Tongue cancer surgery and neck dissection

Hi Kit Kat I can’t  answer why but yes I’ve looked there’s over 40 nhs hospitals that offer hnc  sentinel node biopsies. With you being a T1n0 nm I would have thought snd was ideal for yiu. Leeds teaching hospital snd your trust are 2 of then trusts that do. I’m sorry you’ve been out in this position. It’s unfair. 
hazel xx

Thanks Hazel. I'm so surprised my consultant didn't tell me this. I think I need to print off a list of hospitals that offer this and present it to my consultant. I'm going to have to tell him I've changed my mind and don't want the neck dissection on Monday. I imagine he'll be very cross as I'm booked for a 5 hour operation but I've been miss informed and this is a really big deal. 

Hi Hazel can you tell me where you found this, was it on the head and neck cancer foundation website? It's very worrying to me that my consultant doesn't know this. I've made it clear how worried I am about the neck dissection. He said himself sentinel node biopsy would be the best treatment for me but that they didn't offer it. When I asked him about other hospitals he was very clear that there was only 3 and there would be a long wait. 

Sunderland Northeast England and my consultant was A J Wilson.   

Hi 

https://hncf.org.uk/treatments/snb-2had7-ywdj2

on this link move down and there’s a section which nhs hospitals offer In the north east near you is shows Leeds yours and Blods Sunderland among others  Of course I don’t know how long their waiting lists a4e etc  but at least a call from your team would help alleviate the situation. As for why he’s inky said 3 no idea.  
can I check yours is front of tongue  ie yiu can see it at front or side and it’s not in the orapharangeal and not HPV positive ? HPV positive tumours are further back on the mouth and yes not all hospital are offering snb for those a? As far as I can tell  

hugs Hazel 

Not sure if this of any help

www.macmillan.org.uk/.../understanding-patient-rights

Thank you Mick and Hazel. I'm going to see if I can speak to my Consultant today if he's working as I have his bleep number. I'll ask him to refer me for sentinel node biopsy and just do the tongue surgery. He knows how worried I am about neck dissection so it won't be a surprise. I wish I'd been given the right information at the start. I could've been referred for sentinel node biopsy weeks ago and not be put in this horrible position. It feels like they're deliberately withholding information from me and not doing what's in my best interests. 

Good luck for Monday and let us know how  you get on x

KitiKat said:

. I'll ask him to refer me for sentinel node biopsy and just do the tongue surgery.

He can’t do that I’m afraid. Sentinel node biopsy involves injecting the cancer with a radioactive tracer to see which nodes are draining the area. These are then removed and sent for biopsy. If the cancer is gone then you can’t do it. 

Hi Dani s has said  he can’t do the op then  refer as it’s a procedure that needs doing prior to op. As in simple terms the cancer  still needs to be there. 
Hazel