Neck Dissection 101

Day 13 post-surgery: Do not disrespect the neck!

When I learned that my lymph node biopsy came back with malignant cells, I arranged for surgery at the Mayo Clinic.  No dithering about.  Let's go to the experts and handle this.  Knowing I was in good hands, I didn't do a lot of pre-surgery research.  I knew the surgery was to be therapeutic and diagnostic.  That is to say, I knew they would remove the cancerous lymph node(s) and do some significant diagnostic poking around. After discussion with the surgeon, we decided the best thing would be to take all the lymph nodes from the right side.  Sounded like a good pro-active plan.  Sounded reasonable.

Now I am home with recuperation time on my hands and I started looking up neck surgery on the internet.  Whoa. My suregery would most accurately be called a neck dissection. Neck dissections are commonly done for individuals with head and neck cancers when the cancer spreads to the lymphatic system. There are approximately 600 lymph nodes in the body, and 200 of this are located in the neck. Now, check out where the surgery is.  Below is a diagram of the regions of the neck where the lymph nodes are located- (zones I through VI).

I was forunate to have had a right modified radical neck dissection. In other words, lymph nodes on the right side of my neck from my jaw bone to my collarbone (zones II - VI) were removed but they left in all my veins, nerves and muscles- hence the modified dissection. I was fortunate not to require both sides be dissected at once or a radical neck dissection which also removes the internal jugular vein, accessory nerve, and sternocleidomastoid muscle.

What is like to have a neck dissection?  I am at Day 13 post surgery. My neck is stiff like a piece of hot wood.  I can't really turn my neck side to side. I can't do a whole lot without getting getting weird neck muscle spasms. Good posture hurts.  I can't drive yet because there is no way that I can back out of the driveway.  There is less and less pain but there is muscle stiffness and discomfort all the time.  My right ear is numb.  The numb ear is from small nerves to the skin being cut in surgery and can take 6 months to a year to resolve.  I am feeling pretty good energy wise.  The mood is good unless it is not.  I have been stretching and trying to get more range of motion in my neck and my right arm. 

I still have a lot ahead of me:  getting my neck back in shape, finding a new endocrinologist,  another radioactive iodine ablation (treatment to kill any remaining thyroid cells) with its four days of radioactive isolation, etc.

Your neck is chock full of things you use and rely on-- breathing apparatus, major arteries, nerves from your brain to all your other parts, muscles to hold up your giant brain....etc.  Important.  Think about trying not to use your neck muscles.....you can't really not use your neck muscles! So, everyone silently appreciate their workhorse of a neck, right now!