Carotid Artery Stroke Issue From Radiation Treatment

wbcgaruss

Hello, Folks-I encountered this discussion on another H&N forum and thought it was important to share here. Please read this lady's account of having a stroke due to muscle stenosis around the carotid artery from radiation treatment 15 years prior. I believe I had heard of this but had forgotten about it. I don't think it is that prevalent a problem but it can occur. You may want to check with your ENT or cancer team and see if they think you should get an ultrasound of your carotid artery to make sure there are no issues in your case. I am going to question my ENT on it at the next follow-up. You know the old saying around here "Radiation--The gift that keeps on giving."

Take Care, God Bless-Russ

Below is the lady's recounting of her story--

Good evening all.. Hoping to help others… I’m a Thrivor and it’s been a wandering road. I like many of you, have experienced issues resulting from radiation. It’s been 16 years since treatment ended and yes (I’m grateful) to have experienced a good life. Saliva snd taste have been challenging yet I can eat. Physical therapy for mouth opening helped greatly s few years ago to open my mouth wider and eat a little more easily.

Work with my dentist and other physical therapy professionals has enabled me to keep my teeth and continue to keep my neck moving. Good things I think😋

I want to share this part of my Thrivorship with each of you to help you manage your personal journey. In August 2021,late at night, I found myself on the floor next to our bed wondering why I wasn’t able to get myself up. My husband quickly came to my side and told me he had called 911 and they were on their way. My angel EMT arrived to tell me I had a stroke and they were calling a helicopter to get me quickly to a regional medical center where I had been treated for cancer.

I arrived to be rushed to surgery to remove the clot in my brain. All the while I knew I would be well again.

Consultations the next day informed us that the stroke had been caused by muscle stenosis around the carotid artery from radiation treatment 15 years prior. Of course this resulted in more discussions with radiation. Oncology professionals.

When we asked why there was no protocol to determine this issue we were told that physicians didn’t expect patients to live this long. Not the answers we were looking for

In the last many months I’ve had a full recovery and have committed myself to understanding how to help others avoid this potential problem

Conversations with professionals centered around ultra sounds of the carotid as an evaluation available to us.

As you see your oncology professional annually or how ever frequent it is, ask about fibrosis and stenosis impacting your future health and then request an ultra sound to evaluate the blood flow.

I wouldn’t want any of you to have this happen if it can be avoided.

A stent in my carotid is ultra sounded annually to assure blood flow

Let us know of your experiences and outcomes. Ask any questions and we can all try to support one another.

I’m so happy to be here with all of you. Kris

MarineE5

Russ,

Thank you for this post. My Radiation Oncologist told me to have an Ultrasound done around the 10 year mark as the Radiation could cause our Carotid Arteries to shrink and have less blood flow, etc. I did have it done at that time and recently have been thinking about asking to have it done again. Thank you for the reminder. Very helpful information for all of us.

My Best to You and Everyone Here

wbcgaruss

Marine so glad it was timely for you. It may turn out to be timely for others also. This could also be devine timing for some of us that this post was made, we shall see. I hope your Ultrasound, if you get one is clear with good blood flow with no problems.

Take Care, God Bless-Russ

motorcycleguy

This is very timely information for me. I'm seeing a Cardiologist to investigate some heart valve questions. I'll also ask them about my Carotid artery stent... Thanks!

wbcgaruss

Very good MG, I am glad this has made you aware, apparently at the same time you are investigating another situation and are with a doctor that should be able to address this also. He may want to question your radiation doctor on the radiation fields and the strength of radiation delivered. I hope you are still doing well and enjoying life after going through the gauntlet of H&N cancer treatment.

Wishing You the Best

Take Care, God Bless-Russ

SuzJ

I know rads hurt my baroreceptors, so I think its fair to say, my carotid suffered a little.

Thanks for the heads up, next time I don't skip an appt, I'll ask :)

wbcgaruss

Very good, Suz I am so glad this is making people aware of the possible carotid artery issue post radiation

Take Care, God Bless-Russ

ERomanO

Hello, Russ. Good info for sure. I'm pretty sure I was made aware of the possible carotid issue, both by my oncology staff and the good folks here. But ever since undergoing treatment my PCP has been at least listening to the blood flow with a stethoscope at my yearly physical. So I feel like she would send me to get an ultrasound if something didn't sound quite normal.

wbcgaruss

Well, hello Mr. Romano, glad to hear from you and hope you are doing well. I am glad you are aware of it and your PCP is on top of it making sure you are in good health.

Take Care, God Bless-Russ

ERomanO

All good here, Russ. Just super busy. Life does not slow down for me.

I will try to remember to bring up the carotid artery at my followup next month. I remember my radiology oncologist explaining the radiation treatments, how they try to minimize dosages, and all of the things they will avoid radiating due to the location of the tumor. But he ended by saying "Unfortunately, we can't avoid the carotid artery. But the good news is that it's very tough and can handle the radiation". Of course, he went on to explain the possibility of long term effects.

Between my oncology staff, PCP, dentist, and dermatologist, it would seem almost impossible for an issue to slide by unnoticed. but being self aware is extremely important, too.

wbcgaruss

Very good Mr. Romano, I am so glad for you to be feeling good and super busy.

Remember when you like all of us had cancer come into our busy lives and suddenly everything was on hold?

Just a distant memory now.

It also sounds like you are, shall we say, surrounded by a good care team.

Life is Good

God is Great.

Take Care, God Bless-Russ