Question About Neck Dissection

My husband is having his PET scan on Friday and we have an appointment with the surgeon next Thursday.  Last time we met with the surgeon was in February right before he started his treatment.  At that time the surgeon said that he would do the neck dissection even if there were no signs of cancer remaining.  He feels that there's a 20% chance that the cancer can return without doing the surgery.  He is head of head and neck surgery at Mt. Sinai Hospital in NYC and both the rad onco and the med onco think highly of him.

My husband is concerned about the surgery.  His cousin had it last year and his doctor removed 79 lymph nodes.  He was cut from one side of his neck to the other side (his PET scan had showed something which turned out to be scar tissue - all his nodes were negative) Can anyone who has had the surgery tell me about it.  What did they remove, how long was the surgery and how long was the recovery?  Also, besides the obvious questions, are there any questions we should ask the surgeon.

Thank you so much for any input.  I have relied on everyone on this site since he began his treatment.  You have all been a Godsend.

Carol

 

On 7/9/2008 capp519 wrote:

My husband is having his PET scan on Friday and we have an appointment with the surgeon next Thursday.  Last time we met with the surgeon was in February right before he started his treatment.  At that time the surgeon said that he would do the neck dissection even if there were no signs of cancer remaining.  He feels that there's a 20% chance that the cancer can return without doing the surgery.  He is head of head and neck surgery at Mt. Sinai Hospital in NYC and both the rad onco and the med onco think highly of him.

My husband is concerned about the surgery.  His cousin had it last year and his doctor removed 79 lymph nodes.  He was cut from one side of his neck to the other side (his PET scan had showed something which turned out to be scar tissue - all his nodes were negative) Can anyone who has had the surgery tell me about it.  What did they remove, how long was the surgery and how long was the recovery?  Also, besides the obvious questions, are there any questions we should ask the surgeon.

Thank you so much for any input.  I have relied on everyone on this site since he began his treatment.  You have all been a Godsend.

Carol

Hello Carol,

I had a neck dissection in Feb by a surgeon without the great credentials of your doctor.  After the surgery I had a drain in my neck for just one day, and a scar that ran the whole side of neck. But it healed nicely, the surgeon cut along the natural line and folds of my neck.

There really was not much pain after the operation and I was given plenty of meds just in case I needed them.

As of today, I have some stiffness and numbing. At times it does feel swollen in that area  but nothing that is uncontrollable.   Since you have trusted your doctors up to this point I would say not to worry, go with their recommendations.     D.

 

 

 

 

Carol, Had my right radial neck dissection in March and the scars have healed nicely. I was in 1 1/2 days. Would have been out sooner but they put a needless bladder catheter in that caused more problems than the RRND. The drain was removed within 12 hours and staples removed a week later. I have numbness in my neck and swelling but the surgeon was able to leave me movement, little nerve damage. Very little blood loss, very little pain, plenty of pain meds available to get me over the hump. My CT scan last week showed my cancer is gone from the neck. Another PET CT later this summer will detail everything. My tongue cancer returned and I am battling that, but the lymph node removal from my RRND is fine. In short, the operation is long, but recovery is quick and results are great!

Carol-I know I have 'talked' with you before. I had a modified right neck dissection almost a year ago. It was the easiest of all the cancer TX's! Overnight in hospital, NO pain. Beautiful job, even though cut open from tip of ear curving down to middle of throat. Easy recovery, scar almost invisible now. Swelling minimal but gone now. Minimal side effects-beats the ones from the chemo & rad! (Neck stiffness, and decreased mobility. My skin is soft & supple.) I do have scar tissue buildup inside, tho. You can feel that. I had just 13 nodes removed-he promised he'd ONLY take what he had to. I didn't want it at all, but for the peace of mind it gave-worth everything! Gayle

Carol,

          As it has been mentioned before, each patient is different and the surgery will also be a bit different for each patient. You can see that from the posts above.

         I had 1/3 togue removal and neck dissection done the same day. 30 Lymph nodes were removed from my right side. There is a slight indent under my right chin/ jaw area. I had 3 drain tubes for about 12 days after my 3 1/2 day stay at the Hospital.  Tubes and staples were removed after that time.

           Scar runs like the others mentioned. From behind the top of my ear, down and under to the middle of the neck and curves up to the middle of my chin. The surgeon did it in such a manner that it does match the wrinkles in my neck and you have to look close to see the scar.

          My scar may be alittle bit larger, only because he had to get in there and remove part of my tongue. As mentioned, the possiblity of neck stiffness and swelling MAY happen do to the loss of some lymph nodes. Your Husband may not have as many removed as his cousin. The one thing I do have to say is that I was never in any real pain.

          My Best to Everyone here

Thank you all for your responses.  Everyone's surgery is a little different, just like the treatments.    It does seem like no one had much pain.  That is good to know. 

Take care, Carol

Hi Carol I am new to this site, my husband may also have to have a neck disection. He just had his tonsils removed and biopsied and several other biopsies. sinus, tongue and all around his mouth and esophagus. We will get all the results next Fri. We are in Ny also and were sent to Dr. Denis Krauss at Memorial Sloane Kettering. He is reputed to be some what of a god to all the Dr.s in my area. He agrees that if we can't find the primary, a neck disection is in order. In the mean time he had a bronchiovilla adneocaecenoma in his lung. That was removed at Good Samaritan hospital in June. Did your husband have chemo and radiation before he was to have the neck disection?  We were told to have the surgery first.

 

On 7/11/2008 Pop-Pop wrote:

Carol,

          As it has been mentioned before, each patient is different and the surgery will also be a bit different for each patient. You can see that from the posts above.

         I had 1/3 togue removal and neck dissection done the same day. 30 Lymph nodes were removed from my right side. There is a slight indent under my right chin/ jaw area. I had 3 drain tubes for about 12 days after my 3 1/2 day stay at the Hospital.  Tubes and staples were removed after that time.

           Scar runs like the others mentioned. From behind the top of my ear, down and under to the middle of the neck and curves up to the middle of my chin. The surgeon did it in such a manner that it does match the wrinkles in my neck and you have to look close to see the scar.

          My scar may be alittle bit larger, only because he had to get in there and remove part of my tongue. As mentioned, the possiblity of neck stiffness and swelling MAY happen do to the loss of some lymph nodes. Your Husband may not have as many removed as his cousin. The one thing I do have to say is that I was never in any real pain.

          My Best to Everyone here

I too had the same surgery, neck dissection first followed by a pie shaped wedge taken out of   tongue 12 years ago and have had 3 other surgeries to remove squamous or leukoplakia. Never smoked and light drinker and all started at age 37. As for the neck Carol, the biggest problem your husband will have is shaving.and ingrown hairs,  good luck  

My boyfriend had the radical neck dissection 3 years ago.  He does have pain constantly---lots of it coming from the lack of muscle that was taken during the 40 lymph nodes that were removed.  HIs collar bone has no muscle around the top of shoulder and now as he tires throughout the day, his left shoulder and arm droop more and more---now rotator cuff issues.  A sling helps but he is macho about that and doesn't want to wear it much. 

His throat is in constant pain as well. More so as the day progresses from talking.  He doesn't want to take the Class C heavy duty meds.  His scar really doesn't show much but you can tell there has been something done to his neck if you had just met him. 

There is a light at the end of the tunnel for you---I do know the feeding peg was a life saver for him through the surgery and radiation.  He recommends that to everyone. 

Good luck to you and keep us informed.  If anyone reading this has any ideas for pain management, nerve blocks? any ideas, please let me know.