Guest guest Posted September 14, 2001 Report Share Posted September 14, 2001 Jill I have had four surgeries on my neck in the past 14 months. First was to remove four tumors attached to the thyroid. Second to remove the thyroid. Third a bi-lateral neck dissection removing two tumors both over 6cm one located on the jugular vein and the other on the carotid artery both were wrapped like around each vessel and removal of 37 lymph nodes. Fourth a left neck dissection. I found the first surgery to uncomfortable with the next one more invasive and the bi-lateral a test of my indurance. lol The bi-lateral was very painful but strange to look so bad but not really feel some areas that looked terrible. Each day it got better and better. The surgery I had about three weeks ago healed very fast and did not swell like the others. In fact the latest incision looks better than the old one. Under my chin is still numb and I have no feeling in one ear however I can touch that ear and get sensations under the chin. The fourth surgery on my neck was a total waste. I still have a remaining tumor in my neck to be removed. I have a sonogram scheduled for Monday. Hopefully this will be the end of cutting my neck open. If I can be of any help please email me! Take care Gloria Ranch Gloria & neck dissections > I was just thinking that I'd love to hear some reports from people who have > had radical or limited neck dissections, where most or all of their lymph > nodes on one side were removed. had some removed during her TT, but > now she's told she needs another surgery to take out more lymph glands. > > I've read about the risks of hitting nerves and having temporary or > permanent numbness in ears, neck, chin, shoulder, etc. What have your > experiences been with residual effects, size of scar, recover, etc? > > Since this is not the normal route for most Thyca folks to have to go, and > since it's a little more risky and scary, feel free to just respond > privately. No need to risk the newbies confusing this with a TT, or > getting them in a panic over something they hopefully won't have to deal > with. > > If anyone else is interested in any private responses I get, let me know, > and I'll be happy to forward them to you. > > Jill > > (mother, in Arizona, of 22yr old daughter, , in Colorado at CSU, pap > thyca, TT 8/18/00...Cytomel only, for first three months; postponed RAI 3 > months while waiting for iodine to leave her system after a CT scan; iodine > test prior to RAI; 150mci 11/00, scan one week later...taken too soon (too > bright), retaken on Nov. 27th...uptake only in thyroid bed. WBS at 10 > months, TG at 9.2 suppressed and 119 unsuppressed, right side of neck all > lit up. Plan is for 175mCi and limited neck dissection surgery, but no RAI > available at this time.) > > > For more information regarding thyroid cancer visit www.thyca.org. If you do not wish to belong to this group, you may UNSUBSCRIBE by sending a blank email to thyca-unsubscribe > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 14, 2001 Report Share Posted September 14, 2001 I had TT and bilateral radical neck disseections (11/7/00) with many (>30) nodes removed alltested positive. Also 2 parathyroids were encased in tumor so were removed and some tumor tissue was removed from my larynx and carotid artery. I was numb up under my chin for a long time and still am a bit. I think I had an excellent surgeon and he didn't hit any nerves. I had voice trouble for a while and he said he stretched vocal chord nerves but was sure he hadn't cut any and it came back almost to normal. I had no numbness in shoulders but a little in ears and chin as I said. It was a longer recovery than I hear most people talk about on this list. I couldn't turn my head well enough to drive for 6 weeks (that was a NUISANCE). I have some enlarged lymph nodes still showing so will likely need more surgery too so may be in a similar situation as . -Alyssa Jill Gunzel wrote: > > I was just thinking that I'd love to hear some reports from people who > have > had radical or limited neck dissections, where most or all of their > lymph > nodes on one side were removed. had some removed during her TT, > but > now she's told she needs another surgery to take out more lymph > glands. > > I've read about the risks of hitting nerves and having temporary or > permanent numbness in ears, neck, chin, shoulder, etc. What have your > experiences been with residual effects, size of scar, recover, etc? > > Since this is not the normal route for most Thyca folks to have to go, > and > since it's a little more risky and scary, feel free to just respond > privately. No need to risk the newbies confusing this with a TT, or > getting them in a panic over something they hopefully won't have to > deal > with. > > If anyone else is interested in any private responses I get, let me > know, > and I'll be happy to forward them to you. > > Jill > > (mother, in Arizona, of 22yr old daughter, , in Colorado at > CSU, pap > thyca, TT 8/18/00...Cytomel only, for first three months; postponed > RAI 3 > months while waiting for iodine to leave her system after a CT scan; > iodine > test prior to RAI; 150mci 11/00, scan one week later...taken too soon > (too > bright), retaken on Nov. 27th...uptake only in thyroid bed. WBS at 10 > months, TG at 9.2 suppressed and 119 unsuppressed, right side of neck > all > lit up. Plan is for 175mCi and limited neck dissection surgery, but no > RAI > available at this time.) > > For more information