› Forums › General Melanoma Community › Getting ready for my neck neck dissection on Friday.
- This topic has 30 replies, 7 voices, and was last updated 11 years ago by
mark d.
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- April 8, 2013 at 12:24 am
Really enjoy reading some of the posts on this board. Once I have completed the procedure and am able to get back on this site I will be asking for different experiences with the aftercare. Radiation, Interferon etc etc. My surgeon says there will be a variety of options available, so that is a good thing. But than again its the VA and you never know. Good Luck everybody in their fight against this pain in the……disease.
Tony
May 2012 stage 2 Clarke level IV…wx surgery
Really enjoy reading some of the posts on this board. Once I have completed the procedure and am able to get back on this site I will be asking for different experiences with the aftercare. Radiation, Interferon etc etc. My surgeon says there will be a variety of options available, so that is a good thing. But than again its the VA and you never know. Good Luck everybody in their fight against this pain in the……disease.
Tony
May 2012 stage 2 Clarke level IV…wx surgery
March 2013 reoccurrence same spot on should wx surgery……positive neck lymph nodes, armpit lymph nodes
April 2013 neck surgery.
May 2013 the real fight begins.
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- April 8, 2013 at 12:42 am
Best wishes to you, Tony. I had 20+ nodes removed from my neck/shoulder area about 2.5 years ago. I think I should have been more diligent in my post op physical therapy although the PT seemed satisfied. My neck is still stiff & I just started another round of therapy. I also did radiation & interferon but I have no advice for you there. Your decision will be right for you. I work part time at a VA (nothing involving cancer) and I am very pleased with how happy my fellow vets are with their care. Dan
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- April 8, 2013 at 12:42 am
Best wishes to you, Tony. I had 20+ nodes removed from my neck/shoulder area about 2.5 years ago. I think I should have been more diligent in my post op physical therapy although the PT seemed satisfied. My neck is still stiff & I just started another round of therapy. I also did radiation & interferon but I have no advice for you there. Your decision will be right for you. I work part time at a VA (nothing involving cancer) and I am very pleased with how happy my fellow vets are with their care. Dan
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- April 8, 2013 at 1:16 am
Thank you so much. I have full confidence in my oncologist/surgeon, he has been nothing short of spectacular. The hardest part is stopping myself from thinking so much about this…and forgetting to ask the important questions like is it macro/micro etc etc. I think I just have so much confidence in the Doctor that I just eventually tell myself whatever will be will be. Thank you for helping/serving at the VA. I am just learning the government system of Veterans Health Care, and most importantly more about this disease. Good luck and stay strong!
Kuwait post Sept 11. 2001-2002
Korea 2002-2003
Iraq 2003
Afghanistan 2005-2006
Retired 2007.
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- April 8, 2013 at 1:16 am
Thank you so much. I have full confidence in my oncologist/surgeon, he has been nothing short of spectacular. The hardest part is stopping myself from thinking so much about this…and forgetting to ask the important questions like is it macro/micro etc etc. I think I just have so much confidence in the Doctor that I just eventually tell myself whatever will be will be. Thank you for helping/serving at the VA. I am just learning the government system of Veterans Health Care, and most importantly more about this disease. Good luck and stay strong!
Kuwait post Sept 11. 2001-2002
Korea 2002-2003
Iraq 2003
Afghanistan 2005-2006
Retired 2007.
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- April 8, 2013 at 1:16 am
Thank you so much. I have full confidence in my oncologist/surgeon, he has been nothing short of spectacular. The hardest part is stopping myself from thinking so much about this…and forgetting to ask the important questions like is it macro/micro etc etc. I think I just have so much confidence in the Doctor that I just eventually tell myself whatever will be will be. Thank you for helping/serving at the VA. I am just learning the government system of Veterans Health Care, and most importantly more about this disease. Good luck and stay strong!
Kuwait post Sept 11. 2001-2002
Korea 2002-2003
Iraq 2003
Afghanistan 2005-2006
Retired 2007.
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- April 8, 2013 at 12:42 am
Best wishes to you, Tony. I had 20+ nodes removed from my neck/shoulder area about 2.5 years ago. I think I should have been more diligent in my post op physical therapy although the PT seemed satisfied. My neck is still stiff & I just started another round of therapy. I also did radiation & interferon but I have no advice for you there. Your decision will be right for you. I work part time at a VA (nothing involving cancer) and I am very pleased with how happy my fellow vets are with their care. Dan
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- April 8, 2013 at 1:49 am
Hello, Tony. I had nodes removed with neck resection and had to make choices you now face. It seems there is good evidence that radiation reduces rates of local recurrance. No evidence I've ever seen that Interferon improves overall survival rates. I would second what Audgator said about rehab post-surgery. None of the doctors really followed up with that and I ended up with frozen shoulder and some chronic pain–may not have been avoidable, but felt in the primary concern over the cancer some of the secondary effects were overlooked.
Best of luck to you!
Paul
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- April 8, 2013 at 1:49 am
Hello, Tony. I had nodes removed with neck resection and had to make choices you now face. It seems there is good evidence that radiation reduces rates of local recurrance. No evidence I've ever seen that Interferon improves overall survival rates. I would second what Audgator said about rehab post-surgery. None of the doctors really followed up with that and I ended up with frozen shoulder and some chronic pain–may not have been avoidable, but felt in the primary concern over the cancer some of the secondary effects were overlooked.
