Am interested in any information on damage to arteries after radiation to the neck.Has anyone had any problems with this?

Gwen, I have not had any problem with damage to any artery from rad or chemo or surgery to my knowledge. Are you having issues? I have heard that chemo can sometimes weaken arterial walls and cause hemerage (sp). Please provide more details and someone may be able to help.

It is true that there is a relationship and can be some carotid damage after radiation. This varies from patient to patient and is highly variable depending on where and how much radiation the arteries received. I recently had a carotid ultrasound that showed no issues with mine...I am having some issues that may be related to decreased blood flow or low blood pressure episodes, and the docs wanted to check this out. I looked good on the scans so it must be something else. But there is definitely an issue in this area. Carotid artery stenosis from radiation is a reality.

Thank you so much for both of your replies. The reason I asked is because I am having some issues with dizziness and my ability to keep focused when reading. I never was this way until after 'THE BATTLE'. I was wondering if there was a connection since arteries are tissue and radiation can harm healthy tissues. I guess it's just another thing they just don't inform us about.

This may be more related to radiation damage to the nerves around the inner ear ( I also have this issue) There is nothing you can do about it, and about the 3rd year out of treatment is when the nerve damage issues start cropping up. I also have a slow degeneration of part of my facial nerves that causes the right corner of my mouth to droop. The worst patients actually look like they have had a stroke, but it is just the facial nerve damage from the radiation. This is very powerful stuff and those of us that were not in the IMRT group got the largest doses.......

Thank you so much Brian. I will be three years out this July. I to have a slight droop to the right side of my mouth and sometimes I have trouble saying certain words, at least I know I am not in the boat by myself!!

Gwen: Good idea to get an easy to operate blood pressure cuff and take your pressure when feeling dizzy spells and see if there is a relationship. Keep in touch with your primary doctor when having systoms. Every patient is slightly different and not all arteries will be impacted by radiation. I had tests a year ago and they were negative for such damage.

The ENT said he couldn't get all the cancer due to some on or near the carthoid artery. They told me the radiation would take care of the rest. No problems with anything i'm aware of yet and that is 1-3/4 years out.

Danny Boy

Good for you Danny Boy
Cathy