Marg

I often answer rhetorical questions here on OCF, so I couldn't resist yours. I hope your uncle does listen to his surgeon if the surgeon recommends NOT getting a Neck dissection. While it is true that no one can guarantee that a lymph node is totally cancer free, the OCF newsfeed is replete with plenty of studies that many neck dissections turn out to be unnecessary. The lymph nodes are an important part of the body's immune system and there are plenty of complications and issues from a neck dissection.
That's why an experienced surgeon's opinion is worth taking a chance on. I did the first time around and am glad I did even though the scans did show cancer in my lymph node. The neck dissection I finally ended up with after the cancer came back confirmed that there wasn't any cancer left over in the lymph nodes - the radiation had worked.
Of course everybody's risk tolerance is different, but with a neck dissection, often those who play it ultra safe end up with sorry consequences from unnecessary surgery and the loss of lymph nodes and the lymphatic system's benefits.
This is one area where a surgeon's expertise is invaluable.
Charm