Radiation is surely the gift that keeps on giving. My carotid artery has gotten off "scott free" even after 4 years from first radiation and going on 3 for the second round. I did worry after reading similar OCF posts implying that this would also be "typical" damage but a full Carotid Duplex test showed peak systolic velocity of 110 in the right one and 124 in the left one (which got the most radiation due to the field placement)

I still suffer from RIF, and I should have added in that I also do specific weight lifting exercises to strengthen the shoulder muscles as well as my neck muscles to compensate for the radiation damage.

Last but not least, as radiation gets better and better focused, we can hope future patients can be spared.
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