| Joined: Jan 2013 Posts: 17 "OCF across the pond" Member | OP "OCF across the pond" Member Joined: Jan 2013 Posts: 17 | After having a modified neck dissection on 14th February I have been suffering from a severely swollen neck. Have been back to surgeon and he has stuck a needle in my neck and removed a lot of the fluid (this has been checked and is only saliva etc). Yesterday however with no apparent reason my neck started to leak the fluid from the site of the injection, this went on for a couple of hours, I currently have a dressing on the site and it has stopped leaking. Has anyone else experienced this and whilst it is not painful I don't think this is the best way to get the swelling down!
SCC type 1 tumor in left cheek aged 45 T2N1M0 - surgery 14/2/13 to remove tumor, skin graft from wrist, neck dissection. No rads/chemo.
| | | | Joined: Jul 2012 Posts: 3,267 Likes: 4 Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) Joined: Jul 2012 Posts: 3,267 Likes: 4 | Sorry, I never had this problen, and I had three neck dissections. Everyone is different, but fluid can build up if it did not drain fully to begin with, after surgery from the drainage tubes in the neck, which is usually removed when the bulb only fills 1/3 or less. If fluid does buld up, it may need to be drained, like the doctor apparently did, but let he or she know of the continued problem. Inflammation from surgery, and lympatic fluid will build up due to the compromised lymph flow from the lymph nodes removed, but this should slowly subside in time, but maybe not completely like pr-surgery.
Do you sleep on an incline, I do, and that may help with drainage, and prevent pooling of fluids. Some do manual lymph drainage massage that can help, only by a trained therapist, since it has to be done in a certain direction,, motion, and pressure, but check with your surgeon since I don't know how far out from surgery you should be, and the same with accupuncture. My thought these days, is only my surgeon is touching my neck, so I never had any myself.
Good luck, and hope this helps.
10/09 T1N2bM0 Tonsil 11/09 Taxo Cisp 5-FU, 6 Months Hosp 01/11 35 IMRT 70Gy 7 Wks 06/11 30 HBO 08/11 RND PNI 06/12 SND PNI LVI 08/12 RND Pec Flap IORT 12 Gy 10/12 25 IMRT 50Gy 6 Wks Taxo Erbitux 10/13 SND 10/13 TBO/Angiograph 10/13 RND Carotid Remove IORT 10Gy PNI 12/13 25 Protons 50Gy 6 Wks Carbo 11/14 All Teeth Extract 30 HBO 03/15 Sequestromy Buccal Flap ORN 09/16 Mandibulectomy Fib Flap Sternotomy 04/17 Regraft hypergranulation Donor Site 06/17 Heart Attack Stent 02/19 Finally Cancer Free Took 10 yrs
| | | | Joined: Dec 2010 Posts: 5,264 Likes: 5 "OCF Canuck" Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | "OCF Canuck" Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) Joined: Dec 2010 Posts: 5,264 Likes: 5 | Hi you should see the ENT again or go to the hospital to have it drained - it sounds as though you had your drains removed too soon and the fluid has no where to go. I had a similar problem with abdominal surgery and the dr had to drain me a few times to empty the fluid out.  also your neck will swell after a neck dissection - as your drainage system ( lymph fluid ) has been compromised, not now but at some point you may want to consider lymphatic massage. If they are suggesting radiation and chemo I would wait until after you've finished treatment en go, for the massage otherwise just wait until you've healed fully and then go. Eventually you will learn to do it yourself and can continue on your own until new pathways have been built. You will also need physio for your arm and shoulder, best of luck.
Cheryl : Irritation - 2004 BX: 6/2008 : Inflam. BX: 12/10, DX: 12/10 : SCC - LS tongue well dif. T2N1M0. 2/11 hemigloss + recon. : PND - 40 nodes - 39 clear. 3/11 - 5/11 IMRT 33 + cis x2, PEG 3/28/11 - 5/19/11 3 head, 2 chest scans - clear(fingers crossed) HPV-, No smoke, drink, or drugs, Vegan
| | | | Joined: Jun 2007 Posts: 10,507 Likes: 7 Administrator, Director of Patient Support Services Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | Administrator, Director of Patient Support Services Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) Joined: Jun 2007 Posts: 10,507 Likes: 7 | Seeing the surgeon would be a good idea. They should be following up with you for at least 90 days after any surgery. This is something that should be checked out and probably drained again.
Good luck! ChristineSCC 6/15/07 L chk & by L molar both Stag I, age44 2x cispltn-35 IMRT end 9/27/07 -65 lbs in 2 mo, no caregvr Clear PET 1/08 4/4/08 recur L chk Stag I surg 4/16/08 clr marg 215 HBO dives 3/09 teeth out, trismus 7/2/09 recur, Stg IV 8/24/09 trach, ND, mandiblctmy 3wks medicly inducd coma 2 mo xtended hospital stay, ICU & burn unit PICC line IV antibx 8 mo 10/4/10, 2/14/11 reconst surg OC 3x in 3 years very happy to be alive | | |
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