Hello again....and thank you all for the reply's. The hardness under the chin and side of face, seems to be a real appetite killer. Although John still manages to eat - he gets filled up for the whole day on just a small sandwich at lunchtime. He was doing so much better before, but instead of easing up...his throat feels even more "tighter" or "constricted". He also said every now and then he feels shooting pain in his neck/throat - like someone throwing daggers. I know that can't be normal! He just told me about the shooting pains after I posted my question - so I didn't get to mention that part before. He is going to see if he can get an earlier appt. (instead of the 24th) to see the oral surgeon. He sees his radiation oncologist in July.

GRE1 - I had the same thought - if this is supposed to be lymphatic fluid, why does it feel like a "rock" and not like "water-filled"? I do the massage on his face and throat every day - but I don't see any change. Well, maybe it just takes more time - but I won't rest easy until I know that for sure. Sloooooow, doesn't even begin to describe how long the healing process takes! I was thinking that maybe he needs to get another esophageal dilation done - since when he had that at the time of the neck dissection, that really seemed to help. We'll check with the doctor - at least it wouldn't hurt to ask.