Cobalt radiation as toddler for tonsillitis-Late rffects

dlc123

I am an MD and practiced Pediatric Oncology. I have a story of my own to tell

In the late 1940s and the 1950s, infants and children and teens were given Cobalt radiation for tonsillitis, acne, thymus gland, feet-for proper shoe fitting. All benign conditions

I was 4 years old when I had Colbalt radiation to “shrink” my tonsils. Only 5 years later, at age 9 years old, I developed metastatic follicular thyroid cancer I was cured with surgery no chemo and no radiation

i am 72 years old now, and in my 60s, I started developing Cobalt late effects. Radiation fibrosis, radiation neuropathy, radiation osteonecrosis of my mandible, radiation heart valve damage, brain fog, extreme fatigue, radiation damage to bone marrow and liver, breast sarcoma, retinal detachment.

I attend a late effects clinic but none of the radiation docs have seen my cohorts and the docs that did it to all of us are dead.

Where are all my fellow cohorts? There have been articles written about deaths from squamous cell carcinoma in large areas of radiation to the back of one teenage victim being treated for acne.

There must be thousands f baby boomers out there having been treated for non-cancerous, benign reasons and are developing cancers and many awful things in the decay period which is generally showing up in ones 60s

.Any fellow wounded out there? Would love to spread the word and see what other victims are enduring.

ShadyGuy

My experience with radiation thankfully resulted in no obvious longterm damage like yours. I remember going into the JC Penny shoe department and having my feet imaged for shoe size. I know of no ill effects from it. My older sister however was a polio victim at age 5 and had, literally, a dozen surgeries and I would guess 100s of x-ray and “ static” images. I believe they used Americum and Cobalt - the same elements used to sterilize irradiated foods in Europe. Over her lifetime she was afflicted with several types of hard and soft cancers and finally died from one of them. Back then the radiation was considered avant guard and very useful and quite harmless - some even said it was healthful. In the comic books of the pop culture of that time radiation exposure could turn you into a superhero. It seems to me that some of the modern treatments - novel “vaccines” for example - have the potential for similar results. We just do not know. But oh well - I am too old to die young so it probably will not affect me. I do however worry about my grandchildren.

Best of luck to you.

ShadyGuy

dlc123

https://csn.cancer.org/discussion/comment/1702901#Comment_1702901

Wonderfully said. I appreciate your sharing your thoughts. Totally agree about what is happening in our world today. Loved your comment “I am too old to die young”! I may borrow that from you. I have had a wonderful life and have learned my way around these odd “pop ups”. Just want similar folks are not alone. God has led me through.

Blessings to you, Shady guy,

dlc123

ShadyGuy

I can,t take credit for that quote. It is from an old bluegrass song by Moe Bandy. There is a good rendition on youtube.

Too Old To Die Young

If life is like a candle bright

Then death must be the wind

You can close your window tight

But it still comes blowing in

So I will climb the highest hill

And watch the risin’ sun

And pray that I won’t feel the chill

‘Til I’m too old to die young

   Let me watch my children grow

   To see what they become

   Lord don’t let the cold winds blow

   Til I’m too old to die young

Well I have had some dear sweet friends

I thought would never die

The only thing that’s left of them

Are these teardrops in my eyes

If I could have one wish today

And know it would be done

Then I would pray everyone could stay

‘Til they’re too old to die young

dlc123

Love this. Lots of nostalgia during this station of life. Quite frankly, I do not know low to be old. At 72, I don't feel old. We need some Cliff Notes on this journey. Blessings to you. Thanks so much for the lyrics. Will check out the whole piece on You Tube.

Have a wonderful Lord' Day.

ShadyGuy

From a more recent song:

“Sinning is a lot more fun

Cause only the good die young!”

