Prevention of side effects rads
1.Does anyone have experience with use of Mepilex to protect the skin during radiotherapy? what should I do to prepare my skin and incisions in advance? It will be 8 weeks since lumpectomy and 5.5 w...
Forum Discussion
@MaryJoan I posted this on another forum so copied it for you!
I had a lumpectomy back in late Dec 2017.
I had 16 doses of rad back in Feb/March & had the Mepitel on for the entire treatment plus I had it on for 2 weeks after finishing treatment & then I removed it myself. The rad symptoms peak at 2 weeks after finishing so your skin is still reacting to the rad so it is important to keep the film on to protect your skin from clothing/sun & it also helps it heal. I thought the mepitel was FANTASTIC & i would recommend it to anyone but you do have to take care of it & make sure you visit the nurse every day like I did so she can check to see if there is any bubbles or peeling & if so, they trim/repair/replace it. You do feel like an imposition having to see them every day but they are lovely & used to dealing with Mepitel & realise that is what has to be done. I didn't have ANY reddening/peeling/blistering in fact when I took the Mepitel off you wouldn't even know I had rad treatment! Once the film came off I did start moisturising my skin with calendula just to keep it supple but there was no signs of any damage & while the film is on, you don't use any creams as the Mepitel protects your skin. At the start, you do feel like a "mummy" as you are taped up but please stick it out & you do get used to it. My little niece called it my "plastic skin" & she kept gently rubbing it when I saw her. You can shower with it on but try not to let the water pour over the film & keep the water temp warm as it is important not to have too hot or too cold temp on that area of your skin. Use a fragrance free body wash, I used Aveeno & keep it up for a few months after you finish treatment. I'm not sure where you live but I do know that some women who live in humid areas like Qld do have trouble with the Mepitel as when you sweat it can make it bubble so you have to ensure you keep getting it checked by the nurse as bubbling can actually make your skin reaction worse. I have seen a lot of pics of skin after rad treatment where the women have only used moisturisers throughout & the skin looks horribly dry, red, blistering & peeling & so sore. I really felt for them as if they were able to use the Mepitel, they wouldn't have had to go through that pain. I do hope you try it & it works for you as I would recommend it to anyone but just look after it & it will look after you!!
If your surgery site has healed well enough, you could just start rubbing on some Vit E cream over your scar & the area that will have the treatment. That is all I did to prepare & it helped break down the scar tissue & helped with the healing & keeping the area supple.
I got through the treatment with ease & didn't really suffer from any tiredness. My skin was amazing thanks to the Mepitel & I was back to work the day after I had finished the treatment so I don't think you should need to hold off on your holiday as long as you feel OK. You will be having the same amount of treatments as I did which is a small amount compared to others so I think that is why I didn't get any real side effects. It is not like chemo so you will breeze through it! It only takes around 10 mins. each day so your whole day is not spent in the hospital. Many women work while having the treatment & just duck out for their daily zap & then go back to work but as i live in the country, i had to stay in the city for the 3 1/2 weeks but was back to work when I finished.
You have a wonderful holiday planned when you have finished & it will give you something to look forward to when it is over. Good luck & safe & happy travels Hugs xxxx
I had a lumpectomy back in late Dec 2017.
I had 16 doses of rad back in Feb/March & had the Mepitel on for the entire treatment plus I had it on for 2 weeks after finishing treatment & then I removed it myself. The rad symptoms peak at 2 weeks after finishing so your skin is still reacting to the rad so it is important to keep the film on to protect your skin from clothing/sun & it also helps it heal. I thought the mepitel was FANTASTIC & i would recommend it to anyone but you do have to take care of it & make sure you visit the nurse every day like I did so she can check to see if there is any bubbles or peeling & if so, they trim/repair/replace it. You do feel like an imposition having to see them every day but they are lovely & used to dealing with Mepitel & realise that is what has to be done. I didn't have ANY reddening/peeling/blistering in fact when I took the Mepitel off you wouldn't even know I had rad treatment! Once the film came off I did start moisturising my skin with calendula just to keep it supple but there was no signs of any damage & while the film is on, you don't use any creams as the Mepitel protects your skin. At the start, you do feel like a "mummy" as you are taped up but please stick it out & you do get used to it. My little niece called it my "plastic skin" & she kept gently rubbing it when I saw her. You can shower with it on but try not to let the water pour over the film & keep the water temp warm as it is important not to have too hot or too cold temp on that area of your skin. Use a fragrance free body wash, I used Aveeno & keep it up for a few months after you finish treatment. I'm not sure where you live but I do know that some women who live in humid areas like Qld do have trouble with the Mepitel as when you sweat it can make it bubble so you have to ensure you keep getting it checked by the nurse as bubbling can actually make your skin reaction worse. I have seen a lot of pics of skin after rad treatment where the women have only used moisturisers throughout & the skin looks horribly dry, red, blistering & peeling & so sore. I really felt for them as if they were able to use the Mepitel, they wouldn't have had to go through that pain. I do hope you try it & it works for you as I would recommend it to anyone but just look after it & it will look after you!!
If your surgery site has healed well enough, you could just start rubbing on some Vit E cream over your scar & the area that will have the treatment. That is all I did to prepare & it helped break down the scar tissue & helped with the healing & keeping the area supple.
I got through the treatment with ease & didn't really suffer from any tiredness. My skin was amazing thanks to the Mepitel & I was back to work the day after I had finished the treatment so I don't think you should need to hold off on your holiday as long as you feel OK. You will be having the same amount of treatments as I did which is a small amount compared to others so I think that is why I didn't get any real side effects. It is not like chemo so you will breeze through it! It only takes around 10 mins. each day so your whole day is not spent in the hospital. Many women work while having the treatment & just duck out for their daily zap & then go back to work but as i live in the country, i had to stay in the city for the 3 1/2 weeks but was back to work when I finished.
You have a wonderful holiday planned when you have finished & it will give you something to look forward to when it is over. Good luck & safe & happy travels Hugs xxxx