I have a question to those who had neck dissection prior to the radiation treatment.

It has been almost 12 months since my surgery and 10 months since radiation, but the tightness/stiffness of my neck still bothering me a lot. What made me worry is that the tightness did not decrease a bit, but rather intensified a lot. My neck is so hard that it feels like someone has stuck a piece of wood chip in there. Actually, it is more difficult to turn left/right or up/down NOW than 6 months ago.

I thought the tissue scaring process should be over long time ago. I do not know why my neck still gets harder and harder, sometime, I feel my throat is constricted too. My question is that: does anybody else have the same feeling ?

Oh, yeh WZ - for the second time in a couple of days I am wildly waving my hand in the air yelling "me too"...I'm almost 2 years out from surgery as of October.

You describe my symptoms, plus I am extremely sensitive across my chest to my shoulder/collar bone area. They said it was nerves coming back and I guess I can't argue with that...just wish they'd get back and stay back.

Guess I didn't question the throat getting harder and tighter, been dealing with a sub mandibular gland that isn't reacting to radiation too well, hoping not to lose it.

As I've said before, "radiation"; the gift that keeps on giving.

Glad you posted, it really helps me to know someone else out there is going through the same things. People don't quite understand when you say you can't turn your head to look at something. Maybe there will be a post that will enlighten both of us.

Take care,
Dinah