anyone have rads to the supraclavicular area?

Hi there,

I had rads to supraclavicular nodes (as well as chest wall, IM and axillary nodes) and it went great! I just got a little red in that area, and it can actually go through to your back so you may notice some redness there. But that was actually the area least affected for me. And I had NO mask -- hopefully you won't either!

 Good luck -- rads was a very good experience for me (especially after chemo) and I hope it's like that for you as well!

Jackie

I had it done there and also the axilla.  With rads, red raw spot at neck and collar bone, rash and slightly red on back, red raw and ozzing around the mastectomy site and the middle of chest.  Really just sort of an outline of a circle which in now (some 2 weeks after Rads) the middle is starting to fill in!

KateriT  - I have a question for you (pm me if you are more comfortable with that).  First, my biopsy is ILC however both my MRI and I believe something in the surgical report by my surgeon says evidence of IBC.  My situation is I missed several MAMO'S so.... it is either locally advanced bc or IBC.  My breast blew up like a ballon but it was not RED by any stretch, pink at best. Nothing that looked like a spider bite, just an area close to the areola that was slightly raised and a different color.  Symptoms of neglected primary and IBC are similar......How did yours start? 

I am having radiation in the supraclavicular and axillary nodes and have not had to wear a mask.  With 10 more rads to go, my throat is mildly sore. skin is a little tender and reddish in spots, and I have a rash on my chest, but it's all very manageable.

Good luck to you -- rads has been easy for me and I hope the same will be true for you.

Bonnie

Hi, I am on tx 16 of rads that are to axilla, masectomy scar, back, clavicle and superclavicle area. So far I haven't had any real problems. The second week I had a bit of a sore throat and some acid reflux. When I mentioned this to my rad onc he had the techs have me turn my head/chin a bit more to the left.I haven't had any problems since. They also re-marked some of my areas at the end of week two. I have not had to wear any mask.



Hope that this helps.

maja

Same story as most of the others here.  No mask.  Small burned area above collar bone and red spot on my back.  Radiation really didn't pose any issues for me.

Why a mask? That was not mentioned to me at all. Interesting though. I went today, and didn't even know my rad. onc change my treatment a bit. Getting booster now (have 9 more). The techs told me, not him, and I just saw him yesterday. Just put a phone call in to where he is at today.  

karenh - I think it depends on how your RO approaches it.  Today I finished the last of my 25 tx of radiation to my superclavical and axilla.  My RO administered the radiation beams as if I had lymphoma.  Went from right along the side of my neck where the carotid artery is and then went along my clavical to my axilla.  My arm was up over my head for positioning as I layed on the table.  Got pink in the area, but actually my back, where the beams came out is redder.  The technician said because I was laying down and the beams shot through me and hit the board I was laying on, it scatters and affects more of the skin back there.  I know the beams hit a tiny sliver in the upper area of my lung.  I did have a bit of a sore throat and a dry cough, but that was about it and it wasn't bad.  Be sure to take care of your skin and keep the sun off of the areas that get radiated as much as possible, even for a few weeks after treatments are done.  Don't know why folks would use a mask, I just turned my head and closed my eyes and remained still.  Maybe Seabee is right, it depends on the age of the equipment.