Virginia, I had the neck dissection done about a month and a half to two months after radiation and chemo. My neck still had sort of a swollen lump, which is why my surgeon/ENT pretty much insisted that I needed the neck dissection.

When they finally did the surgery, they told me that all the cancer cells in the lymph nodes were dead ones from radiation. This was pretty reassuring. I certainly hope after all I endured that all the cancer cells were dead.

I had a CT scan done somewhere in this time period. I don't know if any of the areas lit up or not, but none of my doctors showed any concern. There's another CT scan due for me coming up in September they tell me, and perhaps.... fingers crossed... it will be clear.

In my case, because my neck nodes were still sort of puffed out there, they decided to go ahead with the neck dissection and do a look see. Although I was still too pooped to really take all this in as good news, it definitely was better than the alternative of live cancer cells found.

Best of luck to you.

Jen