| | Joined: Oct 2011 Posts: 5 Member | OP  Member
Joined: Oct 2011 Posts: 5 | I had both surgery and radiation treatment 12 years ago for my oral cancer. I just found out that the carotid on the side where I had the surgery and radiation is nearly completely closed from plaque. The other carotid is 65% closed. I am wondering if there is a correlation for the advanced stage of closure due to the treatments on that side of my neck for the cancer. I am so grateful to be still free of cancer. I had quit chewing tobacco a year before the cancer was found and have not chewed since. Perhaps someone out there has had some knowledge of the carotid problem I am having now. All of my lymph nodes in my head were removed and I had 6 weeks of radiation. I am now 52. I have a family history of high cholesterol and have been on Crestor for 10 years now. My main question is about any correlation between the treatment and the advanced build up of plaque in that artery. It makes sense to me that it could happen but I'm not a doctor.
DX 1999 Oral Cancer - chewing tobacco.
Had surgery to remove all lymph nodes in head as well as a large section of tissue containing infected node(jaw area) and then 6 weeks of daily radiation.
2 stents 2011 due to damage from radiation. One stent in carotid, one in chest. Now 54 years old.
| | | | | Joined: Mar 2008 Posts: 3,082 Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | | Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Joined: Mar 2008 Posts: 3,082 | The answer is YES. Here is a link to a thread spanning two years discussing this. Just click on it cartoid artery Hope this helps charm
65 yr Old Frack
Stage IV BOT T3N2M0 HPV 16+
2007:72GY IMRT(40) 8 ERBITUX No PEG
2008:CANCER BACK Salvage Surgery
25GY-CyberKnife(5) 3 Carboplatin
Apaghia /G button
2012: CANCER BACK -left tonsilar fossa
40GY-CyberKnife(5) 3 Carboplatin
Passed away 4-29-13
| | | | | Joined: Oct 2011 Posts: 5 Member | | OP Member
Joined: Oct 2011 Posts: 5 | Thanks much! I will go take a look.
DX 1999 Oral Cancer - chewing tobacco.
Had surgery to remove all lymph nodes in head as well as a large section of tissue containing infected node(jaw area) and then 6 weeks of daily radiation.
2 stents 2011 due to damage from radiation. One stent in carotid, one in chest. Now 54 years old.
| | | | | Joined: Mar 2002 Posts: 4,912 Likes: 52 OCF Founder Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | | OCF Founder Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Joined: Mar 2002 Posts: 4,912 Likes: 52 |
Brian, stage 4 oral cancer survivor. OCF Founder and Director. The first responsibility of a leader is to define reality. The last is to say thank you. In between, the leader is a servant.
| | | | | Joined: Oct 2011 Posts: 5 Member | | OP Member
Joined: Oct 2011 Posts: 5 | Since my last post I had 2 stents put in. One in my carotid and one in an artery in my chest. Both due to the effects of my previous radiation.
DX 1999 Oral Cancer - chewing tobacco.
Had surgery to remove all lymph nodes in head as well as a large section of tissue containing infected node(jaw area) and then 6 weeks of daily radiation.
2 stents 2011 due to damage from radiation. One stent in carotid, one in chest. Now 54 years old.
| | | | | Joined: Jun 2007 Posts: 10,507 Likes: 7 Administrator, Director of Patient Support Services Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | | Administrator, Director of Patient Support Services Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Joined: Jun 2007 Posts: 10,507 Likes: 7 | Hope you are doing much better now with the stents. Best wishes!
