Platinum Member (300+ posts) Joined: Nov 2002 Posts: 458 | Kirk, I've had 2 partial neck dissections, one the doc took out 30 somthing nodes, the other 2o something nodes.
The first dissection they also used some muscle to rebuild the tongue after the glossectomy, so they got into the traps muscle/nerve some.
About all the side effects I have at this point is some numbness, on one side from my ear to jaw line down to mid chest, other side ear to jaw to collarbone, and some stiffness. When the TSA screeners at the airport do the hands out to your sides deal mine don't go too far out.
Otherwise, one year out from second surgery I can do about everything I could before, except whistle. You get used to it. Bob
SCC Tongue, stage IV diagnosed Sept, 2002, 1st radical neck dissection left side in Sept, followed by RAD/Chemo. Discovered spread to right side nodes March 2003, second radical neck dissection April, followed by more RAD/Chemo.
|