Tongue Cancer

Thank you Dani for your best wishes,

I do not know how many layers of nodes they are looking for.

In fact I dont really know anything about lymph nodes, accept I thought there was just one!

So when I go in on the 18th Feb I will ask a few more questions.

Will keep you updated.

Thanks again!

Carol x

Hi Carol. There are 200 in your neck which is why if you have some removed or destroyed by RT you can channel the lymph to healthy ones and avoid a lot of permanent swelling. 
Best wishes. 

Hi Carol

Like Sue I too had a neck dissection at the same time as my operation to remove the tumour from my tongue.  My scans showed no signs of disease in the lymph nodes but they decided to remove them in layers to make sure the scans hadn't missed anything.  While the tumour was being examined to ensure good margins the surgeon started removing lymph nodes and examining them for any cancer cells.  They stopped removing lymph nodes once they'd examined enough of them to be sure of no spread.  As it happened the surgeon discovered the cancer had started to move to my vascular vein rather than lymph nodes.

I was given a list of side effects that could occur as a result of nerve damage during the neck dissection.  I didn't experience any temporary drooping of my mouth but did have an extremely numb face all over the left side, including my ear and down into the neck and shoulder.  I also had several months of being unable to raise my arm out to the side and a very weak left arm and shoulder.  I was given some good physio afterwards though and exercises to carry out every day for my shoulder and neck and now many of those nerves have repaired themselves.  I still have some numbness in my neck and ear and some areas of my face but it's much improved.  You can barely notice the scar. 

All the best for the 18th.

Linda x

Thank you Dani for the the info, and your best wishes.

Amazing how you learn something everyday.

Carol x

Thank you Linda, I appreciate you explaining your procedure, it really helps me with a bit more knowledge, I am one of those people that needs to know everything! he he!

Carol x

Hi Carol. Sorry to hear your news. Good though that your consultant is being proactive. I (like the others who have responded) also had a one side neck dissection and can honestly say that the pain from where they took tissue from my tonsil area, far out weighed any from my neck. I also started with exercises as soon as I could and physio which meant I regained full arm movements above my head within 2 months. I still do the exercises a year and a half later. You also can't really see my scar. I had 2 neck lymphs affected from an oral SCC, hence the dissection. All the very best.

Hi Carol

At the time of my surgery I was primary unknown.  The cancer was detected in a Lymph node.

I had nodes from Level 2 downwards on the LHS removed as well as my tonsils.  No cancer detected.  The operation was not uncomfortable during recovery and I've a few side effects that I have learned to live with.  Dryish mouth and a weak right arm are the 2 most noticeable.

I think it is worth having that done and if all goes according to plan you should have good assurance that the cancer is not there and few lasting aftereffects from the surgery.  Even my scar is hard to see :-)

Thank you Peter, again I appreciate all the information I am given, puts me at ease a little and enables me to think clearly about next Thursday.

Carol x

Great to hear you have a great surgeon Carol with experience as it gave me a lot of reassurance and trust in my consultant, you will soon bounce back and think of all the good things that lie ahead, i know it does get us down on occasions, you are not being punished its just bad luck and one of those things some of us have to go through in life, despite what i went through life is good and live a near-normal life, and im sure you will do the same, Stay positive and all the very best for the 18th, take care.

                                                                                      Chris xx

Thank you so much Chris, your kind words really help me!

Carol x