Anyone with whole breast radiation also getting burned on throat

Thanks mom2bunky- I appreciate your kindness. I do, in fact, have a tan up to my clavicle, but it is much darker further down my chest, so I think it's scatter. I also have a tan along my side and up into my armpit, where my lymph nodes definitely are. It's pretty clear now by the tan lines that they are doing my lymph node too, at least under my arm and almost around to my back.

However, I have been doing some research and there has been a recent study done that reports radiating the lymph nodes, regardless of tumor involvement, does increase the chances of not getting metastisis later. And if that is what the RO is going for, despite my MO or Surgeon's recommendation, she should have told me instead of lying. The tan lines don't lie. I am having some swelling and tingling in my right hand at night, but it is summer and really humid. I really dread lymphedema.

I also learned that, at the hospital system where I live, that has completely monopolized the area, the ROs HAVE to use "pathways", which is a branching logic form that they simply punch in the patient's pathology and get the radiation plan from. It takes the doctor out of the equation, WE could do it. There is no leeway to suit an individual, everyone simply gets what the computer spits out, regardless of circumstances. So even if my RO had wanted to tailor my treatment for my needs, she isn't allowed. Also, there is an IMRT room at my radiation center, but the tech said that, honestly, although it would be great if everyone could have perfectly modulated treatments that greatly reduced side effects and only hit the exact area of treatment- insurance will not cover it. The insurance practically everyone has in the area is also tied into the hospital system that monopolizes the area- yes they are one in the same, if you want treatment at those centers, you have to have *their* insurance, and then that insurance limits your care seamlessly).

Wednesdays are the day they take images and check to be sure I am in the correct position, and lo and behold, they moved me up a little. No biggy, it was just a few days out of twenty that I might have been a little low. I'll take that. But I am glad that they do these resets every week- even though that is flatly taking a CT scan of your chest every week for the length of treatment.

AliceBastable, Thanks for the reassurance about the machine. I had a feeling that alignment was wrong, and my area of radiation is too big, and was thinking, if it wasn't either a mistake or intentional, maybe it was related to the machine itself.

Runrcb, thanks. I see my RO every week, but she is defensive and any symptom I mention other than burning skin or slight fatigue is met with "that has nothing to do with your radiation treatment." I am also learning that she is giving more than the current recommended standard of radiation for some reason, and irradiating my lymph nodes intentionally, when I signed a form before treatment refusing lymph node radiation, without explaining why either. Obviously I am just trying to survive here, but this situation is not okay. Thus, my repeated questions here, amongst women with more experience than I.