Hello! New here.. diagnosed 2 weeks ago…

Hi popsicle and welcome to our little community. It’s ok to be scared it’s ok to have the odd meltdown. We need a coping mechanism when cancer strikes out if the blue like this. That’s the thing, you’re fine healthy and fit then suddenly BANG. I’ll tag Peter PFJTHS as he’s had a substantial neck dissection and always seems to come up with the best explanation of what it involves. I’m sure he will be along soon. 
You could read a blog by one of our forum members. MarkEl here https://community.macmillan.org.uk/members/markel

He has done a grand job if documenting his road. 

Once you have your treatment plan in place things slot in and you’ll feel better about it. 
It’s not a walk in the park but it’s doable and there are plenty of people here who have survived and are thriving.and we are here to help explain things, support and cry with you so don’t be afraid to ask any questions at all. None will be silly.
 I’m two and a half years out of treatment and living a full happy active life. 

Oh and please stay off Google. Ask your team or fellow sufferers. We know best. 
Good luck with the surgery and come back to talk to us when you need to 

Hi welcome to our small community group sorry you’ve found yourself here. Dani has given sound advise. Keep off google you don’t have to be strong for family it’s your csncer it’s fine to cry rant shout. H p b driven tumours respond well to chemo and radiotherapy so don’t be scared if that’s the way forward don’t be after us it’s hard but worth doing. I am 3 years post treatment I am still me I haven’t changed aoart from maybe a bit more patient 

Pop back on any time lots of us on here betn there fine ut 

Hazel x

Hi Popsicle1968

I am glad you've found this site and, sadly, welcome.  We are here to help you get through this. 

Everyone reacts differently, but I have had 2 neck dissections RHS - the first to remove a cancerous node and the second to remove everything else as a precaution.  I found both easy to recover from and far less traumatic than my tonsillectomy. 

My surgeons were great and you can barely see the scars after 18 months.   In fact they disappeared far quicker than that.   I have has some residual side effects but after 18 month they are only niggles now.  Remember that a lot of nerves run through that part of your body and can get disturbed and it takes time for them to settle down again.  Physio exercise and time are great healers.

2 1/2 weeks after my first dissection and I was in the USA swimming and doing the obligatory roller coasters!  I sail my yacht and there are a few things I use a winch for rather than hauling it by hand, but generally my quality of life after the dissections is very good.

I hope this helps reassure you.  BTW I've only had surgery and not gone onto radio/chemo, but that is a different story (not a terminal prognosis)...

Hi Popsicle and welcome to our support group.

 I am 56 so just a little older than you. I also found a swollen gland in the right side of my neck which turned out to be cancer in my right tonsil which had spread to 2 neck nodes. It also took a few months and many tests and biopsies to find cancer cells as my tests came back inconclusive at first. I am so grateful that my consultant kept on pushing and searching.

My trust only do neck dissections if chemo radiation does not work as they need it to so I haven’t had that done. I had a tonsillectomy and then 6 weeks of radiotherapy (30 sessions) and 4 lots of chemo in that time. My treatment ended 16.4.21 so 12 weeks ago now and I am through the other side and getting stronger by the week.

 I can resonate exactly with how you are feeling. I cried and sobbed every day for weeks when I was diagnosed. Telling my parents and 3 grown up children was heartbreaking. I tried to remain positive and upbeat for them but did recognise that I was carrying a huge burden and it was fine to have a wobble sometimes. The worry hasn’t gone away for me, I am now worrying about my 16 weeks scan to see if the treatment has worked but I try to put it in to perspective and not let negative thoughts consume me.

You are right in that a positive HPV result is good news and response to treatment is good. I am HPV positive too!!

 I wish you all the very best in your journey. You will find a lot of comfort and practical advice from the good people on this site 

Keep us informed on how things go

Michelle x

Hello, sorry to hear your diagnosis and that you face a neck dissection.

I had a neck dissection a couple of months ago, along with mouth and jaw surgery.

The scar from the neck dissection is neat and now healed. I have some loss of movement still in the associated shoulder and arm but physiotherapy is rapidly improving that movement.

I have some post op swelling in the neck area, but that was partly due to the mouth surgery, not just the dissection, and it’s receding now anyway.

So I hope you find the surgery is not as bad as you fear and you make a swift recovery.

As a reasonably vain woman in her fifties I don’t find the scar from the neck dissection bothers me much now it has healed, and scars continue to improve over eighteen months to two years.

Hi Hazel that’s so good to know you are out the other side! That’s for the link I’ll give it a good read. 

Hi Dani 

thsnk you so much for your reply. It really helps to know someone is out there! 

Oh my gosh Peter that is so reassuring. Thank you . Yes my consultant has only really suggested surgery at the mo. It’s funny how different trusts do different things.. I’m feeling loads better today. Thank you for replying. It’s so reassuring to know there are people out there. 

Yaaay Michelle it is so lovely to hear from you. It really helps so thank you so much for replying. I so hope your scan goes well. Keeping my fingers crossed for you.  I’m busy telling myself that it will all be fine.. today is a better day.. but it is very reassuring to know that wobbles are completely normal and totally ok. I’m so sorry you are going through this too. Telling people is the hardest thing. 

Thanks for sending your best wishes, very much appreciated and of course I wish you all the very best for Thursday too. 
I am sure the op will be fine and I will keep my fingers crossed that you won’t need chemo radiation. If your consultant is sure that they have removed everything with surgery then that will be brilliant. 
Let us know how you get on once you are up to messaging and if ever you need to talk you know where I am

My diagnosis was stage 1, caught early with 80% chance of cure so hopefully you will be similar because your cancer sounds very similar to mine.

You have got this!!!