I had a 'modified radical neck dissection' 3/9/06. They took 47 lymph nodes, only one was positive for cancer. 50 some odd staples. The most painful part was all the biopsies the doctor took from my mouth, throat, tongue, etc. looking for the primary. Vicodin controlled the pain until I healed. I have numbness from my ear down alongside my neck to the front and back of my shoulder.

If it's an unknown primary, that means they don't know where the original tumor is. What is it they want to dissect? Are there swollen lymph nodes?

dx 2/13/06. modified radical neck dissection 3/9/06 multiple biopsies of upper airway and direct laryngoscopy. 1 of 47 lymph nodes positive for metastatic undifferentiated carcinoma (lymphoepithelioma). Unknown primary. Finished radiation 5/24/06.