Goodmorning Sharon,
Happy Thanksgiving first of all. I had a modified neck dissection after radiation and chemo, my cancer was in my right tonsil and had spread to 1 lymph node. My ENT told me right up front before any treatment started that it would be in the following order. Radiation and chemo at the same time Nov. 1-Dec 17 (last year) and neck dissection Jan 11 (this year) . I am not sure of the protocol and order of these things. I think it is a combination of the patients specific case and the protpcol of the doctor and their school of thought. Others have posted that the neck dissection is easier than radiation, and I have to agree. The only long term effects from surgery is that my right ear, jaw line, neck and sholder are still numb and that is a bit bothersome in the frigid air of upstate new york, but no big deal. I recovered very quickly from the surgery, but I must say it looked pretty gruesome (57 stapes and quite Frankensteinesque) at first, my young nieces and nephews just starred and would not come close, but now it is hardly noticable at all, . The neck dissection and removal of 22 lymph nodes was the thing that made me feel the most secure that all of the cancer was removed. Just cut that stuff right out of my body, remove it from me, don't just radiate it and shrink it, get rid of it. All is well today not even a year out, looking forward to enjoying that most favorite of meals today, you guys will be there soon enough. Hang in there, fight the good fight, you to shall win.Best of Luck.
Lenny