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Partial Neck Dissection
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Partial Neck Dissection

› Forums › General Melanoma Community › Partial Neck Dissection

  • Post
    • August 11, 2018 at 11:42 pm
    lkb
    Participant

      I'm having a partial neck dissection/removing lymph nodes Tuesday. Any pre-op or post-op advice from anyone here?

       

    Viewing 4 reply threads
    • Replies
        • August 12, 2018 at 12:25 am
        kathycmc
        Participant

          My daughter had this surgery 5 years ago.  Her Dr. warned her that there might be nerve damage that would affect the corner of her mouth.  Apparently one of the facial nerves doesn't like being even slightly touched.  She did have this happen and it affected her smile for a couple of years but has gradually gotten much better and only those who know can even tell.  I know all surgeries are differnent but If your Dr. hasnt mentioned this be sure to ask. Also, depending on how much surrounding tissue they remove know that there will be asymetry of your neck and lower face.  It doesn't look bad and again no one who doesn't know she had surgery notices.  Her recovery was pretty straight forward without much discomfort and now you have to look closely to see the scar although it has widened some since immediately post op. I hope all goes well with your surgery and recovery.  

            • August 13, 2018 at 5:49 pm
            lkb
            Participant

              Thanks, Kathy!

              • August 14, 2018 at 2:10 am
              kathycmc
              Participant

                I should probably mention that her first surgery (WLE and SNB) was performed by a general surgeon and a plastic surgeon for skin graft.  Results were not good.  The second surgery (the lymph node disection) was performed by an ENT who specializes in head and neck oncology.  World of difference.

                • August 14, 2018 at 1:11 pm
                lkb
                Participant

                  Thanks! That gives me some peace.

                   

                • August 12, 2018 at 7:16 pm
                MelanomaMike
                Participant

                  IKB! it will go smooth brother, dont have much experiance in the Neck dept, i had Lymphnodes taken out my left legs "groin" area way back when all this started, drain bag with 1/4in hose, log book/measuring cup it sucked eggs for over a month but pulled through so, dont know if yer gunna have the same post-op "duties" with the same "maintanence" while healing, our brother "Tex" here at MRF had stuff done involving his neck, maybe he can share, let me email him to see…Warrior On ikb, Mike…

                    • August 13, 2018 at 3:30 am
                    lkb
                    Participant

                      Thanks, Mike. The drain sounds rough, but I'm glad you pulled through. Do you feel it helped/was worth it?

                       

                      • August 13, 2018 at 4:57 pm
                      MelanomaMike
                      Participant

                        Hi ikb, oh ya it helped! {the drain bag} if i didnt have it, my intire groin/leg would have swelled up like a baloon! it alowed an "exit" for lymphatic fluids till my body learned to absorb it on its own…

                         i was under the impression this was yer 1st neck surgery? 2nd time around should be less stresfull im sure, Godspeed on yer rocovery tommorow!…Mike

                        • August 13, 2018 at 5:44 pm
                        lkb
                        Participant

                          Thanks, Mike!

                        • August 12, 2018 at 9:12 pm
                        Edwin
                        Participant

                          I had 14 lymph nodes removed from my neck below my left jaw in August 2014 at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester.  I spent the following night in the hospital.  Since then I have had a sore off and on in my skin in that area.  It was a bump that sometime bled.   It showed active in my December 2017 PET scan near the surface of my skin.  It has disappeared.  My guess is this sore was caused my the lack of lymph nodes.  My April PET scan showed cancer in a lymph node in the area of the 2014 surgery.

                            • August 13, 2018 at 3:34 am
                            lkb
                            Participant

                              Edwin, thank you. This is my second lymph node removal in that area and I felt the first one never fully healed. Hoping to have a better result this time. Have you had another scan there since April?

                              • August 13, 2018 at 9:24 am
                              Edwin
                              Participant

                                I have not had another PET scan since April.  I had radiation to that neck cancer, while continuing to receive Opdivo immunotherapy.   A PET scan in September will show whether the radiation helped.

                                • August 13, 2018 at 5:47 pm
                                lkb
                                Participant

                                  Thanks, Edwin. My docs have not yet mentioned radiation and I'm not sure why. Will be hoping for good results on your PET scan in September.

                                • August 13, 2018 at 12:18 am
                                HeidiZ
                                Participant

                                  I had a complete lymph node dissection and removal of my thyroid back in November 2015, so it was a pretty big incision with the removal of 55 lymph nodes. I would say it took me awhile to be able to lift my head up straight and driving a car was difficult in the beginning when trying to look left, right and around. As it heals in the first year it will get stretched when you move your head which can be uncomfortable but normal and even now I still get some weird sensations in the scar tissue.  I didn't have any nerve damage at all but my shoulder and part of my neck are numb. I think you will do just fine. Good Luck.

                                  HeidiZ

                                    • August 13, 2018 at 3:36 am
                                    lkb
                                    Participant

                                      Heidi, thank you. What was your best sleeping position post-op? I'm trying to prepare something ahead.

                                      • August 13, 2018 at 12:45 pm
                                      HeidiZ
                                      Participant

                                        Honestly, I don't know if I had a favorite sleep position.  I can't remember any one position being more comfortable, because laying my head down was better than holding it up. lol

                                        • August 13, 2018 at 5:48 pm
                                        lkb
                                        Participant

                                          Thanks, Heidi!

                                        • August 14, 2018 at 3:01 am
                                        KellyH
                                        Participant

                                          My son just had a complete left neck dissection  in May. They took 47 lymph nodes and his parotid gland. 

                                          He stayed overnight in the hospital and came home with a drain that was removed 2 days later. He has a pretty big scar but it is healing well. No significant nerve damage or trauma, He has a little tweak to his smile but nothing really noticeable and it is getting even better with time. The swelling took a few weeks to go down. He had some stiffness  that also took a couple weeks to totally go away. 

                                          His overall recovery time was quick, he is 17 years old so that was definitely in his favor. 9 days after surgery he was back playing baseball with no restrictions. 

                                          I hope surgery goes well for you tomorrow!!!!! 

                                          Prayers for a speedy recovery and good results!!!!! 

                                          kelly 🙂 

                                            • August 14, 2018 at 1:17 pm
                                            lkb
                                            Participant

                                              Thanks for your info and good wishes, Kelly! Wishing your son lots of baseball and no more melanoma.

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