Greetings,

Thank you, Brian, for contributing to this thread.

I am currently waiting for yet another ultrasound appointment, ordered by the vascular surgeon my personal physician referred me to ( I guess the recent ultrasound I had of my affected carotid artery wasn't suitable?? ). In any event, I plan to consult with this surgeon and, in-part, attempt to ascertain his experience ( if any ), in working on radiation-damaged arteries.

I spoke with my Oncologist about this issue of carotid artery damage / occlusion from radiation treatment and was somewhat taken aback by his thoughts. First off, he seemed to be mostly unaware of this type of problem and spoke of other reasons causing the build-up, even had reasons why the unaffected carotid artery was 'clear.' After some discussion, he asked that the consulting Surgeon's office send him a copy of the report of his evaluation. He further said he could arrange for me to consult with the vascular surgical team at Princess Margaret Cancer Hospital, if I was interested.

I most certainly am!

Living here in Southern Ontario, I'm concerned about finding a surgeon experienced in dealing with irradiated, damaged arterial tissue. Princess Margaret is a top-notch cancer centre, thus I'm hoping the surgeons there will have the experience I seek.

Thanks to everyone who is contributing their knowledge and experiences here.

Princess Margaret is a first class institution. You will get your answers there. And they have a staff that can deal with whatever the issue ultimately is.

I am a bit appalled that your doctor was unaware that carotid artery damage is one of the most common adverse events related to head and neck radiation. It can be damaged in numerous ways. He’s only thinking about how it becomes occluded in normal people. Of course that is primarily through the crappy diets that must people have combined with their sedentary lifestyles. That build up fatty plaque in the artery and long-term creates calcified deposits. Radiation has little to do with those kinds of fat accumulations. It can cause a completely different menu of problems. His myopic perspective is a good reason to go elsewhere.

I’m pretty confident that good doctors would not leave a clot in there that has the potential to move. And if it was a clot they would be thinking if safe ways to get rid of it.

I’m so glad you are being proactive and going to PM. Please post back when you have an update. Wishing you the best. B

Hello and thank you for sharing your experiences. Today I was diagnosed with bulky calcified atheroma in the carotid arteries on both my right and left sides. The docs are presuming it is because of the Radiation Fibrosis and Cachexia.

Sorry there isn’t much else I can say now, I’m still trying to process this diagnosis.

It doesn’t surprise me. I’ve been around the block and back. I’ve lived way longer than any doctor predicted. I’ve come to understand that most cancer doctors are so wrapped up in the healing they give that they can’t process the damage they do.

I’m not criticizing them but just saying that their mentality suppresses the known damage the treatments cause and they focus on the good it does instead —a denial on their part. Thanks to them though I’m still alive.

I’m wondering how you made out. Hope you’re OK. Experiencing similar issues.

Brian:

Just an insight into what is supposed to be the best Cancer Center in Rhode Island (and New England), since my original post detailing the Carotid Artery Disease, I have had 3 follow up appointments with my Surgical Oncologist and today they called and canceled today’s appointment.

They have canceled all appointments and I have not been seen to date.

I had typed a detailed reply however in my stupidity I accidentally deleted it.

What I would like to say is that I have seen my PCP today after my Surgical Oncologist had canceled my last 3 appointments.

The significance is that I would have expected a better understanding of my condition however my PCP surprised me by sharing his knowledge of radiation damage to the Carotid Arteries.

He has indeed decided to treat this as any other arterial sclerosis. I’m not sure if I am comfortable with that. I have bleeding issues and he has ordered blood thinners. I have read that this isn’t the correct way to approach this situation. He has also indicated that he is concerned that I have blockages in other areas.

I have read a considerable amount of medical journals suggesting this is not the correct approach.

I should add that I have had considerable difficulty breathing lately. My body temperature bounces around as much as my blood pressure, although he didn’t seem concerned about that.

I have read that the temperature issue may be caused by insufficient oxygen delivery to my hypothalamus and the memory impairment I’ve been experiencing is also caused by insufficient blood flow.

I don’t know what to think.

I don’t mean to interject my thoughts into your conversation however I just wanted to say that I experienced the same thyroid failure 7 years post treatment. I had no idea that my swollen belly, exhaustion and intolerance to cold were due to hypothyroidism.

When it was diagnosed I went through several medications and dosages until it was under control.

I found I was allergic to something in the generics but could take Synthroid.

It is crucial that you take this medication as directed. I awake around 4:00 am daily and swallow it with a glass of water. Then I go back to sleep.

It took quite some time for me to adapt to this schedule, but once you do, you will feel way better.

17 years 3 months post treatment.

Zero thyroid.

Both carotid artery’s shot. R is 100% gone. L was 5% remaining.

Found the best surgeon for this in the world - he restored 100% on L.

Now. Massive dental decay and disease.

If you’re on the right dose there’s no need to be so regimented. It’s absorption rate is very long and waking to take it at 4am is not even remotely needed in my experience.

Sleep hygiene is 10x more important.

I take my levothyroxine in the mornings but miss at least 4 does a month and often take it with my full breakfast. Sometimes not.

Never after 3-4 pm since it can keep you up.

Hope this helps.