Neck Lymph Nodes Size?

Hi Hotcrossbun and welcome. 
What you have is cancer spread to these lymph nodes. That’s what the N2 means 

Its the typical spread we get with oropharyngeal cancer 

Your chemo radiation will sort those so please try not to worry. 
Most people’s experience is that the nodes start rapidly reducing in size once the treatment start but don’t disappear entirely for a little time after it’s finished. This is all normal 
It’s a pity your team didn’t explain why they weren’t worried. 

Have a look here. It explains about head and neck cancer staging 

www.macmillan.org.uk/.../staging-and-grading-of-head-and-neck-cancer

Thanks for takng the time to reply Dani and for the info. I'm glad you are fully recovered too.

I do understand the staging but my N2 was in Jan when the cancerous lymph nodes were around 3cm. My question is at least one is now over 8cm and its taking a very long time to start treament and whether this ok?

Richard

Hi Richard I was T2N2Nm I first noticed with hindsight a lump in my neck early March 2018 I shrugged it off as I had no other symptoms we were at the start of a 9 week trip in Spain. I thought I had pulled or stretched  something while biking. Fast forward to May 14 th we got home 13 th by 12 o’clock I was in the 14 day cancer pathway. By time my treatment had started 14 July my pet ct scan revealed I had spread to 7 in total including one near spine. I never asked the size. I was told they were doing their jobs by holding the cancer and limiting spread. . I had 35 radiotherapy and 2 out if a planned 3 chemo. I got a clear pet ct scan in January 2019 and now fast approaching 5 years. The waiting’s the worst trust in your team snd the treatment. 
Hazel x

Hi Richard I have just looked up what the N2 means. It say N1, N2 or N3 means there are cancer cells in the lymph nodes. The number depends on how many lymph nodes contain cancer cells, the size and where they are in the body  My staging was T2N2M0. The treatment you will be having has very high success results. Lots of us have had the same and are here wearing the T shirt, and happy to help with any questions or worries, you may have.

Regards Ray.

hotcrossbun said:

its taking a very long time to start treament and whether this ok?

Your radiologist would have made allowances for this. The area irradiated is quite large which is why we burn. In addition you are scanned with every treatment to make sure the target is in the treatment field  

From diagnosis to first treatment was 12 weeks for me. I’m in touch with somebody who had a diagnosis to treatment interval of 2 weeks. It doesn’t make sense. . 
Things are taking longer. It seems inevitable these days which is a serious issue.