My Mom had surgery on 3/31/09 to remove cancer from her neck. This is her 4th go round with the cancer - the first three times were in her mouth. They did a right radical neck dissection and the dr. said it went very well. The cancer (they think) was all contained in the one lymph node and had not spread to the jaw bone. It had invaded the covering over the bone a little, he said, but he was able to "peel" it off and it's ok. Didn't have to remove anything else but one branch of the nerve going to the right side of the mouth was embedded in the tumor so he couldn't help but damage that one. However, dr. was pleasantly surprised when she woke in recovery and smiled and the right side of her mouth also went UP. She was soooo glad it was over and said that no money could buy a team of doctors like she had. Now we're just waiting for the pathologist (mom calls him the mystery man b/c we never see him) to let us know the next step. They've told her radiation but not how much. Thank you all for your support and prayers so far in this journey. I'm really glad I found this website with so many nice, helpful people in it. Thank you again.

Sounds like great news so lets hope it continues.

Nancy

Thats such wonderful news about your mom. Im sure you both are so releived that it turned out so well. Wishing your mom a speedy recovery.

If your MOM smiled when she woke up, she is and was a happy lady that I want on my side in this war. Sounds like her daughter is a good lady for a caregiver too.

Thank you so much!

It really is a war, isn't it? I had no idea. Mom is still smiling and working on putting in as many calories as she can. She went outside Friday for awhile to get some sunshine. She really is great! My wish would be for this horrible stuff to stay away forever... for everyone! Take care and keep giving out your great advice - Nancy T

Hi Nancy, As a caregiver my heart goes out to you. This is a war from all sides and we need all the help we can get. Stay strong and faithful. Your mom will pull through this too.

Hey, Bonnie. Thanks for your kind reply. My mother went to the oncologist yesterday. She told me they had only taken out one lymph node (the one the tumor was in) when they did the neck dissection. She found out on her visit yesterday that two lymph nodes were involved (I was wondering whether they'd taken more than one!). He was worried because it had "crossed the midline" as this was on her right side and all the others had been on the left. Don't know that much about cancer but this sounds significant??? She meets with him again tomorrow along with a "chemo man" as they want her to do a mix of chemo and radiation this time. Her attitude and fight are great but her body is on the weak side so my sister and I are getting more worried this time. I don't know what you call it, but she's been on this machine that has electronic pressure to put albuterol into your lungs as she has some asthma and has been extremely short of breath - too shallow to breathe in deep enough to get the med. into her lungs on her own. Sorry... don't mean to go on and on. Just getting it out I guess and you were the lucky one to reply to me. Aren't you glad you did :o) Thanks for listening. How is your daughter doing? And you?

Nancy, just go on and on. We like to read and know what all is going on with our family.

Thanks.