Radiation scarring

hopeful in tally
hopeful in tally Member Posts: 56
edited March 2014 in Breast Cancer #1
Another question I forgot to ask in my previous post ... I am told that radiation may scar my lung. Oncologist says this is normal and not dangerous ... but necessary to know for future lung xrays. Anyone familiar with this and can you advise? Also ... anyone else having good results with cucumin as previously posted? THANK YOU ... I FEEL SO MUCH BETTER HAVING FOUND THIS WEBSITE!

Comments

  • Rague
    Rague Member Posts: 3,653 Member
    I wasn't told that there
    I wasn't told that there would be any lung problems. I do have a fair bit of scaring of my skin from radiation but it is from the burns. The last time I saw my radiologist, he told me that even though I'd had bad burns to not worry about the radiation having done damage that might cause future problems. My PA also told me not to worry about it. As bad as they were, the burns were burns to skin.
  • seof
    seof Member Posts: 819 Member
    In my limited
    In my limited experience/studying the issue I believe the risk to internal tissue is present, but very slight. It is one of those things they have to tell you about, like all the possible side effects of taking antibiotics, or something. That's what the radiation technicians told me. I had very little trouble with radiation. From what I've read and the experience of survivors I have heard from, for the great majority of people there are no significant long lasting effects of radiation treatments. If you are concerned you might look it up on the ACS website, or ask another Dr.

    Take care, seof
  • lynn1950
    lynn1950 Member Posts: 2,570
    You can ask to see exactly
    You can ask to see exactly what parts of your body are receiving radiation. The techs or your radiation oncologist can go over it with you and tell you the exact percentage of heart or lung that will be hit. that knowledge should put your mind at rest. Generally, only a very small percent of your organs, if any, receive radiation. xoxoxox Lynn
  • jbug
    jbug Member Posts: 285
    I worried about that too,
    I worried about that too, but my rad onc said it was only the very top layer that MAY get radiated...i think the incidence of lung scarring or lung inflamation where you are getting radiation is about 1%. As others have said, don't hesitate to write your questions down and get all the answers that you need before you begin. Another point that may ease your mind is that you will be seen once a week during treatment...he/she will look at your skin and evaluate any other concerns you may have. At the beginning this may seem a bit unnecessary, but later on in treatment it really helped me to be able to clarify my concerns and just know that I had been evaluated.

    Blessings...
    Julie
  • CR1954
    CR1954 Member Posts: 1,390 Member
    Lung scarring...
    Hi hopeful in tally,

    Yes, radiation may cause scarring in the lung. Mine did, where the rad onc did dose dense rads on lymph nodes at the top of the lung.

    It took an x-ray, 2 CT scans and a PET scan to confirm that what the Drs. were seeing was, in fact, scarring and not a lung malignancy.

    The scarring may or may not shrink or even completely disappear over time. Mine has gotten smaller.

    Hugs,
    CR
  • Mama G
    Mama G Member Posts: 762
    CR1954 said:

    Lung scarring...
    Hi hopeful in tally,

    Yes, radiation may cause scarring in the lung. Mine did, where the rad onc did dose dense rads on lymph nodes at the top of the lung.

    It took an x-ray, 2 CT scans and a PET scan to confirm that what the Drs. were seeing was, in fact, scarring and not a lung malignancy.

    The scarring may or may not shrink or even completely disappear over time. Mine has gotten smaller.

    Hugs,
    CR

    Is tally Tallahassee?
    I was told the same as some others who have replied. The are as careful as possible to NOT do any damage to either the lung or heart. HOWEVER, my skin is really burning (as in sunburned) and not even in the area of radiation! My shoulder and back are getting the brunt of it. They call this "scatter" and I don't like it! Anyone have any clue what to do about it?
  • carkris
    carkris Member Posts: 4,553 Member
    Mama G said:

    Is tally Tallahassee?
    I was told the same as some others who have replied. The are as careful as possible to NOT do any damage to either the lung or heart. HOWEVER, my skin is really burning (as in sunburned) and not even in the area of radiation! My shoulder and back are getting the brunt of it. They call this "scatter" and I don't like it! Anyone have any clue what to do about it?