ChristineSCC 6/15/07 L chk & by L molar both Stag I, age44 2x cispltn-35 IMRT end 9/27/07 -65 lbs in 2 mo, no caregvr Clear PET 1/08 4/4/08 recur L chk Stag I surg 4/16/08 clr marg 215 HBO dives 3/09 teeth out, trismus 7/2/09 recur, Stg IV 8/24/09 trach, ND, mandiblctmy 3wks medicly inducd coma 2 mo xtended hospital stay, ICU & burn unit PICC line IV antibx 8 mo 10/4/10, 2/14/11 reconst surg OC 3x in 3 years very happy to be alive  | | | | | Joined: Oct 2011 Posts: 5 Member | | OP Member
Joined: Oct 2011 Posts: 5 | I have been doing well with the stents. But the last few days I have been very tired and seem to want to sleep all the time. I have also been have an upset stomach often. I also am having a more difficult time swallowing pills. Any ideas? Thank you.
Last edited by FredB; 04-29-2013 02:53 AM.
DX 1999 Oral Cancer - chewing tobacco.
Had surgery to remove all lymph nodes in head as well as a large section of tissue containing infected node(jaw area) and then 6 weeks of daily radiation.
2 stents 2011 due to damage from radiation. One stent in carotid, one in chest. Now 54 years old.
| | | | | Joined: Feb 2012 Posts: 151 Senior Member (100+ posts) | | Senior Member (100+ posts)
Joined: Feb 2012 Posts: 151 | After my husband about choked on one of his large pills we bought a pill crusher that worked great during that time.
Husband diagnosed Oct '11 Cancer of the vocal cord Nov '11 removed right vocal cord. Neck Dissection, cancer in one node, .2, very small & contained) Jan '12 Radiation and Cisplatin, 6 doses. June '12 & Dec '12 clear Pet scan. April '13 Celebrating 1 year cancer free since treatment ended.
| | | | | Joined: Jul 2012 Posts: 3,267 Likes: 1 Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | | Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Joined: Jul 2012 Posts: 3,267 Likes: 1 | Thanks for the posts, and links on this subject. With my three neck dissections, plus intraoperative radiation, pec flap, and CRT, there is risk of carotid leak or blow out, some occurring 7 months post treatment, for my type surgery. My carotid was already compromised from my first neck dissection when the tumor needed to be scraped off the carotid artery, and then aloderm placed on it to protect it since my neck muscle was removed. My 2nd neck dissection, another tumor had to be scraped off the carotid, as much as possible, and ENT said he couldn't go any further. For my last surgery, the aloderm had to be peeled off, which my ENT said was the most difficult part of the operation, and pec placed instead to protect the carotid, and to do further CRT.
10/09 T1N2bM0 Tonsil
11/09 Taxo Cisp 5-FU, 6 Months Hosp
01/11 35 IMRT 70Gy 7 Wks
06/11 30 HBO
08/11 RND PNI
06/12 SND PNI LVI
08/12 RND Pec Flap IORT 12 Gy
10/12 25 IMRT 50Gy 6 Wks Taxo Erbitux
10/13 SND
10/13 TBO/Angiograph
10/13 RND Carotid Remove IORT 10Gy PNI
12/13 25 Protons 50Gy 6 Wks Carbo
11/14 All Teeth Extract 30 HBO
03/15 Sequestromy Buccal Flap ORN
09/16 Mandibulectomy Fib Flap Sternotomy
04/17 Regraft hypergranulation Donor Site
06/17 Heart Attack Stent
02/19 Finally Cancer Free Took 10 yrs
| | | | | Joined: Dec 2010 Posts: 5,260 Likes: 3 "OCF Canuck" Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | | "OCF Canuck" Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Joined: Dec 2010 Posts: 5,260 Likes: 3 | Hope you are feeling perky now paul! ;o)
Cheryl : Irritation - 2004 BX: 6/2008 : Inflam. BX: 12/10, DX: 12/10 : SCC - LS tongue well dif. T2N1M0. 2/11 hemigloss + recon. : PND - 40 nodes - 39 clear. 3/11 - 5/11 IMRT 33 + cis x2, PEG 3/28/11 - 5/19/11 3 head, 2 chest scans - clear(fingers crossed) HPV-, No smoke, drink, or drugs, Vegan
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