Radiation and Mepitel Film to prevent Burns?

Hey everyone. Used my dove soap and non fragranced deodorant today - kindly given to me from a wonderful woman for use during radiotherapy. Day 1 was awesome. I had so many people contact me from the UK and the Illawarra today and many dear friends praying. I specifically asked for prayer that treatment would be successful, no side effects etc. As I am alone while being zapped, the 2 radiation therapists could see me but I couldn't see them. But there were CCTV cameras and a microphone in the room. So I asked permission to play my iPad with Christian praise and worship on it. They played it while they were fixing me up and one of the therapists as she left me said, "You can sing if you want. We will hear you". Cool. It was quite peaceful and hey God was with me. I quietly sang "Majesty" and "Shout to the Lord". You don't see the radiation rays or feel anything. The machine is like a round disc about 70cm in diameter that moves around your sides. Robotic really. They put this thick gel like mat over me first called a bolus (image above). The Mepitel film will go on AFTER the day 2 zapping tomorrow. A sample of it (like sticky glad wrap bandage) went on my side today to check if I get a reaction to it as I have sticking plaster allergy. See photo - wrinkles image is where the bandage (Mepitel Film) is located. It was used in NZ for burns patients and Wollongong hospital has only been using it for breast cancer patients undergoing radiotherapy. It will help prevent friction caused by cloths/non wired bras onto the radiated skin and help prevent burns. Creams are used if film doesn't work. The last image shows my right breast with implant (fine white line in red and green areas), my 2 lungs and my heart. The different colours are the radiation temperatures. Red is hottest zapping area and blue/ purple where lung is. The implant does get zapped but they have done this on other patients too. The whole right breast is radiated but with differing levels of radiation. They also took X-rays to ensure measurements and everything ok. Feeling blessed with so much lovely support, prayers and love. Will update after a week. X

Thank you @Kristen. That's an awesome account of your experience. Image of bolus attached for anyone unsure of what it is. Glad to read that you will be sharing the information about the Mepitel film to your bc support group. I will post an update on my radiotherapy experience using the Mepitel film and bolus after I start on 7/3/17 (25 zaps over 5 weeks). 

Hi Sharon, I was going to offer to ask my local Breast care nurses also but I see that someone has already  mentioned that St George are aware of the product. Isn't it great that new things come out all the time & people doing research on products like that. 10 years since I had my mastectomy/axillary dissection/chemo/radiation/Herceptin  year of treatment. I had the gelatine bolis back then to make sure the radiation came as close as possible to the scar tissue to zap any nasty cells that may be left . Yes it does seem archaic to poison & burn all healthy cells to make sure the nasty cells are gone. But it gets great results or they wouldn't do it. I have meet many many women who have had radiation & not every one burns. -and everyone heals. I followed the radiation oncologists instructions to the letter ( all that stuff about what to use, what not to use, when to use it, when to shower - all in relation to your zap time. I got a bit bunt the last week & it came out in the next week more so, just like everyone says. The nurses gave me all the dressings, special gel  to dress it & within another week all the dead skin fell off & it had healed. It was very very quick.Soft stretch crop top bra helped & soft breast form. Got tired but it is heaps easier then chemo. The chore of going (almost) every day is the tiring thing. But the thing that makes any of these horrid treatments & side effects worth it is holding on to the reason why we are told to do it. It greatly reduces the chance of reoccurrences.  I have met so many women ( as you probably have too)  that in the frenzy of diagnosis don't hear the odds they are given by the doctor.  I  remember I was something like 80 % chance of reoccurrence if I just had surgery, it dropped drastically by having chemo, it dropped further again by having radiation & further again  since I was Her  & FISH +ve so I was eligible for Herceptin. I ended up with 80% chance of it Not reoccurring. For women who are hormone +ve & struggle with the side effects I always recommend them going back to the doctor and asking for their statistics so they know why they have to take the tablets. I have seen that it helps with the inner strength needed to persevere. Statistics also gives  the courage to rock up to each treatment at each stage of this never ending journey we share.   I found it helped me with the no regrets, no stone unturned , did everything I could  for my kids mindset.  I hope it never comes back but if it does  I have seen many women survive secondaries successful and or live a long time in treatment. we are so lucky to live in a country with great medical services at our doorsteps. Thanks for raising awareness of this great product and I will mention it at our bc support group next month & see if I get any feedback. I ♥ research for new products & improvements in treatments that help all cancer patients. Wishing you all the best for your zapping next month from a fellow  zapped pinky.♥ PS I love my tiny tiny 'planet earth from a distance' tattoos. badge of honour. tells a story.

Hi Sharon,
I completed radiation at Wollongong Hospital in November. The staff there were wonderful. They applied the mepitel on my second day and continued to reapply when sections peeled off free of charge. You cant use cream with the mepitel. Good luck with your treatment.

Hi All, 
I visited my Radiation Oncologist yesterday and because the removed tumour was close to the breast skin surface (and I have an implant,) they will need to put some thick gelatin type (bollis?) on me each time plus the Mepitel film. The Mepitel film is supplied by the hospital and they like to keep it on during the entire radiotherapy (at home too). However, it depends on women's skin types, as sometimes it doesn't stick on, so nurses reapply new film. The doc said if it came off at home, I could put one on myself just to protect myself (so I will ask for a spare film to take home). Advised I can shower with Mepitel film on but not go to beach in salt water until after treatment. Not deodorant- use mild soap or QV. Use MooGoo cream (Skin Milk Udder) or Sorbolene to help as well. No surgery during treatment and fatigue tends to me "I need a nap type fatigue" - not all day tiredness. Hope this helps. Regards, Sharon

Hi Ladies (above) and to anyone reading this.
I am a Nanny (and Resumewriter) for a mother who is a Pharmacist in Wollongong. I sent her the link for Mepitel in case I need her pharmacy (Hospital Hill Pharmacy) to source/ purchase it on my behalf. But I will find out on 7/2/17 at the appointment with my Radiation Oncologist if Wollongong Hospital provides this product for free or via Medicare rebate. I will find out any hospital costs etc and if the nurses can only put the Mepitel film on and not us "radiated" women, ourselves. Here is a further Australian link (below) to the 13 different Mepitel products wth sizes, type and costs which hopefully many hospitals around Australia can source/use to help men, women and children going through - or about to go through radiotherapy. I will update this discussion next week. Regards, Sharon
P.S. Thanks @socoda for your lovely comment. Xxxxx

http://store.independenceaustralia.com/search/go?lbc=independenceaus&method=and&p=Q&ts=custom&uid=708654721&w=Mepitel&cnt=300

@Pammy46 well tell them that alot of other hospitals use them and they should look into getting it.
@Melsie97 I didn't purchase it the hospital provides it as I had my radiation there under Dr Suttie.

Hi Ne. I am starting Radiotherapy at St George Public in April. At the appointment with the RadioOncologist and asked about the Mepitel film as we've heard good things about it and my husband is inWound Care there. As @ChrissK said, they use it there and he was is more than happy for me to use it. I'm not sure if we purchase it or not as I haven't had my planning session. Cheers Mel

Hi Chriss I'm at Gosford hospital and they've never used it and looked confused when I asked them about it