I had surgery on January 13, 2023. I am 4 weeks out today. It has been a very difficult recovery so far. I had a parotidectomy, left and right neck dissection and a retropharyngeal dissection. I am dealing with being unable to swallow anything other than soft foods and feeling of having a golf ball stuck in my throat. I have quite a bit of nerve damage on the left … droopy left eye, lower left lip and arm and shoulder issues as well as lymphedema. I am doing physical therapy for that starting next week. I am scheduled for a swallow test Wednesday and will likely do swallow therapy. I’m hoping it will help. Eating has become a chore and there is no pleasure in it. And I have noticed that food doesn’t taste the same either.
If I could offer any advice, it would be to learn all you can from others who have been in the situation. And make sure you are informed of all the things that can happen later on as well as making sure you have a good surgeon…and always ask questions! You have to be your own advocate.

The surgeon had to cut the muscle that helps you swallow in order to get to the mass and pathology showed extensive cancer into the soft tissues.
I would love to hear from anyone here who has experienced the same issues. They have recommended 6 weeks of radiation treatments, 5 days a week. The side effects are daunting. Especially since I will have radiation to the entire neck, lower jaw area and base of my throat where there is already a build up of scar tissue. He mentioned I may end up on a feeding tube… I have a few weeks to decide if I am going to do the treatment.
Any words of wisdom from others who have been here?
Thanks in advance!