My friend's husband had a neckseptomy along with removing part of his tongue. They also removed 4 nodes. She asked me the following.


"CAN YOU FIND OUT FOR ME HOW COMMON THE NECKSEPTOMY THING IS? THE DOC MADE IT SOUND LIKE THEY DO THAT IN ALL CASES JUST AS A PRECOTION. ALSO FIND OUT HOW BIG A DEAL IT IS TO REMOVE 4 NODES? IS THAT ALOT? NOT ALO? COMMON? WHAT?
WE WONT KNOW THE RESULTS TIL THE 30TH."

My question.. she was totally suprised they did the neckseptomy, she said she didn't know they were going to, I would have thought the dr would have told her what they were going to be doing....

Thanks again everyone ....

Is that another term for a radical neck dissection or some other surgery? Anyone know?

I googled Neckseptomy, and not one thing was found. I wonder if that is a word that Dr just uses.....

Been a nurse for nigh on many a year and I have never heard that term. I'm thinking she meant neck dissection but she should clear it up with her doc.
Judy U

Kimberly,

I agree with Judy's and Eileen's responses -- it sounds like a neck dissection, but your friend should check back with the doctor to be sure she has the right facts. I had both a partial glossectomy and neck dissection, with the neck surgery done largely as a precaution, because the doctors weren't certain whether the cancer had spread beyond my tongue.

My impression is that 4 nodes is not a lot. I still have my surgeon's writeup from the procedure, and while it doesn't come up to an exact total of nodes, it's clear from his description that there were many more than 4 removed from that area.

I'm surprised that your friend didn't have some idea ahead of time that the neck surgery was possible. My surgeon went through a detailed discussion with me several days before the operation to tell me what they might have to do to be on the cautious side. I don't recall -- is your friend's husband being treated at a major cancer center?

Cathy

Kimberly,

I think that necksectomy, is neck disscection. 4 nodes is not that many nodes at all. I think you have 40-50 nodes in each side of your neck. I am also surprised that this wasn't one of the possible procedures listed on the consent form. Sometimes whether or not that do one depends on the margins and what the cancer looked like as it grew. (diffirentiation) I hope this helps. I hope your friend's recovery goes well. Do they know about radiation yet? Your friends are fortunate they have such a diligent friend to help them out with some of these nagging questions.

Lynn

The term is not listed in "Taber's Cyclopedic Medical Dictionary" either?!?! Are you sure your friend went to a real doctor?

I think the problem is my friend has no idea what she is talking about.... She never asks the drs anything and she doesn't seem to hear anything they ever tell her. I bet the dr did tell her all about it, she just blocked it out. I kinda wish I could go with them and take notes when the dr tells them things... I'll give her the info and see if that helps calm her a little. Thanks all...

(I really hope she snaps out of this stage soon. I understand how stressful and scary it must be, but I think this has been going on too long maybe? She is not able to make decisions or help her husband or anythng....)

Cathy (and others) it is a Cancer Hospital, I forget the name. It is in Colimbus Ohio.

Here is what she said about the procedure:

" ... i dont rememeber, I am sure he called it a necksectomy but I dont know cant be sure - they cut from ear to ear to remove 4 nodes. thats what i know.
he participated in a study where they injected him with a radioactive die & then scanned him to see which node beds it draines into - i hope this makes sense thats about all i know! lisa"

I feel like when to people are standing next to each other but won't talk so a 3rd person stands there and relays everything said.....

She also admitted to not really hearing what the dr said and zoning out. She said after the word 'cancer' she just doesn't hear anything else.