starting rads on neck-any info, tips?

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vivo
vivo Member Posts: 532
edited June 2014 in Radiation Therapy - Before, During, and After

Hello girls,

after 1,5 year fighting cancer my doc decided I will have rads on the area that seems to be resistant to drugs. This is the left area of the neck . I have a tumour that I can touch under my left ear and it is in progression :(. What do I have to wait for? Can rads disappear tumours totally? Does it depend on the size of tumour? What are the main things I have to be carefull on the first meeting? I am anxious about the place of the radiation cause I have heard some people cannot swallow and eat after treatments. Others say it is doable... If anyone has done rads on neck I would like to take her advice!

Thank you very much..

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  • TenderIsOurMight
    TenderIsOurMight Member Posts: 4,493
    edited March 2010

    Vivo, I have been following your posts and am truly sorry you have had progression. I think of you as I go through my day, and hope that the radiation therapy helps a lot.

    If your tumor is radiosensitive, then you will see regression. You will know when this regression occurs or if stability occurs without progression. If your tumor is highly radiosensitive, the response may be dramatic. It's not the size of the tumor as much as the tumor's sensitivity to radiation that counts. I don't know of any radio sensitizors to breast cancer tumors during radiation. When I had radiation I recall being told not to take Vitamin C and E as they are anti-oxidants until finished with the rads, but not all advise such.

    The difficulty swallowing with or after neck radiation often is two fold: inflammed tissue, and secondly thrush or yeast development. A swish and swallow anti yeast liquid prescription can be given. Perhaps high protein (no soy if ER+) liquid supplement may help avoid swallowing discomfort.

    I have two neighbors who have had progression in the neck. Both are doing well several yearsafter radiation  The one I know the best is on chemotherapy now.

    I hope the radiation works well for you and send you my best.

    Tender

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  • GoldenEyes
    GoldenEyes Member Posts: 180
    edited March 2010

    Hi Vivo

    I just finished radiation to my neck on Friday..My BC spread to my cervical spine (neck)..I have not been able to eat solid food for almost 2 weeks.. I do try to eat mashed potatoes.. soft foods...My throat is very sore..It is starting to get a little better. I was told in time.. within week or two AFTER radiation..I should be ok..Its not bad.. the treatment itself..You will be very tire. I did work through my treatments.. I only did 3 weeks of radiation.. I wish you all the best.. Please keep all of us informed.. how you are doing

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  • vivo
    vivo Member Posts: 532
    edited March 2010

    I started Navelbine today! I won't have rads at the moment. Doc wants to give Navelbine a try and I wish it will worth the try! Golden eye have you seen your tumour  going away? They say rads have a quick impact on tumours that one can see with bared eyes. Is it true or a myth?

    Wishing you good luck with all your treatments!

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