Question about Rad

taleena

About 10 years ago I had a pool accident, I ended up in the hospital with a chest tube in my lung because I broke two ribs and collapsed my left lung. There is, obviously, scar tissue in my left lung. The beast is in my left breast.. so rad will be on that side... I have heard that rad treatment have the potential to cause secondary cancer to lungs... Has anyone here had a prior lung injury...or any experience with this situation... where they received rad treatment...shaking... thinking I think too much... can't seem to turn it off this morning...

I feel like such a pain... right now I feel like this board is my lifeline... I'm holding on... having a real hard time today!

rjjj

Taleena
I haven't experienced this but I'm sure others will chime in here. I haven't heard that rads could cause a secondary cancer to the lungs...now i am shaking! I think that the % of that happening is very low. I am having rads on the left side, and the side effects they mentioned were all 5-7% chance. but I would for sure tell your DR.'s about your prior injury and I am sure they will monitor it very closely.

It seems we worry about every-little thing. I know I thought for sure I had a tumor the size of a basket-ball as my rib cage on the left side seemed to protrude..quite a bit, I asked the Rad. Onc. about this and they said it is lymphedemia in the trunk region and have me scheduled Monday to a lymphedemia specialist in Billings Monday. I lost a few nights sleep worrying about it though. My best advice is to just ask the Doctors ANYTHING that you are worried about.

You are NOT a pain!!! and this board has also been my life-line many many times. I hope your day gets better. Here's a big HUG to you.
love, Jackie

Akiss4me

Hold on tight Taleena!!
Well what took you so long!!??? I tried waiting for you to go thru this "Rad" phase but beat you to it!! Your going thru the same feelings I just went thru about this. I read EVERTHING about it and spooked myself silly!! I really believe what happens to us is God's will and so I finally turned everything over to him. But if your like me, this sometimes feels like it isn't enough to calm me at the moment. I spent 3 days petrified over having rads. Then realized we may or may not get any symptoms or all of them. My biggest fear was going into congestive heart failure. Although my Dr confirmed this is a possibility odds were so small. My thoughts...SOMEBODY has to be that small chance (of course I was convinced that would be me). Then I realized that I was putting so much of my faith in men instead of the Lord. Now I'm finding more confort in the fact that the Lord will put the right men in place for me and what happens will be according to His plan He has for me. What you are going thru I think many of us have experienced and you do make it to the other end even if you feel like you'll stay panicked & terrified forever. Hang in there, Taleena and keep talking to us till you feel better....we're holding the other end of the rope for you and will help to reel you back in!! (Patting your back!!) Pammy

NorcalJ

Rads
Hi!

If you're nuts because of your worrying, then we're all there with you. Maybe the beast isn't the FIRST thing that comes to mind as soon as we wake up, but it certainly is lurking around at 2nd or 3rd.

The radiation is very well directed at just the area needed, that's the reason for the very low percentage of problems. They do it at such a precise angle, just to avoid lungs, heart, and all those other parts we covet!

But, I agree, whatever your concerns are---talk to the Dr. I had the exact same questions---on a long written list, and didn't let the doc out of the room until they were answered---and I asked a few times because of chemo brain and short term memory!

Good luck, you're DEFINITELY not alone!

seof

In the same boat
We all experience fear and every little thing we read can make us crazy. Faith in God is my most important source of strength, but I also have to trust the medical team. The place I got my treatments at has a good reputation, so I had to trust that they hired good people and used good equipment. Modern radiation techniques are very precise and controlled. "Collateral damage" is kept to a minimum. Nonetheless, as with everything, talk to your Dr. about your fears, and be an informed patient.

Take care of yourself, seof.

Christmas Girl

You are certainly not a "pain"
Because we're either also where you are right now, and have already been there. So, we understand.

The risk you mention is quite low. The techniques and even the equipment itself is much more advanced than it once was, as with most everything else. Every treatment, and therefore every decision, does carry some risk. Even surgery is risky. Yet, who would allow a cancerous tumor to remain in their body? The point is always to WEIGH the risks, one against the other. Your own doctors, always, are your best guide. And if they don't already know about your long ago injury - please, be sure to tell them about.

Best wishes to you, taleena.

Kind regards, Susan

Noel

Have you voiced these
Have you voiced these concerns to your oncologist and radiation oncologist? Because you should. The rad treatments now are so good inre to not harming your organs or other tissue. They are kind of concave, kind of like 3D. Your radiation oncologist can explain it better. Don't be afraid of rads, they can save your life. Talk to your doctors. And noone is a pain here, we are all in the same boat and have questions. So, welcome and ask away!

djteach

Hi Taleena,
I'm Donna. I had
Hi Taleena,
I'm Donna. I had radiation and I had scar tissue in my exposed lung. The only thing it did was stop my bone metastises-my vertebrea and that's it. I have never heard that radiation will cause lung cancer, not that it can't, I've just never heard of it. You've been given some great advise and I know that you will do what you feel is right for you. Have you been to a breast center? Sometimes, they will have more info. than your average onc.
You will be in my thoughts. Hang in there, this is doable!

Love and gentle hugs,
Donna