was lucky and got in the next day. With in a week I was undergoing simultaneous chemo and rad treatments that lasted over a period of nearly four months. This was a relatively new approach at the time which was July 1991. I was nearly 46 at the time and by January I was back at my job that entailed a lot of speaking. At times I still sound like the "God Father" which is fine with me. I wish you all the best. You will make it. josh r.
  • rush1958
    rush1958 Member Posts: 223 Member
    #9
    Scar
    I wouldn't worry too much about it. I had 42 lymph nodes removed on my left side. I was cut from ear lobe to adams apple. The scar is barely visable and you have to be looking for it to find it. The surgery was six months ago.

    My surgeon did an excellent job of following a natural crease in the neck. She stiched it up perfectly. It healed up very quickly. Add to the fact that the radiation treatment acted as a skin peel and it's almost like nothing ever happened.

    Rush
  • staceya
    staceya Member Posts: 720
    #10
    rush1958 said:

    Scar
    I wouldn't worry too much about it. I had 42 lymph nodes removed on my left side. I was cut from ear lobe to adams apple. The scar is barely visable and you have to be looking for it to find it. The surgery was six months ago.

    My surgeon did an excellent job of following a natural crease in the neck. She stiched it up perfectly. It healed up very quickly. Add to the fact that the radiation treatment acted as a skin peel and it's almost like nothing ever happened.

    Rush

    Has anyone had experience
    Has anyone had experience with filling in the sunken area (or divot) via plastic surgery.
    I was talking with a plastic surgeon who says she has great luck doing that procedure.
    Stacey
  • adventurebob
    adventurebob Member Posts: 691
    #11
    Scars are cool
    But you probably won't really get that opportunity as they do such a good job making the incision right down the natural crease. Mine was almost invisible in about a month. Now it pretty much is. I can see it if I look real hard but nobody else can. That's mine though. I only had a couple lymph nodes removed. Like the others said; you're probably not gonna worry about it afterward. Many other things to keep your thoughts busy. Sorry for your cancer. Getting your head solidly in the battle helps keep things in perspective. This is a good place for that. Anytime I can help send me a message.

    Bob
  • nkimber
    nkimber Member Posts: 46
    #12
    adventurebob said:

    Scars are cool
    But you probably won't really get that opportunity as they do such a good job making the incision right down the natural crease. Mine was almost invisible in about a month. Now it pretty much is. I can see it if I look real hard but nobody else can. That's mine though. I only had a couple lymph nodes removed. Like the others said; you're probably not gonna worry about it afterward. Many other things to keep your thoughts busy. Sorry for your cancer. Getting your head solidly in the battle helps keep things in perspective. This is a good place for that. Anytime I can help send me a message.

    Bob

    Totally Agree
    I'm 31 currently undergoing chemo in hopes to destroy my tumors, but I know that surgery is a possibility, and if they give me a big scar but save my life, I will be the happiest girl in the world :) Plus, I'll have a battle scar! This port under my clavicle (for the chemo) is my temporary battle scar!

    Please keep fighting and doing everything you can to stay positive! I had an "I'm so scared" relapse yesterday and believe me, it is much better to stay positive, and focus on the good things. I'm not 100% back to my positive self yet, but I think after my green juice and lots of veggies I'll feel a little more in control.

    Lots of hugs and prayers to everybody.

    Nicole
  • Irishgypsie
    Irishgypsie Member Posts: 333
    #13
    nkimber said:

    Totally Agree
    I'm 31 currently undergoing chemo in hopes to destroy my tumors, but I know that surgery is a possibility, and if they give me a big scar but save my life, I will be the happiest girl in the world :) Plus, I'll have a battle scar! This port under my clavicle (for the chemo) is my temporary battle scar!

    Please keep fighting and doing everything you can to stay positive! I had an "I'm so scared" relapse yesterday and believe me, it is much better to stay positive, and focus on the good things. I'm not 100% back to my positive self yet, but I think after my green juice and lots of veggies I'll feel a little more in control.

    Lots of hugs and prayers to everybody.

    Nicole

    Massage the scar!
    Though I am a guy and I understand your concerns; I felt the scar was know big deal. If all i ha to due was have the surgery and no chem and radiation it would have been awesome! I was on a thin line for only needing surgery; but the one positive node has focal extra capillary extension. Just make sure you massage the scar. It's a no brainer you can do it while lying in bed watching TV. However, since am a nurse also and know that some skin types tend to keloid; just don't worry about it. I am positive you will still look beautiful regardless of a little scar; besides they build character! :) Big Hugs!

    Charles

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