Rads on collar bone and neck?

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cherneski
cherneski Member Posts: 726
edited June 2014 in Stage III Breast Cancer

I started rads this week and they are doing my collar bone and neck in addition to chest wall and arm pit. When I asked rads Dr. he said it is a precaution.  That there is no way of knowing at this point. 

Just wondering how many others had this (collar bone and neck) done also? 

Heres to the kitchen sink once again.Laughing

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  • Bugs
    Bugs Member Posts: 1,719
    edited November 2009

    I think it's pretty standard.  I know I had it. :)  Good luck with rads!!

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  • Pure
    Pure Member Posts: 1,796
    edited November 2009

    Yeah I haven't had rads yet but my surgeoun said one of the reasons for rads was neck, colllar bone, and chest wall.

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  • krcll
    krcll Member Posts: 343
    edited November 2009

    PureE- Why the chest wall? I remember the onc talked about neck, collar bone and armpit but I don't remember anything about chest wall. I had a mx with very clear margins. Does that have anything to do with it?

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  • Pure
    Pure Member Posts: 1,796
    edited November 2009

    I did too-mx with clear clear margins-like 6 inches. I am not sure but I assumed it was b-c they didn't want it passing to other breast and chest area.

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  • diana50
    diana50 Member Posts: 2,134
    edited November 2009

    yes, yes on both neck and colarbone. because of the postive nodes for me. chest and auxillary area too.

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  • Leah_S
    Leah_S Member Posts: 8,458
    edited November 2009

    I had rads to neck (supraclavicular nodes) chest wall (skin in chest wall is one of first spots for recurrence I was told) underarm and inframmamary nodes (in sternum).

    They zapped the hell out of me. Hope it worked.

    leah

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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited November 2009

    When I had my first consutation with the Rad Onc, he told me they do the clavicle and chest wall as a precaution against mets from any cells that may have strayed.  I lay on my back with my arms overhead and my chin tilted up to the right while thay do under my arm and clavicles.  I've been miserble the last 2 days because I have a pea sized hard as a rock little lump that is hurting the sh%@t out of me. It;s so sore.  I  finished with my 4th week, and have 2 more weeks to go.

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  • KerryMac
    KerryMac Member Posts: 3,529
    edited November 2009

    I had 4 fields zapped too. Think it is routine with nodal involvement. .

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  • RunswithScissors
    RunswithScissors Member Posts: 323
    edited November 2009

    I told the radiologist I dont want supraclavice and intramammary nodes radiated.  

    I did chemo that is supposed to work on the sites that had no surgery... so I don't understand why I should lose those nodes.  If the nodes are doing their job, filtering cancer cells and preventing mets, I don't understand why I would want to zap them with rads. 

    I realize I'm using a conventional weapon when I have an atom bomb at my disposal. But, I can barely stand the thought of rads at all. this is the compromise I found I am comfortable with. 

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  • JacquelineG
    JacquelineG Member Posts: 282
    edited November 2009

    I had rads to all those fields as well- like Leah said, they zapped the heck out of me too, and frankly I'm glad they did!

    Pill, i had the same concerns as you but my rad oncologist did not say that radiating those nodes would 'kill' them forever - i think they will still function as lymph nodes. Don't know if their function will be limited - I'd be interested in finding out how that works...

    Jackie

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  • TammyLou
    TammyLou Member Posts: 740
    edited November 2009

    Yup.

    Marked all of the way up to my chin.

    tl

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  • amlg1
    amlg1 Member Posts: 596
    edited November 2009

    Yikes..I am getting 16 fields radiated,and that includes,neck and collar bone.

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  • anniebford
    anniebford Member Posts: 128
    edited November 2009

    Hi Deb,

    I got the whole she-bang zapped 33 times. Collarbone, intramammary, well into armpit, pretty much my whole upper left side. They did a "boost" on the incision line at the end. My rads onc said the chance of recurrence for me was higher there, so the extra rads would lower that risk. It's a precaution against any bc cells that escaped from my pos nodes and may have been able to hide out from chemo, I guess. Just kidding, I don't know if any bc cells could have really survived chemo. But I would like to think if any did, they got fried by the rads. I used a high quality aloe gel and took careful care of the area before, during, and after rads. I had one unexplained episode of pain and illness shortly after I started but after that, it went well. My skin held up extremely well and looks fine. I hope rads are not as full of se's for you as chemo was. You are an overacheiver in the se department! lol. You deserve a break from the se's.

