Relief for radiation to C2

[Drandma]

My husband just finished 5 treatments of SBRT to the C2. He has blisters in his mouth and down his throat and has a terrible time swallowing anything. Smoothies are even difficult. I did contact the cancer clinic and they called him in something that contains linocane (sp), benedryl and something else that is supposed to help soothe his pain. My question is to anyone that may have had radiation to the C2 or nearby, did you experience this? If so, how long did it last? He is now questioning his decision to have radiation. He is scheduled to meet with the oncologist on June 6 to discuss radiation to the hilar lymph node.

[Tall_Allen]

Unless there is pain or the bone lesion is so big it may fracture the spine, I don't see the point of radiation. The side effects can outweigh any benefit, which is uncertain, anyway. To me, safety is the paramount issue.

[Joeym1040 in reply to Tall_Allen]

TA: I was going to ask the question "what is considered big", and does it make a difference where?

[Tall_Allen in reply to Joeym1040]

"Big" means big enough to interfere with function or cause spinal compression. Ask a neurologist.

[PGDuan]

Hi there,

I had SBRT to C5.

The sore throat was worse than I expected too, but after a week or two it was much better and has been fine since. I had a small rash/red mark on the back of my neck too that took a few months to fade. Wishing you guys the best-

[Drandma in reply to PGDuan]

I think it’s getting better already. Thank you for your reply. Good luck to you!

[Miccoman]

Due to extreme pain in my neck I had radiation to all of my cervical spine and was roasted from my throat to my back. Radiation Oncologist blames long COVID (apparently I had COVID and didn't know it as there has never been any type of positive test and I've had all the boosters).

The worst side effect was a blister on my uvula which made swallowing very difficult. Ended up in the Emergency Department for 3 days and still have neurological effects like poor saliva, strange taste and low appetite plus pain that radiates down my arms when I look down. Talked to RO today and she insists that it is all due to COVID. Of course no doctor has actually looked at me so ...

Hope your husband heals quickly and has a frank discussion with his oncologist about benefits versus side effects -- actual side effects in their experience, not what the expected side effects are. They told me I would be very tired and might have a little sunburn on my back (I have burn scars there now).

[j-o-h-n in reply to Miccoman]

it is all due to COVID............. WHAT BULLSHIT........... She should have said "it is all due to what I think it may all be due to".......... Hey Harry, please get me the "all due to bullshit binder".... yes Harry the one that's all dog eared....Thank you Harry..... now go down to the cafeteria and bring up two latex glove smoothies (charge them to the hospital expense account).....

Good Luck, Good Health and Good Humor.

j-o-h-n Friday 05/19/2023 8:59 PM DST

[Miccoman in reply to j-o-h-n]

Thanks, j-o-h-n!

I fully agree. The scariest part is she says she is now afraid to give me any radiation, including Pluvicto. I understand her CYA, in view of her position at the University of Rochester Medical Center, but she just goes on and on...

Where's that "Doth protest too much" folder gotten to?

[j-o-h-n in reply to Miccoman]

My wife maintains that one..............................

p.s. Ain't life a bitch?

Good Luck, Good Health and Good Humor.

j-o-h-n Saturday 05/20/2023 2:59 PM DST

[slpdvmmd]

First let me state I am not a radiation oncologist, medical oncologist, or even an oncologic surgeon. However, while the focus of my medical career was hand, wrist, elbow and peripheral nerve surgery, I also spent the first half of my career doing free flap reconstruction post oncologic ablation. During that time I attended many tumor board meetings and radiation oncologists even then were very concerned in vertebral radiation cases with "planning target volume" (simply put the whether just the vertebral body was targeted or the entire vertebra, with the preference for just the vertebral body) and with adjacent organs at risk (referred to as OAR). One thing I concluded from this is that while there are many disadvantages to care at a large institution, a distinct advantage in radiation oncology was focus by individuals in a large group on specific diseases and organ systems. Planning is key (and interestingly planning, probably justifiably so, is the highest reimbursed part of radiation therapy) and the final treatment plan to a large extent determines complications. What always impressed me at the tumor board meeting was how individualized radiation therapy was. Kind of just blabbing but IMO there is very little role for the isolated community radiation oncologist except for very straight forward uncomplicated cases. I am sorry for your husbands complications and hope he will resolve these morbid complications soon.

[Drandma]

My husband is being treated at a university teaching hospital cancer clinic. Before he began the SBRT to the C2, our family was brought in to a conference room with the radiation oncologist and a physicist. His scans were displayed and and they showed us the exact targeted plan using the highest dose possible without doing damage. We do have confidence in his treatment plan and will be discussing treating the hilar lymph node on June 6. My husband’s throat is continuing to get better so hopefully it will heal soon. Thank you for your reply and best of luck to you!