My husband has 4 radiation treatments to go, just finished last chemo yesterday.

Consulted with ENT today to see about neck dissection. First of all, my husband will not have achieved a complete response by the end of radiation, as there is still a lump to some degree on the left side of his neck, though not even close to the size it started out, which was huge. We knew the ENT was going to recommend neck dissection following chemo/radiation regardless of response, but thought it would (should?) be 4 to 6 weeks following chemo/radiation. ENT is going to be out of the office during the month of May, as we found out today, to have surgery on himself. Subsequently, he suggested that my husband have a modified radical neck dissection, removing nodes on left side only, and proposed that the surgery take place on April 13, which will be only 9 days after his last radiation treatment. He said that this would not be a problem, that he would much prefer to do it now rather than later anyway, since my husband has an open wound still on his neck from initial biopsy in January, and it is still seeping to some minor degree, which he said may (or may not) indicate that there is still active cancer. Also, he said he will not try to spare the spinal accessory nerve since my husband already has damage evident and he "doesn't think" it will come back.

Could anyone who has had neck dissection after radiation/chemo give me your thought about having this done so soon after? And also, what about not removing any nodes on right side? (Keeping in mind that my husband did not have an identified primary site, so that all areas were treated, with more focus on shrinking the mass on the left side where it was considered to be metasticized)

I realize these are just your opinions based on your experience and particular situation, which is not the same for everyone, but I would appreciate hearing anyone's thoughts about this, as I feel the ENT may be "hurrying" the surgery since he is going to be away.
Thanks so much. Michele