› Forums › General Melanoma Community › Had surgery to removal all lymph nodes and saliva gland on Tuesday
- This topic has 15 replies, 5 voices, and was last updated 12 years, 1 month ago by
s Mom.
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- March 2, 2012 at 4:33 pm
Havent posted in a little while, but I normally check the site daily but don’t have much to add as I’m fairly new to this horrendous cancer. I went on Tuesday to have my saliva gland removed and approximately 20 lymph nodes removed from my face and neck after I had a positive SLNB. Hoping this set comes back clear, but so far I haven’t been so lucky even having a melanoma of .93 it managed to make it to my SNLB. My face on that side is a little sunken in and I’m having a hard to eating anything of substance as my face is still numb and not moving very well on that side.Havent posted in a little while, but I normally check the site daily but don’t have much to add as I’m fairly new to this horrendous cancer. I went on Tuesday to have my saliva gland removed and approximately 20 lymph nodes removed from my face and neck after I had a positive SLNB. Hoping this set comes back clear, but so far I haven’t been so lucky even having a melanoma of .93 it managed to make it to my SNLB. My face on that side is a little sunken in and I’m having a hard to eating anything of substance as my face is still numb and not moving very well on that side. I’m suppose to go and have my drain tube taken out next week. I’m hoping to get my facial movement back after the swelling goes down. I will post up the results when I get them. Thanks for everyone the post on this board as I always find really good information and your stories of survival give me great hope!
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- March 2, 2012 at 5:26 pm
Hi Joe, Your surgery sounds similar to mine except mine was the left side and the saliva glands were not involved. For me, not eating was a good thing because the 20 pounds I lost were NOT needed! Unfortunately a lot of them are back. I encourage you to get serious with the physical therapy if needed. I didn't hit it hard enough & I'm still a little stiff. Of course you are a LOT younger than me so you should do fine. I don't need to shave the site much but when I do its a strange feeling…very tingly. I wish you the very best. Dan
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- March 2, 2012 at 5:26 pm
Hi Joe, Your surgery sounds similar to mine except mine was the left side and the saliva glands were not involved. For me, not eating was a good thing because the 20 pounds I lost were NOT needed! Unfortunately a lot of them are back. I encourage you to get serious with the physical therapy if needed. I didn't hit it hard enough & I'm still a little stiff. Of course you are a LOT younger than me so you should do fine. I don't need to shave the site much but when I do its a strange feeling…very tingly. I wish you the very best. Dan
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- March 2, 2012 at 5:26 pm
Hi Joe, Your surgery sounds similar to mine except mine was the left side and the saliva glands were not involved. For me, not eating was a good thing because the 20 pounds I lost were NOT needed! Unfortunately a lot of them are back. I encourage you to get serious with the physical therapy if needed. I didn't hit it hard enough & I'm still a little stiff. Of course you are a LOT younger than me so you should do fine. I don't need to shave the site much but when I do its a strange feeling…very tingly. I wish you the very best. Dan
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- March 2, 2012 at 6:22 pm
I know how you feel about not being so lucky…with a .93 and it having tested positive to lymph nodes. Mine was .92 and they almost don't check your SNL with <1mm so I guess on the bright side, thank Heaven we didn't forego the SNL biopsy. It's most likely mitotic rate that pushed your's to your lymph node…was it high? Mine was 4… anyone over .82 with a high mitotic rate of the primary should get the SNL biopsy I read. This is an unbelievable new world isn't it? I pray for the best with your recovery…Shaving SUCKS afterwards so I feel for you having to shave your face…Time for a beard for a while 😉
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- March 2, 2012 at 6:22 pm
I know how you feel about not being so lucky…with a .93 and it having tested positive to lymph nodes. Mine was .92 and they almost don't check your SNL with <1mm so I guess on the bright side, thank Heaven we didn't forego the SNL biopsy. It's most likely mitotic rate that pushed your's to your lymph node…was it high? Mine was 4… anyone over .82 with a high mitotic rate of the primary should get the SNL biopsy I read. This is an unbelievable new world isn't it? I pray for the best with your recovery…Shaving SUCKS afterwards so I feel for you having to shave your face…Time for a beard for a while 😉
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- March 2, 2012 at 6:22 pm
I know how you feel about not being so lucky…with a .93 and it having tested positive to lymph nodes. Mine was .92 and they almost don't check your SNL with <1mm so I guess on the bright side, thank Heaven we didn't forego the SNL biopsy. It's most likely mitotic rate that pushed your's to your lymph node…was it high? Mine was 4… anyone over .82 with a high mitotic rate of the primary should get the SNL biopsy I read. This is an unbelievable new world isn't it? I pray for the best with your recovery…Shaving SUCKS afterwards so I feel for you having to shave your face…Time for a beard for a while 😉
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- March 2, 2012 at 6:49 pm
Keeping my fingers crossed that the results come back clear – please do post them if you feel like it.
