Selective Neck Dissection

As promised, here are some picture of my selective neck dissection.

This picture was taken on December 2, 2009, mere minutes before my surgery:

And this picture was taken today (December 21, 2009):

Even though its less than three weeks from the surgery, I'm pretty happy with how it's looking (minus gross steri strips, which refuse to fall off, and dry skin). The ultimate test will be tomorrow. I see the surgical oncologist tomorrow and I have a feeling that the steri strips and sutures will be gone. So we'll see...

Also, I start a new-not-so-fun adventure on December 29th...Radiation. Six weeks of it. There's so much more to worry about with radiation than surgery. Tooth health, saliva production, swelling, redness, sores...the list goes on and on. But I'm ready to go and get it over with. The sooner I get to take my life off 'Pause', the better!