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Hi,

I would like to introduce my self and my name is Sallyanne.  I was diagnosed with small cell adeno carcinoma lung cancer in right lower lobe and 2 lymph nodes in brochial area and they were tested malignant. 

I had 4 rounds of chemotherapy, robotic surgery.  At the time of the surgery, the two lymnph nodes were begnign and tumor in lower lobe was shrunk by the chemo and removed.  But, there were two lymph nodes in between the upper and lower lung in the bronchial tree that surgeon tried to remove and some pieces broke off. Pathology lab was able to test the remaining tissue and they were malignant.  

Has anyone had this experience or heard of this happening?  

My Oncologist recommended 30 radiation treatments, 5 days a week for 6 weeks, on my chest.  I am having trouble with my esophogus, difficulty swallowing and pain, tightness in my chest with a lot of coughing.

I read that there could be a possibility of permanent damage to the esphogus with ulcers and inflammation. I asked the Radiation Oncologist and he said there is a possibility and there are side effects.  I am in the 4th week of radiation and very concerned if I should continue.

Has anyone had or having this experience with radiation?

Thanks for your response!

Sallyanne

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Hi Sally and welcome. I had a severe case of esophagitis that started 2 weeks into a 6-week course of radiation. The mistake I made was not getting a palliative care specialist on my team before treatments started. I just didn't know any better. My radiation oncologist was sympathetic but unhelpful. 

I can't tolerate oxycodone or morphine. My wonderful palliative care doctor prescribed methadone for the pain, which helped tremendously. After I went on a targeted therapy, I was switched to a Fentanyl patch. My esophagitis took 5 months to heal and then I was discharged from palliative care. (During the time I had esophagitis I had acid reflux as well.)

For swallowing difficulties, there are swallowing therapists who should be able to help. The foods you can tolerate might change from hour to hour. It's best to stay with soft, non-acidic foods. 

Many people only have esophagitis for a few weeks. I'm happy to report that mine healed completely, as confirmed by an upper GI endoscopy. 

I was diagnosed with Stage 3b EGFR+ adenocarcinoma in October 2019. I had 6x chemo (carboplatin and taxol), 30x radiation and am now on a targeted therapy. I have been through the absolute worst but am grateful to be cancer-free 3 years after diagnosis. 

My best advice is to get pain management from a palliative care doctor and also see a swallowing therapist. I hope your side effects heal quickly. 

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Hi Sallyanne. I had 30 daily radiation treatments along with chemo for my Sclc. My esophagus also got inflamed and I had difficulty swallowing and heartburn. My radiologist prescribed famotidine and a Benadryl,maalox,lidocaine mixture that numbed the throat and esophagus for about 30 minutes so I could eat. I am 8 months out from finishing radiation and only have the heartburn that I am still dealing with. On ct scan my esophagus does show some thickening but drs are not concerned. Hope you will find some relief.

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Sallyanne,

I also had 30 treatments of fractional general radiation as part of my fist line therapy. And, I had many of the same symptoms that Judy and Pstar report. There is a possibility of permanent damage to tissues in your chest but it is a very small one. Your radiation oncologist would not have authorized this type of treatment if you had greater than a very small risk of permanent damage. Can it occur? Yes but most of us have difficulty swallowing, a dry cough, and pain breathing deeply. I also have "alligator skin" patches on my chest but I received my fractional radiation in 2004. Fortunately, equipment and methods have improved a great deal since then.

I would recommend you continue with your treatment. Your objective is to kill any cancer cells that might start a metastasis to another part of your body and radiation is a sure kill "killing treatment method." You might start to feel very tired as you move into week 5 and 6 of your treatment. I recovered from this fatigue about a month after radiation was over. More questions? This is the place for answers.

Stay the course.

Tom

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I also had 30 treatments of radiation and 2 rounds of chemo(Taxol and Carpo). I originally had 4cm mass in lower right lung-stage 3A found in April 2022. Had a PET scan after treatments and the tumor had decreased to 2 cm and the mediastinal lymph nodes any trace of cancer was gone. Sept 9 I had a lobectomy and am now cancer free. Next  - 2 more rounds of chemo and then Immunotherapy(Tecentriq) for a year. To say I am grateful will never be enough.

I am experiencing Acid Reflux and probably Esophagitis after the surgery. Some coughing also. Thanks to Judy for your information! And thanks to everyone on this forum.

 

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  • 4 weeks later...

Sallyanne 

Sorry I only just saw this post, i also had the same symptoms as you are experiencing after the radiotherapy but it did get better eventually they told me there was scarring and it might never go, I feel like I've lost some lung capacity with my breathing but they did tell me that would happen but it was a shock now it's happened, I really hope you feel better soon 

Take care Justin 

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