Best of luck to you!
Paul
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- April 8, 2013 at 3:50 am
Paul,
Thank you so much for the information. I realize this is a delicate operation, and the risks are heavy. I will focus and take the rehab seriously. For the after treatment, I think I might prefer radiation. However, I will look at all the options available to me and ask for feedback/experiences from people that were/are in the similar situation.
Tony
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- April 8, 2013 at 3:50 am
Paul,
Thank you so much for the information. I realize this is a delicate operation, and the risks are heavy. I will focus and take the rehab seriously. For the after treatment, I think I might prefer radiation. However, I will look at all the options available to me and ask for feedback/experiences from people that were/are in the similar situation.
Tony
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- April 8, 2013 at 3:50 am
Paul,
Thank you so much for the information. I realize this is a delicate operation, and the risks are heavy. I will focus and take the rehab seriously. For the after treatment, I think I might prefer radiation. However, I will look at all the options available to me and ask for feedback/experiences from people that were/are in the similar situation.
Tony
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- April 8, 2013 at 1:49 am
Hello, Tony. I had nodes removed with neck resection and had to make choices you now face. It seems there is good evidence that radiation reduces rates of local recurrance. No evidence I've ever seen that Interferon improves overall survival rates. I would second what Audgator said about rehab post-surgery. None of the doctors really followed up with that and I ended up with frozen shoulder and some chronic pain–may not have been avoidable, but felt in the primary concern over the cancer some of the secondary effects were overlooked.
Best of luck to you!
Paul
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- April 9, 2013 at 10:18 pm
I had a right total neck dissection in May 2012. Had 48 nodes removed. My surgeon was careful and didn't cut any of the important nerves, I just have a bit of a lazy lower lip. Make sure you do your neck exercises early and often. I had radiation to the site and I'm pretty sure that added a lot of stiffness.
You got this, dude!
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- April 9, 2013 at 10:18 pm
I had a right total neck dissection in May 2012. Had 48 nodes removed. My surgeon was careful and didn't cut any of the important nerves, I just have a bit of a lazy lower lip. Make sure you do your neck exercises early and often. I had radiation to the site and I'm pretty sure that added a lot of stiffness.
You got this, dude!
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- April 9, 2013 at 10:18 pm
I had a right total neck dissection in May 2012. Had 48 nodes removed. My surgeon was careful and didn't cut any of the important nerves, I just have a bit of a lazy lower lip. Make sure you do your neck exercises early and often. I had radiation to the site and I'm pretty sure that added a lot of stiffness.
You got this, dude!
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- April 13, 2013 at 7:35 pm
Tony
I was diagnosed with nodular melanoma on my earlobe in Feb 2013.. I had one sentinel node come back positive.. As per protocol I had to have a WLE on my neck. 21 nodes later and some nerves, everything came back negative. I am military and had this done at San Antonio military medical center. I have to give it to them for a job well done. The VA will be taking care of me soon. No matter who is doing the surgery or post surgery treatment there is a protocol they have to go by.. The thing you need to look for is someone who actually listens to you and your concerns. Not someone there just going by the numbers and hurry you out.. Yiu can request and should request to see someone else until you feel comfortable with them.. I fell i lucked out with SAMMC and the surgical oncologist i had. I am going to start interferon treatments next month. You have to have a positive outlook no matter what is said to you..I personally don’t believe that if you have a 4.2 mm nodule you are out of luck.. It all depends on you…Relax, sit back and breath.. Then live life…Mark
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- April 13, 2013 at 7:35 pm
Tony
I was diagnosed with nodular melanoma on my earlobe in Feb 2013.. I had one sentinel node come back positive.. As per protocol I had to have a WLE on my neck. 21 nodes later and some nerves, everything came back negative. I am military and had this done at San Antonio military medical center. I have to give it to them for a job well done. The VA will be taking care of me soon. No matter who is doing the surgery or post surgery treatment there is a protocol they have to go by.. The thing you need to look for is someone who actually listens to you and your concerns. Not someone there just going by the numbers and hurry you out.. Yiu can request and should request to see someone else until you feel comfortable with them.. I fell i lucked out with SAMMC and the surgical oncologist i had. I am going to start interferon treatments next month. You have to have a positive outlook no matter what is said to you..I personally don’t believe that if you have a 4.2 mm nodule you are out of luck.. It all depends on you…Relax, sit back and breath.. Then live life…Mark
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- April 13, 2013 at 7:35 pm
Tony
I was diagnosed with nodular melanoma on my earlobe in Feb 2013.. I had one sentinel node come back positive.. As per protocol I had to have a WLE on my neck. 21 nodes later and some nerves, everything came back negative. I am military and had this done at San Antonio military medical center. I have to give it to them for a job well done. The VA will be taking care of me soon. No matter who is doing the surgery or post surgery treatment there is a protocol they have to go by.. The thing you need to look for is someone who actually listens to you and your concerns. Not someone there just going by the numbers and hurry you out.. Yiu can request and should request to see someone else until you feel comfortable with them.. I fell i lucked out with SAMMC and the surgical oncologist i had. I am going to start interferon treatments next month. You have to have a positive outlook no matter what is said to you..I personally don’t believe that if you have a 4.2 mm nodule you are out of luck.. It all depends on you…Relax, sit back and breath.. Then live life…Mark
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