I do not really subscribe to that view but it certainly is a catchy phrase! Also I was taught punishment comes in the afterlife so bad people often do well in this life. Enough philosophy! Just hoping my upcoming checkup goes well. Having a lot of fatigue lately. No more chemo for me regardless of what the doc says!

dlc123

https://csn.cancer.org/discussion/comment/1702960#Comment_1702960

Thanks for another sharing of great lyrics.

I will be praying for excellent results from your check up. I do understand "no more chemo".As Doctors in the specialty of Oncology, my colleagues and I have always said, "radiation is the gift that keeps on giving". You have probably heard that, and it is true. Since my Cobalt tank is full, no matter what the future holds for my situation, it will not hold any further radiation.

🙏

cathyand80

https://csn.cancer.org/discussion/326107/cobalt-radiation-as-toddler-for-tonsillitis-late-rffects

I had NRI nasopharyngeal radiation irradiation enlarged tonsil adenoids age 6-8 yr old I am 69 yrs old w deteriorating health since my 50’s a retiree RN and just was confirmed by evaluation by ENT ! I was asked 15 yrs ago by my endocrinologist referral for dominant thyroid nodule “ have u had medical radiation in past “ I said “ wouldn’t I remember “ then had to have biopsies q 2 yrs I think ! They were negative so I stopped having them also stopped the Synthroid as it did nothing for me then came to FL follow up w endocrinology he asked me same thing ! It took me 15 yrs to find this info ! I am so angry w med pros in how I have been gaslighted and treated like trash criticizing my nursing degree w a shrink telling me “ you know enough to be dangerous! Anyone can pass the NCLEX exam “ why tell me why are doctors so ignorant to retired nurse s ?? I would never speak to some one in this manner ! Shrinks they used to love to send me to shrinks but all psychiatric disease ruled out ! Why is because they don’t want complex disease pt in the office ! Too much work ! I only hope for my death sooner than later and no I am not suicidal but why allow human to suffer is beyond me! I will not list my long list of surgeries, benign tumors , bone biopsy not finished due to not be sedated correct so only small fragments cortical bone recieved but atypical suspicious for B Cell NHL in Bangor ME 2022 abd report stated “ rebiopsy for flow cytometry w new fresh tissue” but never got a return call ! 2025 I saw a FL oncology he did a lab drawn blood flow cytometry said “ Neg” ! I am done !

cathyand80

Cobalt is not same as nasopharyngeal radiation irradiation that used : alpha, beta and gamma radiation is it ???

cathyand80

Sinning is fun I love the phrase ! I wish I could go back to my sinning days knowing what I know now cause I would have never married had 2 children being stuck ! I would of traveled as RN and enjoyed all what life had to offer

cathyand80

https://csn.cancer.org/discussion/comment/1702960#Comment_1702960

Raised a Roman Catholic Quebec French Canadian you were taught the gloomy prayers like Apostle Creee that speaks of Pontious Pilot the beheaded one that my strange mother used to recite out load when I suspected she was stressed from giving birth to 8 children had a husband that wanted 3 sons! But she refused so he always had a mistress that I can remember ! But god spoon fed to us like little robots but today I don’t know how I feel about God ! If god loves us why allow us to suffer needlessly and medical pros treat us like we don’t matter ! I am so disgusted finding out having radiation as 6-8 yr old and now 69 w barely able to get out of bed w my brain like scrambled eggs ! Please give me and others a way out w dignity cause suicide scares me ! It like a night mare

ShadyGuy

A religious priest, reverend, minister, monk or whatever would probably tell you that God works in mysterious ways.Science is evolving. It is almost able to define what sentience means and how it occurs at the quantum level. That may prove that the spirit is eternal. Then it may just be wrong.

cathyand80

I don’t know what to believe in after being gaslighted by so many med pros ! It leaves a nasty taste in your mouth !
But to find out I had NRI nasopharyngeal radiation irradiation tonsil adenoids I was 8 then age 68 finding out you did have this cruel easy cheap method of surgery by ENT consult and told “ nothing you can do” ! I thought specialists were knowledgeable in the practice they specialize in but I have no respect for oncology as the many I was sent to should of known of this dangerous surgery done on children back in 60’s and what makes this a bad practice is they did not use “ standardized doses” I think what I am experiencing is RFS radiation fibrosis syndrome! Maine has “ right to die” I have a home there , hate the state but am going to info about leaving FL if I can get this life over with ! I have suffered enough as has my family ! My health started deteriorating since age 50 and I can barely get out of bed!

