Hi, I'm 5 months post radiation/chemo treatment for right tonsillar carcinoma with metastasis to my right neck lymph nodes. I have not had any surgery at this point.

At my first follow up, at about 4.5 months, I was told that I have residual swelling in my neck, and a needle biopsy was inconclusive but suspicious for residual cancer in my lymph nodes in my neck, and I've been referred for partial neck dissection to remove any involved lymph nodes.

Is there anyone on here who is willing to share their experience with similar surgery? Side effects? Recovery time? Relative to radiation/chemo treatment (as bad, nothing like it?).

In my case I've already had the radiation, so my surgery cannot be followed up with additional radiation.

Thank you,

-Seth

47 yr old male non-smoker, social drinker, fit. Jan'10, Stg3 rt tonsil+rt neck SCC, HPV+, rad+chmo Vancouver Cda. 2yr clear Apr'12 London UK. Apr'13 mets recur to lymph btw left lung & aorta, 3x Cisplatin+5FUchemo+20 rad, was all clear but 6-mo PET-CT shows mets to pleura around left lung, participating in St 1 trial of GDC-0980. GDC lost effect and ended July'14, bad atrial fibrillation requiring hospitalisation, start more standard chemo 10 Sep 2014.
Sadly has passed away, notified Jan 2015.