What to expect from neck dissection for mouth cancer

Mouth cancer may drain to lymph nodes in the neck. Removing selected nodes lets the team examine them closely and treat known or suspected involvement. The operation may be performed with surgery inside the mouth, and the extent is tailored to the tumour and scan findings. Pathology helps determine whether additional treatment should be discussed.

Give the team a full medicine and smoking history and mention loose teeth, dentures, swallowing changes or shoulder symptoms. At home, follow instructions for the incision and drains, take prescribed medicines, and complete recommended neck and shoulder exercises. Eat and drink according to the swallowing plan, particularly if mouth surgery was performed at the same time.

Call the surgical team if the wound becomes increasingly red, hot, painful or leaky, or if you develop fever or worsening difficulty swallowing. Get urgent help for breathing difficulty, sudden neck swelling, uncontrolled bleeding or marked weakness. Report dehydration signs, such as very little urine or inability to keep fluids down.

Ask which side and neck regions are involved, whether mouth surgery will happen together with the dissection, how eating will be supported, when drains come out, and when pathology will guide the next discussion.