    Shanagirl- My armpit ached early on but that was it as far as localized pain. My rad onc told me there were any number of possible se's. I don't remember what she said about a painful bump like  you're describing, though. I don't have anything helpful to offer on that, Sorry. I saw the rad onc every week, hopefully this is the case for you and you can get an answer fast about your bump. 

    Annie 

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  • hrf
    hrf Member Posts: 3,225
    edited November 2009

    I also had those areas radiated. The rad onc said that more recent research indicates that it lowers the risk of recurrence for those with node positive bc.

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  • diana50
    diana50 Member Posts: 2,134
    edited November 2009

    i think i had 36 rad treatments.   i still "light up" in the dark.....lol

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  • americanpinay
    americanpinay Member Posts: 338
    edited November 2009

    I had whole breast and neck and collarbone (supraclavicular) radiation...the whole shebang...

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  • bettysgirl
    bettysgirl Member Posts: 938
    edited November 2009

    i also had those areas radiated. I was also told with node positive it is a precaution to avoid a recurrane in the supraclaviar nodes..my rad onco also radiated my drain sites as well. I need to go back and thank him (NOT) cause they now itch like crazy!

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  • Colette37
    Colette37 Member Posts: 387
    edited November 2009
    I have 6 more rads to go...I don't know if I will make it because I am starting to burn a LOT.  Directly under my arm and then over the breast bone...I have kids and my 5 year old was sitting next to me trying to have Mommy time and kept brushing against my side, resulting in the skin breakdown..and then my 1 year old grabbed my shirt and started the breakdown there Cry  I have been putting honey over the site with a non-stick bandage and there is a moist white scab over the 2 areas.  Does this sound normal?  I have skin breakdown started at where my collar hits my neck and I have been using the silver silvadine cream (don't know how to spell it) on that area to see how it feels.  I didn't have node involvment that they know of, but because they didn't do the test until AFTER chemo they don't know.  I do know that there was a part on the bone scan (done after my 3rd chemo treatment) where they suspected  had mammary node involvment...between that and the size of the tumor...10 cm...they are radiating the 4 fields...Under my arm my mammary nodes, the nodes under my clavical and my back and then the chest wall.
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  • unklezwifeonty
    unklezwifeonty Member Posts: 1,710
    edited November 2009

    Yeah I have the same question. With 1 node involved at micromets level I'm very uncertain clavicle rads are for me......to complicate things 1 radiation doc said I need it the other said no .... lol

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  • pixelsupply
    pixelsupply Member Posts: 62
    edited May 2011

    Anyone have neoadjuvant chemo, then tested negative SNB so no lymph nodes and doc still recommends clavicle rads? I had a large tumor but had almost a complete response to chemo. Sometimes I think it's because my insurance will pay and less about the patients quality of life after treatment.



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  • pixelsupply
    pixelsupply Member Posts: 62
    edited May 2011

    Quick question. Of those of you that had the additional clavicle rads, what were the side effects during rads? After rads?



    Thanks in advance. I am trying to decide whether I should get the additional rads. But if it means lymphedema or weakened or painful shoulder/neck for the rest of my life I don't think it's worth it.

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  • onward
    onward Member Posts: 296
    edited May 2011

    I really dont have an answer for you. I had 21 nodes affected, so I am getting alot of rads. I just finished 28 rads and five boosters. They radiated a large area from the middle of my chest to the middle of my side. from my collar bone to just above my navel. Because of that the my neck did get residual radiation. When I lift my arm and see where the tattoo is, it's obvious that the rads went that high.

    I already had a light lympedema right after my bmx. So it wore my sleeves each time in radiation. Although I swear I could feel my arm swell while going through it, now that I am done I dont notice that it is any worse. I had some heavy skin burning. Looked scary. However, I am a week out and it is amazing that it is almost totally healed already. The only issue has been fatigue. Onward

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  • starbeauty
    starbeauty Member Posts: 327
    edited May 2011

    Had rads from middle of neck to shoulder down to abdomen and 5x7 area showed up on my back... During tx it takes longer, involves more positioning, and results in more burn area. After... I have LE now, pain in my shoulder, difficulty swallowing sometimes, and a burn mark that goes up my neck still visible a year later. Rads were profoundly awful for me, but I was told it was the single most important thing I could do for myself at the local level... Who knows... With a patch on my back... What does my lung look like now?

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