Really long term effects of cobalt radiation?

tyiz

In 1958, at the age of 6, I had a mesenteric lymphangioma. It was histologically benign but growing so fast that it was inoperable. Years later an enhanced CAT scan showed dried lesions in the liver, around the heart and kidneys, so it may have been cancer, after all. The doctors decided on cobalt x-ray therapy. 66 years later, I am very much alive! I have born and raised 8 only children (every child is an only child) and worked my way through many of the negative consequences of radiation sickness. Radiation colitis resolved when I was about 22, I was very late maturing, but I eventually did grow up. Now the process has flipped and I am aging much quicker than usual. I have a lot of fibrous tissue on my intestines and a fissure, which I control with a diet high in fiber (lots of fresh fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds and whole grains, no sugar, very little meat or dairy), Pregnancies were complicated, but I learned workarounds, I have radiation scoliosis, permanent bone damage (diagnosed as scoliosis) to my lower back, pelvis and thighs, compromised vascular system from the waist down, hypothyroidism (which is treated with armor thyroid, a desiccated preparation that works much better than synthroid or levothyroxine). One of my main struggles has been anemia. My body does not tolerate prescription or over the counter iron, but I have found that I can take food based iron and have improved. i still tire easily. I love naps! I too have excessive sensitivity to the sun. I was recently diagnosed with a triple positive breast cancer. I can't reconcile myself to any more radiation so I will be having a mastectomy soon. I wish I could find a doctor here that specializes in long term consequences of cobalt radiation. I did meet recently with a radiologist and he told me that he does not radiate children. I hope that they have found better protocols.

Elishka

https://csn.cancer.org/discussion/comment/1134546#Comment_1134546

i am a 65 yr. survivor of cobalt treatments. I cant believe the medical field was still using cobalt?

Elishka

https://csn.cancer.org/discussion/comment/1256551#Comment_1256551

blessings on your mother and all of you.

Elishka

https://csn.cancer.org/discussion/comment/1724380#Comment_1724380

Elishka

I have always been slower catching on to things and Ive always had a hard time remembering short term memory subjects. always a clutz but now being a clutz could cost me a new hip if i'm not careful. You know, back then nobody even thought of side effects of treatments on anyone let alone 15mos. olds and cobalt then surgery then more radiation. I tell people that they can tell me all their secrets because I won't remember any of it. I'm still bald on the lower half of my head. at 52 I had to have hearing aids, the audiologist whom I saw kept commenting on how bad my hearing loss was at such a young age. Ive had advanced stage osteo arthritis since I was 60 and fibromyalgia since I was in my 30s but now extremely active , Im in level 6-7 pain 24-7. I walk like an umpa loompa. sucks but Oh well , it is what it is. Ive birthed five very healthy babys and enjoyed every moment of raising them. I played quite alot of sports, growing up and as an younger adult,but now Im slow on my feet and in pain and my back is shot too but ideal with everything but slower and with lots of breaks, speaking of tired all the time, never took naps until now, cant stand it. not much left to my day after that, wouldnt matter if I was all by myself but it is I still have a 30 yr.old child with special needs at home so I have to make dinner etc. So now you know me.