 Patient Advocate (1000+ posts)
Joined: Aug 2003 Posts: 1,627 | Hi Terri,
Your recovery sounds very similar to mine. I had my surgery first, but your recovery from radation is almost identical. I also got the brunt of my symptoms in my mouth and throat, with small burns on the outside of my neck. Two years and two months later I am eating well and will eat better soon as I am having implants put in to replace the teeth I lost.
Your doctor is a smart man and I like what he said about taking out the lymph nodes. I believe he is correct when he says that the only way to know they are cancer free is with a neck dissection.
Wishing you well with your continued recovery and GREAT pathology report on the nodes!
Minnie
SCC Left Mandible. Jaw replaced with bone from leg. Neck disection, 37 radiation treatments. Recurrence 8-28-07, stage 2, tongue. One third of tongue removed 10-4-07. 5-23-08 chemo started for tumor behind swallowing passage, Our good friend and much loved OCF member Minnie has been lost to the disease (RIP 10-29-08). We will all miss her greatly.
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