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MicheleR's avatar
MicheleR
Member
5 years ago

Radiation burns how to treat

I am 9 days post radiation. I dont want to say too much here that will scare people who are about to start. But i have skin which has come off and is weeping.

Anyone know if i can use an antiseptic powder to dry out a bit or will that make it worse? 
  • All. Chest still looks like a disaster area but i must have turned the corner. Feeling slightly better. 
  • Soooo much patience! It’s just one thing after another. Side effect after side effect 🙄. It sucks that you’ll have that condition for your birthday 🙁. But I hope the endone brings relief for the day. And please do something special for yourself tomorrow. It will be the last year before your 50s, and then you’ll start another 50, in much better health 🍀🥰
  • Hi @MicheleR

    i didn’t have radiation so can’t provide much insight.  I hope the skin heals very soon.   Wishing a very happy birthday to you.  
  • Aloe Vera is an amazing healing gel ... I hope you start healing soon @MicheleR

    I’ll jump in early .... HAPPY BIRTHDAY FOR TOMORROW!!  ;) 


  • Yes. A holiday would be good. I was reflecting on the patience required for this treatment. I was diagnosed 9 months yesterday....just when you think things might be going to return to a normal (whatever that is) its still not flippn over. Ill be 49 tomorrow. 
  • I know, not everyone has access to it. Tbh I was so intent on using it cos I also want to have a recon, so I was trying my best to save my skin. But I’m not sure that’s any guarantee really. I’m just grateful it stuck on enough so the whole area wasn’t burnt. I had a skin saving DMX and have expanders in, so I know how hard it was for the nurse to try and apply it properly each time. It was quite a task. Luckily they had the patience to persevere 🙏🏻. 
    My onc gave me the Flamigel, so I’m not sure where you’d get it. But the saline soak and aloe helped the most by far. 
    I’ve had thoughts of going flat too. I’ll see how likely my skin is to hold up. And I’m getting quite over it as well. A bit fed up. 
    I think we all deserve another holiday 🏖
  • Thanks @FLClover. I didnt have the film everyone talks about. I had a skin saving mastectomy and i guess it wouldnt stick. I had hoped the skin would allow for restructure if i wanted it but really its just more crevices to be affected by the burns and im not even sure i want to reconstruct. Ive just had enough of all the treatments and pain. If allowed i may just go flat which my surgeon said is like day surgery when this is all over.

    I havent heard of flamigel. Ill look out for it.

    Michele


  • Oh my 😩. I remember that pain. I was also burnt in my underarms, between breasts and under them. That’s where Mepitel refused to stay. I made a litre of saline soak, then put a soft tea towel inside, drenched it, lay down on a towel on my bed, and put the soaked tea towel on my chest. Completely covered it. It was so soaked the water would run down me, but I had the towel underneath. I stayed like that for 20 mins. The tea towel was too soaked to stick to the sores. This was in winter so I was quite cold, but I had to try it. It was too painful otherwise. After that soak, I’d gently scrape the old skin away. It came off easily cos it had been softened. And then the inside goo of an aloe vera plant, all over, which I’d kept in the fridge. After that a couple hours Flamigel. Then before bed the 20 min saline soak again, and more aloe vera. I put the chunky fleshy part right on the burnt parts, inside my bra. The next morning they were all dried up and shrunken. It took ages to do and hurt, but was soooo worth it. I’m telling you, I think actually 2 days later I felt no more pain, but it was still red, so I kept doing it for about a week. Then I just used aloe flesh and Flamigel for another week. Good as new, soft and smooth. I couldn’t believe it. Other ladies have said the same of both these methods. And now no signs of radiation. 
    A lady I worked with had bc before me. She told me her radiation burns were horrendous. She went on holiday with her partner right after it, and went swimming in the sea. She said it hurt really bad, but was healed a couple days later, no more pain. The salt soak and aloe do wonders, just do them longer. 
    In any case, I’m hoping it goes away. No one should have that pain. Hugs to you ♥️

  • Hi @FLClover, i was told not to rub the area but to let water fall over it. Having said that ive been dabbing saline wash with guaze a few times a day. The sore sticks to the combine gauze they gave me so i have to wash it off. I bought some better burns type dressing which doesnt stick readily. I have 2 very painful areas, middle chest and underarm.  im living on painkillers. My whole chest is so tight and im having difficulty functioning. Praying it ends soon. 
  • Sorry to hear @MicheleR 😟. I’m not sure about antiseptic powder. I had areas that weren’t covered by the Mepitel, that were also burnt and broken skin. By onco’s recommendation, I did a saline soak (I made it) twice a day. Soaked area for about 20 mins each time. Then used gauze to scrape old skin away (painful yes, but worked). Straight after that I smeared aloe leaf flesh all over it. I had it on all day and night. In between those two, I’d also apply Flamigel. 3 days later no pain, skin healed. 2 weeks later good as new. 
    Good luck, I’m hoping whatever you use works well and rids you of your pain 💜