Hi everyone. I’m new here & wondering if someone has gone through something similar. I was diagnosed with grade 1 breast cancer & had a lumpectomy in June 2024. I finished 15 sessions of radiotherapy two & a half weeks ago. I’m quite shocked how severe my burns are near my arm pit. The burns peaked around 5 days ago. I’ve seen the nurse twice in the last week & she has assured me it all looks normal. She suggested applying solugel & keeping it bandaged. The problem is every bandage I’ve tried either slips off or the sticky part irritates my breast. I’m not sure how to get it to stay in place. Not even the bandage that the nurse put on lasted more than 2 hours. Any ideas? Also how long before your burns started to heal? Thanks

Hi there, I wore Mepitel for my radiation so the majority of my skin was thankfully spared, but the sections where it had peeled off were burnt and extremely painful. My oncologist ok-ed the use of aloe straight from the plant, so I did that every night and every morning so for about a week or so. I kept the leaves in the fridge prior. I also did a saline soak twice a day, right before applying the aloe. The instructions were given to me by the rad nurse. Within 3 days, the skin closed and the pain was gone. The redness also went away soon afterwards, and the scars completely healed. My skin was very smooth after about a month. Let me know if you’d like me to send you a pic of the instructions for the saline soak that my nurse gave me. You can get a pot of aloe from Bunnings for about $10. Good luck and hope it eases soon 🩷.

Are the burns an open wound? Has the skin broken? If not use sudocreme, the zinc has excellent healing properties and then out a fresh chux ior soft cloth to stop it ruining your clothes. Slathering it on at night is good and wear an old T-shirt. When it’s healed use calendula oil to heal any residual skin damage.

@frankie Definitely, I’ll send it to you tomorrow 👌🏻. It’s very easy to make and practically free.

@frankie So sorry to read of your pain but you have some great tips from fellow members above. Like @FLClover, I used Mepitel film & didnt receive any burns, redness or irritation after my 15 Rad treatments. It was wonderful & I thoroughly recommend it. I know this wont help you but hopefully it will for others seeking advice pre-rad treatment. When I removed the film, I did use calendula cream just to soothe/hydrate my skin as I had been wrapped up like a cryovac chicken for a few weeks!! Good luck & take care xx

I had 25 sessions and at the end my skin broke down too. The radiotherapy nurses asked me to continue with the Sudo cream, I then wrapped the area in glad wrap before putting on as light clothes as possible. The wrap conforms to your skin and also keeps the area from rubbing on anything and prevents your treatment From getting on anything.xx

Forum Discussion

frankie

Member

7 months ago

Radiotherapy burns

Hi everyone. I’m new here & wondering if someone has gone through something similar. I was diagnosed with grade 1 breast cancer & had a lumpectomy in June 2024. I finished 15 sessions of radiotherapy two & a half weeks ago. I’m quite shocked how severe my burns are near my arm pit. The burns peaked around 5 days ago. I’ve seen the nurse twice in the last week & she has assured me it all looks normal. She suggested applying solugel & keeping it bandaged. The problem is every bandage I’ve tried either slips off or the sticky part irritates my breast. I’m not sure how to get it to stay in place. Not even the bandage that the nurse put on lasted more than 2 hours. Any ideas? Also how long before your burns started to heal? Thanks

radiotherapy

smiller
Member
7 months ago
https://strataxrt.com/radiation-dermatitis-treatment/

I used this and my skin held up incredibly well. Once dry it creates a barrier on the skin. It's not cheap but you use a tiny amount each time. My radiation oncologist recommended it. Although it's more helpful if you use it throughout treatment, it's also good for any burns afterwards too.
Anne65
Member
7 months ago
@frankie So sorry to read of your pain but you have some great tips from fellow members above. Like @FLClover, I used Mepitel film & didnt receive any burns, redness or irritation after my 15 Rad treatments. It was wonderful & I thoroughly recommend it. I know this wont help you but hopefully it will for others seeking advice pre-rad treatment. When I removed the film, I did use calendula cream just to soothe/hydrate my skin as I had been wrapped up like a cryovac chicken for a few weeks!! Good luck & take care xx
Tinks
Member
7 months ago
I had 25 sessions and at the end my skin broke down too. The radiotherapy nurses asked me to continue with the Sudo cream, I then wrapped the area in glad wrap before putting on as light clothes as possible. The wrap conforms to your skin and also keeps the area from rubbing on anything and prevents your treatment From getting on anything.xx

Forum Discussion

Radiotherapy burns

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