I had a similar surgery 6 years ago – salivary gland and all. I wanted to warn you about Fry's syndrome because it scared the heck out of me. About 6 months after the surgery I started feeling fluid on my cheek and neck. Of course, I assumed that it somehow meant melanoma was back. It turned out that when you remove a salivary gland the nerves that stimulated it will now stimulate sweat glands. There are fixes for it if it gets bad – mine doesn't so in the whole scheme of things it isn't a big deal AND doesn't happen to everyone.
I'll be thinking of you, Joe, and hoping everything works out.
Fen
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- March 2, 2012 at 6:49 pm
Keeping my fingers crossed that the results come back clear – please do post them if you feel like it.
I had a similar surgery 6 years ago – salivary gland and all. I wanted to warn you about Fry's syndrome because it scared the heck out of me. About 6 months after the surgery I started feeling fluid on my cheek and neck. Of course, I assumed that it somehow meant melanoma was back. It turned out that when you remove a salivary gland the nerves that stimulated it will now stimulate sweat glands. There are fixes for it if it gets bad – mine doesn't so in the whole scheme of things it isn't a big deal AND doesn't happen to everyone.
I'll be thinking of you, Joe, and hoping everything works out.
Fen
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- March 2, 2012 at 6:49 pm
Keeping my fingers crossed that the results come back clear – please do post them if you feel like it.
I had a similar surgery 6 years ago – salivary gland and all. I wanted to warn you about Fry's syndrome because it scared the heck out of me. About 6 months after the surgery I started feeling fluid on my cheek and neck. Of course, I assumed that it somehow meant melanoma was back. It turned out that when you remove a salivary gland the nerves that stimulated it will now stimulate sweat glands. There are fixes for it if it gets bad – mine doesn't so in the whole scheme of things it isn't a big deal AND doesn't happen to everyone.
I'll be thinking of you, Joe, and hoping everything works out.
Fen
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- March 3, 2012 at 1:05 am
My son had very similar surgery last year at this time (read profile). His whole salivary gland was removed with very little paralysis. He had a crooked smile for a while, but not bad. It didn't take too long to recover from the surgeries – about 1 month.
Unfortunately, his cancer returned and he is now enduring IL2 treatment – brutal 🙁
I wish you the best – many many many years of NED!!
Jeff's Mom
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- March 3, 2012 at 1:05 am
My son had very similar surgery last year at this time (read profile). His whole salivary gland was removed with very little paralysis. He had a crooked smile for a while, but not bad. It didn't take too long to recover from the surgeries – about 1 month.
Unfortunately, his cancer returned and he is now enduring IL2 treatment – brutal 🙁
I wish you the best – many many many years of NED!!
Jeff's Mom
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- March 3, 2012 at 1:05 am
My son had very similar surgery last year at this time (read profile). His whole salivary gland was removed with very little paralysis. He had a crooked smile for a while, but not bad. It didn't take too long to recover from the surgeries – about 1 month.
Unfortunately, his cancer returned and he is now enduring IL2 treatment – brutal 🙁
I wish you the best – many many many years of NED!!
Jeff's Mom
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