Blkvoodoo may chime in on the one... Good luck tomorrow.
If they haven't out and told you after surgery in the recovery room, odds are you're in good shape. not saying you're in the clear, just if they know then, they will tell you ASAP.
I had Thyroid cancer, the cancer had spread into my neck and attached itself to my trachea. Dr. said they removed about an 8oz mass aside form the thyroid itself.
afterward I went thru 8 weeks of direct radiation, which by the end had burns on my chest, neck and back.
the treatments themselves are painless, the first several, you wonder if the joke is on you, then the 'sunburn' begins, and gets worse from there, it's tolerable but not fun, some do better, some worse.
your surgery was a little different than mine, the soreness of swallowing will get better fairly quickly, though your's sounds a little more invasive than mine was.
I didn't have Chemo, so I can't speak of that, thought I did see folks who did, and it didn't look pleasant.
They had called mine " Stage 4" cancer, which sounds bad, and well, is I guess, but I think the rating and the way you handle the situation is all relative.
I'm 3yrs out now, had a neck ultra sound last Wed, everything is good so far, will have yet another CT scan in Nov, they will do yearly follow ups for 5 or 7 years after.
I'm still pretty sensitive to direct sun, it sucks the energy right out of me, especially when the temps are the way they have been this summer, but I manage and get along fine.
I imagine I'll feel the after effects for a few years.
best I can tell you, no matter the outcome, keep a positive attitude, there will be scars, scares and doomsayers along the way, move forward, don't let them drag you down.
best wishes for you, and keep smiling !!
