Hello there, I think the surgeons prefer testing the lymph nodes once they are removed to prevent any chances of any spreading and to be certain not to miss anything as they would be testing all the tissue.

As far as the trachea, it was dificult for my husband to cough up the phlegm caught in his lungs from the surgery but he worked very hard at it. This was one of the main reasons I stayed at his side day and night helping out with the suctioning through his trachea.

You probably already know that you need to conserve your energy whenever possible and get lots of long nights of sleep for when its impossible. This definitly has been the longest and most exhausting year of my life but I also have gained a lot of faith and inner strength.

I hope you are holding out well, Sophie

husband 61@diagnosis painter
6/9/13 Exophylic invasive SCC IV(ext.gingivobuccal) 3cm+ mandibular/lytic/erosion, jugular/node9mmshort-axis
17/9/13 Dx(moderately aggressive)
24/10/13 left madiblectomy, mod radical neck disct, leg flap, NGtube
2/01/14 (30 tx)rads 60gy
N2b (2nodes under jaw) (rem. in tiny nerves) (rem. 30 nodes)
Clear margin, close 2mm inner cheek
15/05/14 cellulitis
3/12/14 Chest CT Clear
27/02/15 cellulitis
8/6/15 cellulitis
10/6/15 Osteomyelitis