Hi - I had surgery for a FOM / BOT SCC 11/10/10. Involved excision of 3.5 cm tumor and sig. FOM and tongue tissue, a RFFF and modified neck dissection. No radiation / chemo followup required.

Last week had rapid swelling below chin assoc. with pain, flu like aches, fever and fatigue. Swollen area spontaneously "burst" at neck dissection suture line discharging approx. 8 oz. of dark, translucent satanic smelling liquid. ER did CT, blood tests and swab. Six days after the event the lab reports that liquid discharge was infected with both staff and strep. ER MD., surgeon at MEEI and PCP now all vague on source of problem.

Interested in similar experiences with post op neck dissection infections.

Welcome to OCF Ben. Please tell me what is FOM and RFFF. You could have picked up that infection anywhere. Hopefully you are getting the necessary antibiotics to take care of the infection. Sometimes serious infections require a picc line and IV antibiotics. I went thru that for about 8 months. Hope you recover quickly.

Ditto to what Christine just said. I had infections 2 times. They can get nasty fast.

My sister had neck dissection and partial glossectomy Feb 12. Went back to Moffit Cancer Center on Thurs with a lot of swelling & fever. Got oral antibiotics but last night had a major drainage similar to what's been described. (Nasty, smelly, gross) I thought it was a good thing because it reduced the swelling. Now I'm worried it might be strep or staff. She goes back to surgeon on Monday. Should we ask about labs for the discharge which is still continuing but more slowly?
And is she ever going to be able to talk normally again?