Dr. Andrew Cukier, MD

Performed an unnecessary surgery on my neck to remove a lymph node. He should have been able to see the tumor on the base of my tongue with a scope instead of performing the surgery. I still have nerve damage from this unnecessary surgery.

I was a lifelong smoker and Dr Cukier found my throat cancer and told me about treatment options. I had radiation treatment for my cancer, and he followed me every month during and after my treatment. I was devastated when my cancer came back and did not want to have suregery. My pain, trouble eating, weight loss and trouble breathing got worse so I finally had surgery. Dr Cukier did my surgery and I felt so much better, and had no problems after a major cancer operation. I have to use an electric voicebox to talk, but I can breathe better than every, eat any thing I want and walk in the park every day. I was a difficult patient but he was always there for me

I wanted to be able to tell everyone that this Dr. performed an unnecessary surgery on my neck to remove a lymph node after my neck had been swollen for almost 2 months. He never performed a scope on my neck before the surgery. Once he removed the lymph node he proceeded to misdiagnose the type of cancer I had. He stated that I had squamous cell cancer of the lymph nodes that did not originate from any other location. I decided to get a second opinion so I went to see an ENT at Johns Hopkins who immediately performed a scope on my throat and instantly saw the tumor that was located at the base of my tongue. She performed a biopsy and told me that my lymph nodes were swollen because I had a tumor on the base of my tongue. She was very upset to learn that Dr. Cukier performed the surgery to remove the lymph node because the scar tissue he left on my neck would interfere with any surgery that she could have performed. I still to this day have nerve pain from the incision he made in my… neck. I would definitely not recommend going to this ENT Doctor. At one point I had ask him if he was sure that surgery to remove a lymph node was the only alternative and he told me that it was the only way to tell. I should have got a second opinion before I let the doctor cut on me. Shame on me for not trusting my first instinct with this guy. If it happens to you then shame on you because I am giving you fair warning. Do not trust this Doctor.