neck dissections

[Guest guest]

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.)