Forum Discussion
Help on mepitel film
Hello lovely ladies š.
I was wondering if someone could give me some info about Mepitel film. My oncologist said she doesnāt usually use it and they didnāt have any, so I ordered it myself. I got 10x7.5cm films. Today was my first session, and when I pulled the films out, the other onco and his helper didnāt have a clue what I was talking about. They thought it was a dressing. He said in 25 yrs experience heād never heard of it. The nurse put the 4 films on me and I got the radiation, but afterwards they told me to take it off so I could apply the cream. I mentioned that Iād read that it usually stays on throughout treatment, but they thought it was strange as the cream wouldnāt be able to get to the skin. So my question is what do I do now?? Do I keep the film on and apply cream over the top? Do I take it off as they said and reapply it every day? Also are the dimensions correct? I used 4 pieces and itās very expensive, so not much stock in Aus at the moment. If I leave it on, how do I apply the cream? How much of my chest area is it supposed to cover? Iām having both breasts irradiated. Also someone mentioned needing to readjust the settings on the machine? Iām very confused š³. Any help would be appreciated.
Mon Xx
42 Replies
- Iām glad that worked out well for you @Louise64 āŗļø Xx
- @ddon I had planning and the mepitel was ruled out for me . Iām using the strata gel and was given sample. Nurses so lovely and are going to put on for me first 3 treatments next week. I feel very confident in the care Iām receiving and also the negotiated fee for private treatment 5 mins from home. Feeling very grateful š
- Thanks @Leia. I guess clinics do it differently. I have heard the Strata is just as good as Mepitel Xx
- I had to supply it, but the clinic gave me a code to use which gave 40% off the listed price, so do ask. It had not arrived for the start of my radiation, the rad nurse gave me some samples to start with.
bcna pointed me to a clinical trial that showed the Strata is ānot inferiorā to Mepitel - Hello @Locksley, no problem at all. Your hospital or clinic should supply both. In my case, I needed to supply it in the beginning and I didnāt need a script. The problem was I couldnāt find a chemist that had it so I had to order it online. The website was Independence.com. But please ask your onc first because they should do that and it is expensive. Good luck š
- HI @FLClover thank you for posting this. Do you need a script for medafil or strata or just find at the chemist? Cheers xxx
- Hello @Leia, yes, if the Mepitel didnāt stay on properly the Strata cream was the next thing on the list to use š
- I found the Strata XRT good. After applying itās like a very fine film. It will wear off, or wash off, so the manufacturer suggests applying it twice daily. I used a moisturizer about an hour before due to reapply. I got quite pink, but the staff all said it went very well.
- Hi @Sister, actually the film on my breasts worked really well. Theyāre hardly affected and no pain. My onc said sheāll start using Mepitel with other patients cos it was so good. Itās just the area in my armpits where the film wouldnāt stay on that got affected, because it wasnāt covered. Iām using QV cream, Aloe Vera gel and Flamigel cos I couldnāt find Moo Goo cream.Mon Xx
- Sorry to hear that you've been having some problems @ddon and @FLClover . I was amazed at how well the film worked - as you say, a bit difficult with showering and a bit of getting used to - but when I saw the change in colour on my skin from a tiny gap in one session, I realised how protective it was. I found the Moo Goo Udder Cream to be best in between times and afterwards but I know that a lot of people use others with success.
