My wife has low grade MEC primary base of tongue. Treated w/ rad and cisplatin 2 years ago. Primary is "dead" now. Most recent CT showed two growing nodes on one side of her neck, so her doctor recommends modified radical neck dissection. Her doctor is a well-known ENT cancer surgeon that left his position at a major academic medical center a few years ago for private hospital in same city. His new hospital does not have a comprehensive cancer center. So we wonder how important that would be for post-operative care after the neck dissection. We could go to a comp cancer center, but we don't know the surgeons there. Are there commonly severe difficulties after the neck dissection? I'm under the impression that it will not be as bad as 6 weeks of radiation and chemo, but maybe I'm trying to find a silver lining here.
Thanks.

Before I did anything I would get another opinion from a CCC and fast.

I am 100% in agreement with David. If this Dr left a few years ago then the chances of his being up on OC might be slim. A CCC is her best bet for a 2nd opinion.

"OC?"
thank you for your responses.
What are the major complications you've experienced from neck dissections?

I should have made clear: she has been and is being seen at a CCC. That's where she had her radiation/ chemo treatment two years ago and where all her follow-up has been.
thanks again.

My wife has low grade MEC primary base of tongue. Treated w/ rad and cisplatin 2 years ago. Primary is "dead" now. Most recent CT showed two growing nodes on one side of her neck, so her doctor recommends modified radical neck dissection. Her doctor is a well-known ENT cancer surgeon that left his position at a major academic medical center a few years ago for private hospital in same city. His new hospital does not have a comprehensive cancer center. So we wonder how important that would be for post-operative care after the neck dissection. We could go to a comp cancer center, but we don't know the surgeons there. Are there commonly severe difficulties after the neck dissection? I'm under the impression that it will not be as bad as 6 weeks of radiation and chemo, but maybe I'm trying to find a silver lining here.
I'm new to the forum and posted this last night in the General section, but see that it probably belongs here.
Thanks to all.

I'm new to the forum and posted this in other areas, but now realize it prob belongs here.
My wife has low grade MEC primary base of tongue. Treated w/ radiation and cisplatin 2 years ago at our local CCC. Primary is "dead" now. Most recent CT showed two growing nodes on one side of her neck, so her doctor recommends modified radical neck dissection. Her doctor is a well-known ENT cancer surgeon who left his position after 20+ years at a major academic medical center a few years ago for private hospital in same city. His new hospital does not have a comprehensive cancer center. So we wonder how important that would be for post-operative care after the neck dissection. We could go to a comp cancer center, but we don't know the surgeons there, and her rad onc says this surgeon is better than all of them (we trust him completely). Are there commonly severe difficulties after the neck dissection that would be important to have the resources of a CCC? We can use the CCC near us for her rehab, but would go back to the surgeon for any complications from the surgery.
I'm under the impression that it will not be as bad as 6 weeks of radiation and chemo, but maybe I'm trying to find a silver lining here.
Thanks to all.

I really think the complications from severe rad burns. tongue implants ans chemo are the nasty ongoing pains . I know my neck always hurts and feels like there is a lump in it. Just the after affects from the other treatments. Hard to swallow comes into play too.

In my experience the most vexing post-ND problems were stiffness and soreness, and numbness. I know others have had some shoulder mobility issues but that wasn't a problem for me.

The numbness stays with you. I'm 2 years out and I'm still numb on that side of my neck. But for the first year the lack of feeling extended all the way up to half of my ear. That is gradually coming back, creeping down my face as it were.

In my case I also suffered some nerve damage which rendered the left half of my tongue numb. It's my understanding that this isn't necessarily all that common. There's been some return to feeling, but my tongue still lacks sensation on the left, and I'm basically operating with half my taste buds as a result.

I'm sure others will weigh in with their own particulars. I'd say go with the best surgeon you can find on this.

david2

Wooden neck, lack of rotational mobility, loss of sensation... Mine was performed in 2000 so the more modern techniques should be better/less harmful.