Esophagus and supraclavicular rads

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pamelahope
pamelahope Member Posts: 534
edited June 2014 in Radiation Therapy - Before, During, and After

I just started radiation on Monday and I feel like I made a big mistake by including the supraclavicular field. However, I don't want a bc reoccurrence.

I have a feeling of a frog in my throat. I never had this before and I am positive it is rads.

Is this a permanent or temporary side effect? I see the doctor Monday but need to know more about this. Did this happen to anyone?

Pam

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  • Rose_d
    Rose_d Member Posts: 144
    edited November 2012

    Pam,



    I would definitely talk to your doctor about it. I didn't have that side effect. I was worried about my thyroid and she assured me that it was nowhere near the radiation field so I wouldn't expect the throat to be involved. My skin was definitely burned near my collarbone but I didn't feel anything related to my throat.



    Good luck I hope you feel better!



    Rose



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  • Jennt28
    Jennt28 Member Posts: 2,021
    edited November 2012

    My MO was recommending supraclavicular and confirmed during our meeting that this would mean part of my esophagus being "hit".



    During that same meeting my husband asked the MO what the treatment would be if she didn't include the supraclavicular and I later went on to develop cancer in that area. The MO replied that the treatment would be rads. Essentially what she confirmed was I could either do it up front on a "maybe" or save it for only if I really need it later.



    I was very concerned about the possibility of brachial plexopathy from irradiating that area and found that adding that field only reduces the likelihood of recurrance by 1%! So I refused the supraclavicular rads. Actually, in the end I refused the rads totally (after doing 12 days of the planned 28) and am saving them for later (only if needed) in the future...



    Jenn

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  • pamelahope
    pamelahope Member Posts: 534
    edited November 2012

    Thank you Jenn and Rose. Jenn, I am afraid if I don't do supraclavicular now and develop a reoccurrence it would be harder to treat. I forgot the numbers but reoccurrence occurs most likely in the chest wall, then supra. I decided not to do axillary radiation as the rate of reoccurrence was 3 to 5 percent. It is all a numbers game..Pam

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  • Denise-G
    Denise-G Member Posts: 1,777
    edited November 2012

    I had supraclavicular in my rad field in June and July 2012.  I had a little bit of frog in the throat feeling,

    but it would come and go.  My RO was always asking about it, but I tried not to pay too much attention to it.

    Since I was Stage III, they never gave me a choice.

    Fortunately, it never gave me any significant problems throughout my 33 treatments.  I sailed through Rads which surpised me.  I never even got tired.  My skin peeled completely 2 weeks after I ended, but I am sort of glad it did as the new skin looked alot better cosmetically.

    Definitely talk to your RO about this!  I WISH YOU WELL.    I remember being so emotional during that first week of Rads.   And the last week.  The middle was okay.  I also remember the first time the RO said, "Any trouble swallowing?"  I got paranoid about it, but it never developed into anything!   PRAYING yours will not either! 

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  • pamelahope
    pamelahope Member Posts: 534
    edited November 2012

    Denise, I feel a little better that you know the feeling I am talking about and that it would come and go. I am assuming your throat feels fine today? I am okay with temporary side effects but really don't want a permanent discomfort.

    I will talk to my RO Monday but I get anxious easily so was curious if I was developing a permanent problem.

    Pam

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  • Denise-G
    Denise-G Member Posts: 1,777
    edited November 2012

    Pam - yes, my throat feels absolutely fine.  It did just come and go.  I kept drinking a lot of water which seemed to help.  When I had rads it was 100 degrees and dehydration was a problem!  I am glad you are talking to your RO.  My friend was going through rads when I was.  She had some hit to her esophagus, but she was fine right away.

    Please keep us posted.  

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  • pamelahope
    pamelahope Member Posts: 534
    edited November 2012

    Denise, Did your friend have the frog in her throat feeling too? Pam

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  • Lee7
    Lee7 Member Posts: 657
    edited November 2012

    Pam,
    I had the superclav area done and I had a bout of trouble with my throat early on. I mentioned it to my Rad Onc and they even reevaluated my positioning on the table. Things looked ok from their perpective.    I may have been moving a little out of place, accidentally,  and that's why my throat was affected.  I paid close attention after that to make sure I stayed still the whole session.  By all means, mention it to your team just in case they have to adjust something.

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  • kyliet
    kyliet Member Posts: 687
    edited November 2012

    Pam, my throat felt like cr*p. RO said it was common. I was told soft food and careful with hot and cold food. By the end I felt like someone was sitting on my chest and I was sucking a lot of throat lozenges. It took a while for my chest not to hurt when I exercised but my throat recovered fairly quickly. 4 months out and it is good. x

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  • pamelahope
    pamelahope Member Posts: 534
    edited November 2012

    So this,is not permanent?

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  • Denise-G
    Denise-G Member Posts: 1,777
    edited November 2012

    Pam - yes my friend had the frog in throat feeling sometime that came and went.  I know I got totally paranoid the first time the RO asked me if I had trouble swallowing.  From then on, I was overly paranoid about it.  I made sure I stayed really still on the table too.  

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  • kyliet
    kyliet Member Posts: 687
    edited November 2012

    Nope not permanant, just annoying x

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