does late effects of radiation contribute to TBI?

Hi @ponygirlnd and welcome to Connect and specifically the head and neck group. You pose an interesting question.
Myself I am a patient, not a doctor. After radiation therapy to my noggin, which blasted the hair off the back of my neck, I suffered loss of memory and some temporary loss of motor function. With the motor function I either regained it or my body found a work-around like MS patients often do.
The memory issue was rather disturbing as one does not know what one does not remember. A few old acquaintances I not only did not recognize, I simply did not remember them at all. Words I spoke would be accented sporadically from different areas where I had once lived such as USA vs United Kingdom or Midwest vs Louisiana. This made my speech awkward for years.
So, does radiation affect your brain? Clinically I have no idea. Experience and logic would however point to the affirmative.
How serious is this for you and how long since cessation of radiation?

Hello @ponygirlnd. I had radiation to my ear area directed to focus where the facial nerve exits from the skull. I had this done at the University of Michigan where I had been referred to a world renowned radiation oncologist, This old German guy, Dr. Eisbruch, definitely said that I would have some short term memory loss and possibly other brain issues from the radiation penetrating through the brain to get to the site intended. He said it may not happen quickly, but could worsen with time. As a 71 year old and 13 years since radiation, who knows if memory loss is age or radiation at this point, so it is hard to know how much it has affected me. I also knew a woman who had whole brain radiation for her brain metastases. She had a distinct personality change from that and fairly quickly afterward. My ENT doctor at Mayo Clinic also says that my worsening hearing loss on the right side is most likely a result of radiation even this long afterward. So my experience is yes, there are long term effects to brain tissue from brain radiation. The brain plasticity, though, allows for regrowth of new nerve pathways to improve symptoms over time. Nervous system tissue is quite slow to heal so this can be a long process. I was told from the start right after my skull surgery that I would need to "retrain my brain" to lose the dizziness and loss of balance that it caused. So continuing to challenge yourself with the things you are struggling with can actually create improvement, no matter how slowly. It has worked for me, not 100%, but definite improvement. What challenges are you having from your radiation?

@ponygirlnd I am 8 1/2 years out from stage IV Chemo and Radiation Therapy and I have always considered it as brain fog. Some say chemo brain but who’s to know whether it’s caused by chemo, radiation, cancer or all of the above?
I find it difficult to stay focused in conversation, my mind wonders constantly. Even when I’m reading something I can’t focus on the matter at hand.
I’m now 62 so could my age be to blame as well, who knows?
I have a gamut of things affecting my body since cancer treatments but I’m also a victim of the Camp Lejuene contaminated water and some of my problems can be related to that. The VA says none of my problems are related to the water but of course that’s what they are going to say, but how do I prove otherwise?..I can’t! 😢
Anyway, hope this has shed a bit of light to your question.
Reach out any time.
MOJO

Hello,
This is a fascinating thread for me, I hope to find more of the same. When I was 34 I had
R parotidectomy for acinic cell carcinoma. The margins weren't clear, the tumor was spreading into my face. I was given 2 choices: go back to surgery in 2 weeks, or radiation treatments. Now I realize I had terrible anxiety and couldn't face surgery again, I chose radiation.

As @sepdvm says, these symptoms are gradual and ongoing over time. I lost all of the hair on the right back of my head. This made me realize my brain was involved. I have other health issues that might affect brain fog. I think my way of dealing with that is to push myself. Maybe that is what @sepdvm meant by brain plasticity. I lost my career as an RN in oncology and became a poet and yoga therapist. My biggest difficulty has also been hearing loss on that side and last year I got hearing aids. I have a challenge with tinnitus and have been told it is from damage to the nerves in my neck.

I also have lymphedema on that side of my neck from time to time. I went to a specialist to learn self-massage. I have incorporated my disabling chronic illnesses into/not separate from my life. They inform me but do not define me.
Thank you to everyone for their helpful comments.

@jw9 .Do you suffer with chronic migraine along with the tinnitus? I’m 8 1/2 years post treatment and have been receiving Botox for my migraine over the past few years. Last week my PA decided since I have no relief from the migraine she will inject my Botox into my neck (back and front) because my neck is extremely tight due to radiation. Anyway, that was last Wednesday and I have slept so much better since then. She also had me purchase a Shiatsu neck and back messager from Amazon ($26.00). I used the messager Thursday night and Friday morning, yes it hurt like hell but in a great way if that makes sense.?
I’ve been living with a 9-10 pain level for my migraine and neck, no my neck is probably a 3 and migraine is more like a chronic headache…. I hope it remains that way! As for tinnitus, it’s still there and as loud as ever! 🤷‍♂️
I noticed that you are no longer working as a nurse, I too was not able to return to my profession and had to go on disability. Many people don’t understand how cancer and treatment affects everyone differently. Even simple things like cleaning house, lawn care, snow removal etc take a toll on our bodies. Anyway, at least we are Alive!
MOJO