    I had chest radiation 15
    I had chest radiation 15 years ago without any scarring. now having it again, with the scatter over my chest area on the other side. I am worrying about my thyroid. I have mentioned it once and am going to again. My center takes weekly xrays and they say they are good as far a s placement goes etc...
  • hopeful in tally
    hopeful in tally Member Posts: 56
    Mama G said:

    Is tally Tallahassee?
    I was told the same as some others who have replied. The are as careful as possible to NOT do any damage to either the lung or heart. HOWEVER, my skin is really burning (as in sunburned) and not even in the area of radiation! My shoulder and back are getting the brunt of it. They call this "scatter" and I don't like it! Anyone have any clue what to do about it?

    Yes ... I am in Tallahassee.
    Yes ... I am in Tallahassee. Do you live in this area?
  • askdal
    askdal Member Posts: 3
    Radiation Scaring

    71 year old vigorus male, 9+ years ago I learned I had Throat (Tonsillar) Cancer, stage III B, course of treatment Removal Operation, Chemo, Radiation, Came through like a champ. No One told me that Raditation would wreck havoc on my Thyroid, to take Iodine while receiving Radiation. 5+ years later, Thyroid damage, have to take Levothroxin the rest of my life for the damage done. No on told me about Radiation Scaring. 8+ years after treatment Radiation Scaring set in effecting all the soft tissue of my head and neck. The pain is "KILLER" I wouldn't wish this on anyone, even Obama,, Any Cures, Any Remedies Out there, HELP! 

  • Apaugh
    Apaugh Member Posts: 850 Member
    PT

    Maybe some physical therepy to keep that scar tissue loose. 

  • disneyfan2008
    disneyfan2008 Member Posts: 6,583 Member
    I never heard of that..I"ll

    I never heard of that..I"ll check back for an update

     

  • rsjc1994
    rsjc1994 Member Posts: 2
    edited July 2018 #13
    Radiation scarring

    It has been 24 years since mastectomy and radiation. I had severe burns from radiation. A few weeks ago my scar started seeping clear sticky liquid, and forming scabs. Has anyone else had this? I do have a Dr appointment on Tuesday but am concerned.

  • HapB
    HapB Member Posts: 527
    rsjc1994 said:

    Radiation scarring

    It has been 24 years since mastectomy and radiation. I had severe burns from radiation. A few weeks ago my scar started seeping clear sticky liquid, and forming scabs. Has anyone else had this? I do have a Dr appointment on Tuesday but am concerned.

    Radiation

    My RO told me that the damage from radiation often does not show up for years and at one year out, it was too early inth orocess to know what the long term damage would be, including damage to my lungs and ribs. I hope you see your doctor soon. I don’t take any medical advice from technicians, as they are not trained in medicine.

  • 2nu2tnbc
    2nu2tnbc Member Posts: 69 Member
    24 years........AMAZING!!!!

    24 years........AMAZING!!!! The # of years cancer free just caught my attention!!! I pray that the issue you are presently experiencing are minor!!

  • Mer@2735
    Mer@2735 Member Posts: 1
    edited August 2018 #16
    Lung scarring

    my last rad was April 10,2018.  Mid June I developed a dry cough.  Didn't think too much about it until 3 weeks later I was so tired.  Went to Dr and they did chest X-ray.  Said it appeared to be  community pneumonia.  I didnt think so.  Asked if this could be from radiation, pneumanitis.  Radiology stuck with pneumonia and put me on antibiotics for 5 days and said come back in 3 wks for another X-ray.  1 week later I went back and said this doesn't seem to be going away.  I wanted a CT scan so this 2nd Dr ordered it due to my recent breast cancer/radiation.  CT scan showed what I thought, plus community pneumonia but also multiple ground glass nodules  and it was noted they can't rule out metatastic lung disease.  I'm very worried.  They put me  more potent antibiotics and prednisone for 12 days and said repeat CT scan in 4-5 weeks.  That happens Aug 30.  Was told if still signs of this I need a lung biopsy.  My cough and tiredness are pretty much gone but these nodules have me worried.

  • Yon13
    Yon13 Member Posts: 1
    To have radiation treatment or Not

    I had my lumpectomy 2 weeks ago. Lympnodes came back negative and margins were clear. I am told that standard treatment is radiation and hormone therapy.  My cancer in invasive mucinous carcinoma and was caught very early only 5mm tumor. 

