Thanks for the posts, and links on this subject. With my three neck dissections, plus intraoperative radiation, pec flap, and CRT, there is risk of carotid leak or blow out, some occurring 7 months post treatment, for my type surgery. My carotid was already compromised from my first neck dissection when the tumor needed to be scraped off the carotid artery, and then aloderm placed on it to protect it since my neck muscle was removed. My 2nd neck dissection, another tumor had to be scraped off the carotid, as much as possible, and ENT said he couldn't go any further. For my last surgery, the aloderm had to be peeled off, which my ENT said was the most difficult part of the operation, and pec placed instead to protect the carotid, and to do further CRT.


10/09 T1N2bM0 Tonsil
11/09 Taxo Cisp 5-FU, 6 Months Hosp
01/11 35 IMRT 70Gy 7 Wks
06/11 30 HBO
08/11 RND PNI
06/12 SND PNI LVI
08/12 RND Pec Flap IORT 12 Gy
10/12 25 IMRT 50Gy 6 Wks Taxo Erbitux
10/13 SND
10/13 TBO/Angiograph
10/13 RND Carotid Remove IORT 10Gy PNI
12/13 25 Protons 50Gy 6 Wks Carbo
11/14 All Teeth Extract 30 HBO
03/15 Sequestromy Buccal Flap ORN
09/16 Mandibulectomy Fib Flap Sternotomy
04/17 Regraft hypergranulation Donor Site
06/17 Heart Attack Stent
02/19 Finally Cancer Free Took 10 yrs