We often talk about how radiation is the gift that keeps on giving. My cardiologist just did a ultrasound on my carotid artery and everything was fine. His experience was that long term effects of radiation to base of tongue cancers appear anywhere from three to ten to fifteen years after radiation.
It's a quick painless test, Here is a link to a nice visual chart on how radiation can damage the carotid. You have to scroll down midway thru the article to click on the link labelled view illustration: late effect of radiation. I couldn't get the sub link to work
Late effects of radiation
The article its from is very interesting and it appears that the IMRT now is better focused than the old radiation but I hope to live those ten to fifteen years to find out for myself.
Keep the faith
Charm