    If I do Nothing else there is a 10-15% chance of a reoccurrence.  

    If I do the treatments it will cut that chance in half so 5-8% chance of reoccurrence. 

    Am I crazy to even consider not doing the treatments? I just think burning and poisoning seem somewhat barbaric means of treating an illness. What are the risk factors for a new illness occurring from the radiation or hormone therapy? 

     

     

  • inkblot
    inkblot Member Posts: 698 Member
    Yon13 said:

    To have radiation treatment or Not

    I had my lumpectomy 2 weeks ago. Lympnodes came back negative and margins were clear. I am told that standard treatment is radiation and hormone therapy.  My cancer in invasive mucinous carcinoma and was caught very early only 5mm tumor. 

    If I do Nothing else there is a 10-15% chance of a reoccurrence.  

    If I do the treatments it will cut that chance in half so 5-8% chance of reoccurrence. 

    Am I crazy to even consider not doing the treatments? I just think burning and poisoning seem somewhat barbaric means of treating an illness. What are the risk factors for a new illness occurring from the radiation or hormone therapy? 

     

     

    Radition or not

    Hey Yon13. 

    I get your reluctance.  I think we have to accept that nothing is without risks.  Most especially concerning cancer treatments.

     

    I had surgery, chemo and radiation, in that order, 17 years ago.

     

    Yes, I'm still here, but have had my share of late side effects and difficulties.  Including some heart damage from both radiation and chemo.  I knew the risks, at the outset, as I made my decisions.  Would I have doine anything differently, today, than I chose to do then?  I cannot say, with 100% certainty.  I honestly don't think about it much at all. RAther, I choose to feel that I made my best decision at the time and I got through it all and moved on.  And thrilled, when I had that last rad!!!

     

    Bottom line is that every "body" is different.  Notwithstanding what the docs may think...that everyone's biological systems are basically the same; they are not.  We all respond differently to the very same things.  So it is with cancer treatment.  Some people may burn very, very badly with rads, while others scarcely burn at all.  Some end up with a smaller breast, which can be hard, discolored, etc., while others breast may scarcely show any negative effects at all. 

     

    Bottom line, is that we cannot possibly ever know then, what we know now.  And we also feel differently, at different stages in our lives about our decisions, than we may have felt then or how we may feel now. 

     

    My suggestion is to relax your mind and emotions.  Perhpas consider a 2nd opinion, just for the additional input.  And do exactly what you're doing here...ASK those who have been there.  Make some quiet time just for you, and feel inside yourself, for your particular answers.  What's right for you.  The answers will come.  And once you have made your treatment decisions, don't look back, after the fact.  There is nothing to be gained from that, except perhaps some self recrimination or regrets.  I know too many women who desperately wish they'd made different choices, back when. Truth is, that it's a highly emotional time in our lives and while we may make some decisions for the wrong reasons, we must steele ourselves and try to avoid that.  And no one else can really tell us what is best for us to do.  Not our loved ones, not our friends and not even our docs when you get down to it.  It is your body, your life, your future and your decision to make.  (For what it's worth, I agree with you.  Slicing, dicing, burning and poisioning, is a barbaric business and comes at a price which is more for some than for others.  Yet, it's all we have to rise against the beast.  That and our own determination, coupled with our personal belief system, support system and our stamina.  I have always believed that if I can do this, anyone else can do it too, and do it well.  So, take some self time and make your decisions and get on with your life.  Starting today!)

    I wish you the easiest passage possible over this rough terrain, for today and for all your tomorrows. You have many sisters who have gone before you and many who will follow your journey and mine. And while each journey is different, we still share so many of the same fears, concerns, issues and emotions. You are not alone! 

    Here, you can share, vent, commiserate, moan and bemoan, laugh and even cry, at times.  CSN was always one of my fav sites back then and I still check in annually or so.  Mostly I read and I rarely post.  Your post reached out to me, so here I am responding.  I hope what I've said may be of some help to you in some way as you navigate the decision making process.  Just try not to get too caught up in statistics, because you're one person.  Stats are really only useful to docs and the scientific community, for the most part.  You are a very unique individual.  More than a diagnosis, more than a case, more than you may believe yourself to be.  You are an amazing person, faced with some difficult decisions and I have every confidence you will make the right ones for yourself.  

     

    Love, light & laughter,

    Ink