Radiation repercussions almost 10 years later

[Pat94]

I finished radiation 8/1/14. Early this month I caught a cold. Had to see my family Dr. for the continuing cough. The Nurse Practitioner heard wheezing and had an x-ray taken. It was so different from my last one there years ago she wanted a CT scan and for me to start prednisone for lung inflammation. Turns out she was seeing the radiation damage to my right lung. I deferred to my oncologist and refused to take the prednisone. He sees me in a couple of weeks and will decide on what to do. He explained my condition may be radiographic pneumonitis. My CT scans for him have shown the damage for a long time but he is concerned it may have gotten worse. Since the cold started I become breathless when I climb stairs. I saw a cardiologist the week before the cold started and my heart checked out just fine so I am sure it is the lung. The intense cold we have right now makes it worse. I am so tired of one problem cascading into more.

Then I see what others are going through and remind myself how lucky I am. While my white blood count is normal, I realize it will take me longer to heal from respiratory infections with the limited lung function. I think it is a good warning to all of us to be careful with viral and bacterial infections.

[rinaina]

Agness,
What is craniosacrral therapy and why would I need it and also DO?

[agness]

I used different healing modalities after rads to help heal. Craniosacral, myofacial release, and lymphatic massage. Even though they don't tell you this, the first six months are critical to tissue healing -- and that isn't even counting the spillage they did on your insides.

Craniosacral massage is interesting because I've got two women who have practiced it on me. One was able to correct a vagus nerve issue in a minute where my RO was going to have me taking viscous lidocaine with pain for more than two months. I'm having craniosacral massage with my brain rads now too, it gets into your body and connects things in ways that other massage doesn't. Having someone who understands the lymphatic system helps a lot. Some don't believe in it but with cerebellar mets I don't know anyone else who can help me with my brain in this way and it doesn't feel bad. Might not be your cup of tea.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Craniosacral_therapy

A DO is a doctor of osteopathy, a medical system that is as old as the allopathic system in our country. You are more likely to encounter they outside of the States but there are still many practitioners here. They are trained in medicine but also have a deeper understanding of the systems of the body. There's someone one the boards here from Scotland who also can tell you about it.

You can learn more about osteopathy here:
http://doctorsthatdo.org/difference



There is a useful article I found about radiation fibrosis that you might like to read. Maybe the doc would talk to you about your heart issues.

Radiation Fibrosis Syndrome: What It Is and How to Treat It
http://www.cancerforward.org/survivo...ow-to-treat-it