regarding thyroid cancer visit www.thyca.org. If > you do not wish to belong to this group, you may UNSUBSCRIBE by > sending a blank email to thyca-unsubscribe > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 14, 2001 Report Share Posted September 14, 2001 I had TT and bilateral radical neck disseections (11/7/00) with many (>30) nodes removed alltested positive. Also 2 parathyroids were encased in tumor so were removed and some tumor tissue was removed from my larynx and carotid artery. I was numb up under my chin for a long time and still am a bit. I think I had an excellent surgeon and he didn't hit any nerves. I had voice trouble for a while and he said he stretched vocal chord nerves but was sure he hadn't cut any and it came back almost to normal. I had no numbness in shoulders but a little in ears and chin as I said. It was a longer recovery than I hear most people talk about on this list. I couldn't turn my head well enough to drive for 6 weeks (that was a NUISANCE). I have some enlarged lymph nodes still showing so will likely need more surgery too so may be in a similar situation as . -Alyssa Jill Gunzel wrote: > > I was just thinking that I'd love to hear some reports from people who > have > had radical or limited neck dissections, where most or all of their > lymph > nodes on one side were removed. had some removed during her TT, > but > now she's told she needs another surgery to take out more lymph > glands. > > I've read about the risks of hitting nerves and having temporary or > permanent numbness in ears, neck, chin, shoulder, etc. What have your > experiences been with residual effects, size of scar, recover, etc? > > Since this is not the normal route for most Thyca folks to have to go, > and > since it's a little more risky and scary, feel free to just respond > privately. No need to risk the newbies confusing this with a TT, or > getting them in a panic over something they hopefully won't have to > deal > with. > > If anyone else is interested in any private responses I get, let me > know, > and I'll be happy to forward them to you. > > Jill > > (mother, in Arizona, of 22yr old daughter, , in Colorado at > CSU, pap > thyca, TT 8/18/00...Cytomel only, for first three months; postponed > RAI 3 > months while waiting for iodine to leave her system after a CT scan; > iodine > test prior to RAI; 150mci 11/00, scan one week later...taken too soon > (too > bright), retaken on Nov. 27th...uptake only in thyroid bed. WBS at 10 > months, TG at 9.2 suppressed and 119 unsuppressed, right side of neck > all > lit up. Plan is for 175mCi and limited neck dissection surgery, but no > RAI > available at this time.) > > For more information regarding thyroid cancer visit www.thyca.org. If > you do not wish to belong to this group, you may UNSUBSCRIBE by > sending a blank email to thyca-unsubscribe > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 17, 2001 Report Share Posted September 17, 2001 Hi , I did not realize either that the jugular could be removed, but I am living proof it can, and successfully. No complications, but, that is why my ND was done in two parts. The surgeon said, if one is removed, the body can and does find new " routes " for the blood flow. With two removed at one time, the blood would still find new routes, but in the meantime, one's head would swell up like a balloon, and , I suppose, there could be complications in that case. He wasn't sure if he would have to remove the other jugular vein, so he waited 2 weeks between the 1st and 2nd NDs. I think that removal may have been one reason I had swelling for such a long time. But, don't worry, if you are in that situation, it is an easy (for pt) and successful treatment. Best of Luck to you on your upcoming tx. God Bless America lindalee@... dx 12-96 follicular w/ bone mets 4 RAI= 840mCi 300mcg Synthroid HPTH Pgh., Pa millerklcjja@... wrote: > , I did not realize the jugular could be removed. Are you okay > without it and did you have any complications because of it? Just > thought the jugular was a critical structure and not usually operated > on. I may sleep better tonight! Thanks, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 17, 2001 Report Share Posted September 17, 2001 Hi , I did not realize either that the jugular could be removed, but I am living proof it can, and successfully. No complications, but, that is why my ND was done in two parts. The surgeon said, if one is removed, the body can and does find new " routes " for the blood flow. With two removed at one time, the blood would still find new routes, but in the meantime, one's head would swell up like a balloon, and , I suppose, there could be complications in that case. He wasn't sure if he would have to remove the other jugular vein, so he waited 2 weeks between the 1st and 2nd NDs. I think that removal may have been one reason I had swelling for such a long time. But, don't worry, if you are in that situation, it is an easy (for pt) and successful treatment. Best of Luck to you on your upcoming tx. God Bless America lindalee@... dx 12-96 follicular w/ bone mets 4 RAI= 840mCi 300mcg Synthroid HPTH Pgh., Pa millerklcjja@... wrote: > , I did not realize the jugular could be removed. Are you okay > without it and did you have any complications because of it? Just > thought the jugular was a critical structure and not usually operated > on. I may sleep better tonight! Thanks, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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