Patients who can’t commit suicide because of fear of going to hell cause that is what was force fed me !
Doctors need to specialize in “ right to die “ cause they certainly don’t want use their brains to order the test etc!!

tom1953

https://csn.cancer.org/discussion/326107/cobalt-radiation-as-toddler-for-tonsillitis-late-rffects

Besides giving radiation treatments for benign issues, they also were not very judicious about limiting the dose even for malignancies or effectively controlling the direction of the dose. I think oncology has vastly improved in that respect.

cathyand80

wish one of you would respond to my comment ! I don’t feel anything can be done for me. Had cervical discotomy in 2010 w 3 cadevar disc C4,5,6 they went to intubate me had issues as large Epiglottis mass was obstructing intubation but they were allowed access then same yr benign squamous Epiglottis tumor removed! 2018 awoke to swelling abdomen w toe looking like pegs CT scan found anal tumor which was surgically removed but have posterior anal wall thickening 4 yrs later and nothing done . Since my 50’s my health hit the tank ! Widespread Livedo Vasculopathy w white pasty dead looking face on occasion that has scared doctors and public but not enough test done ! Then R ball socket detached found in 2013 after I had R hard a axilla lump in R shoulder w yellow then green discharge from R breast I was sent to Trauma surgeon who tried to aspirate the lump but ended up in surgery she got no path as all lymph nodes dissection fell apart leaving me w cording axilla w lymphedema this Bangor Maine trauma surgeon never did this procedure and my breast discharge was never cultured which this has been my neglect in cared my whole life in Maine ! Fl ortho he found the non trauma R ball socket detached which ME had not detected in Maine ! I had blankart , SLAP2 , extended de breedment but I had Catacholamine attack and I was kept over nite observement ! That was 2013 and the ortho did residence in Maine said “ I am not surprised they did not find it ! Then the botched bone bx which showed multiple + cancer markers but 2022 still can’t get it done ! I give up

Any response would be appreciated

cathyand80

https://csn.cancer.org/discussion/326107/cobalt-radiation-as-toddler-for-tonsillitis-late-rffects

can you tell me is the cobalt same as what I had at 6/8 yr old and deteriorating health start age 50 ! Nasopharyngeal radiation irradiation! Pls read my post and respond ! I don’t know what else I can do to find If my symptoms

dlc123

https://csn.cancer.org/discussion/comment/1724772#Comment_1724772

https://csn.cancer.org/discussion/comment/1724772#Comment_1724772

dlc123

Hello,

I have not been on the website for a while so sorry for the slow response.

The radiation you received for NP carcinoma was probably not Cobalt. The issues you have had don’t sound like Cobalt. Cobalt is true in general to its long half life and symptoms usually pop up 50-60 years later. The Cobalt lays down fibrin that causes muscles and ligaments to fail and if the fibrin is deposited in a blood vessel, clots are formed in any area of the body. The damage is more related to cognitive issues, to body parts in the range of scatter that can get stunted growth, lung issues that can lead to lung collapse, teeth and bone necrosis of the bones in the area of scatter-i could go on but the difference is the radiation you received promoted more different types of solid tumors and the many other things you have struggled with that just do not sound like Cobalt.
I am not sure what type of radiation you had but the trauma it caused you and how the Cobalt traumatized me are definitely related to the radiation. I am sorry for what you are going through and it is a sad thing that it happened to small children whose small bodies were victims of radiation scatter that caused awful problems for them later in the prime of life.
praying for your peace and no new problems.