CancerCompass message board discussion started by support system 4 mom on 9/13/2007 http://www.cancercompass.com/message-board/message/all,16156,0.htm Sun, 07 Sep 2008 00:00:00 GMT Sun, 07 Sep 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://backend.userland.com/rss RSS.NET: http://www.rssdotnet.com/ My mom was just diagnosed w/ Squamous Cell in the tonsils & spread to her lymph node(s)?  We are still early in the process but the most dramtic of this so far has been her having to have ALL of her teeth extracted!  You can imagine the devastation.  She just had the bottom row of teeth pulled yesterday & will go back for her top monday.(STRANGE! ONE DAY UR NORMAL & THE NEXT UR LIVE HAS CHANGED FOREVER).  I have never know anyone with cancer & I hate to say but never really thought too much or concerned myself with finding out so I am completly in the dark at this point.  She just finished up a meeting w/ some surgeons today & she was informed she will have chemo & radiation for 6 wks MON-FRI.  If for any reason after the 6 wk time frame they go back & find it has only shrunken or hs not completly gone away she said Plan B will be modified left neck dissection.  This term seems totally foreign to me.  I know it is a surgery and I'm reading alot of people of the message boards leaving comments about experiences w/ their loved ones or cancer patient/surviors themslvs leaving comments about having this done.  What I have heard about this, is that it is GREAT treatment for those who have gotten it.  What I have not heard is what are the after effects of this treatment?  Is there deformity's involved?.. My mom already had her teeth pulled, she plans to loss her hair, eyebrows, eyelashes & such.  Can this modified left neck dissection add to the pain of physical changes?  I realize nothing about having cancer is nice or something to look forward to.  I would simply like to prepare myself as wels as mom of what the possiblities are. Thanks to anyone who can respond!.... Liza   support system 4 mom Thu, 13 Sep 2007 00:00:00 GMT