Kimberly,

I agree with Judy's and Eileen's responses -- it sounds like a neck dissection, but your friend should check back with the doctor to be sure she has the right facts. I had both a partial glossectomy and neck dissection, with the neck surgery done largely as a precaution, because the doctors weren't certain whether the cancer had spread beyond my tongue.

My impression is that 4 nodes is not a lot. I still have my surgeon's writeup from the procedure, and while it doesn't come up to an exact total of nodes, it's clear from his description that there were many more than 4 removed from that area.

I'm surprised that your friend didn't have some idea ahead of time that the neck surgery was possible. My surgeon went through a detailed discussion with me several days before the operation to tell me what they might have to do to be on the cautious side. I don't recall -- is your friend's husband being treated at a major cancer center?

Cathy