I am sorry to read that many ladies having skin problems from radiation treatment and quite wonder why they were not informed by their radiation oncologists about a preventative measure. I just finished my fourth weeks radiation without any itching, burning, blistering on my boob thanks to the Mepitel film that was applied to protect the whole area before the start of the treatment. I have 2 more weeks to go and I hope that the film will still do the good job.
Piak
Thanks for letting me know. I presumed that would be the case. A small price to pay if there arent any skin issues. Cant wait to get started as this week is my last chemo! Annmaree
Hi Annmaree
No you cannot let water fall directly on the filmed area if a little water from the shower happens to drop on the film just mop them with towel or tissue paper. So you cannot swim, the nurse who will apply the film will explain about the precaution you need to take.
Good luck with your radiation and hope that the film will prevent you from any skin problems.
Cheers
Piak
Hi all,
It's Lisa from the Policy Team. Just a quick note to say that if this was something you would be interested in finding out more about, it would be important to discuss it with your radiation oncologist or nurse.
All the best,
Lisa
Hi Paik
Its great to read about your experience. I am to start radiation in a few weeks and have been offered said film at a hospital in Sydney. Can you still shower as usual or do you have to keep the area completely dry? Also I presume swimming is out of the question?
Thanks in advance
Annmaree
Hi Kerr Kerr
The film has to be applied by a nurse at the cancer care clinic as recommended by a radiation oncologist.
In my case 2 days before the beginning of the treatment and after the right breast was tattooed the film was put and left for 24 hrs to ensure that there was no skin reaction to the film ( according to the clinic none of their patients had skin reaction to the film). After 24 hrs I just removed the film and having showers as usual.
On the first day of the treatment the nurse applied the new film to cover the whole breast and under the armpit (I do nit need any radiation under armpit because the sentinel lymph node was cleared of cancer) to protect an irritation from the rubbing of the skin). The film was left there throughout the treatment time and was repaired if a certain area of the film was broken because of the movement of the arm.
The film is very thin and see through like gladwrap I do not feel any restriction at all. The only inconvenience is that I must not let water (from a shower) drop on the filmed area so I have to dried clean myself in the top right quarter of my front body with a wet cloth or baby wipe.
To protect one breast plus under armpit area it cost $ 36.90 and after the Medicare rebate the gap is about $ 6.
I will put the information about the film on my blog soon so others who are interested can read it as well.
I hope this help and please let me know if you need more info.
Cheers
Piak
Hi Piak Just had a very quick look on the net and this mepital seems readily available (didn;t specifically check for Australia though). And there was a publication from a US site that sounded very promising as well. Between Oct 2012 to April 2013 80 breast cancer patients used this mepital - which resulted in a 92% reduction in skin probs. Amazing, so why isn't this stuff routinely offered in Australia??? 14th months after radio and my boob still looks like I'm leaning on flyscreen!!!!
Pam
That sounds awesome. My rads have finished about 3 weeks ago, and it's taken all that time for my skin to recover. I didn't blister, but I did peel, and then had to deal with weepy patches. I ended up using solugel with a non stick dressing twice a day, and that quickly healed the weepy areas. Then there was the flaky, sensitive skin feeling, so I used sorbolene for that, and still moisturise my skin with it twice a day. If there is a product like the film you described, that might make life easier for a lot of people. Here's wishing you the very best for the remaining rads. Take care, Trace ??????
Hi Piak
im really interested in using the protective film you have mentioned.
I start my radiation in about three weeks.
I hav asked a registered nurse about it and she had never heard of it. She thought maybe it was a gel that you apply and it forms a film is that right?
Do you know where I can get some and could you tell me a bit more about it.
Do you apply it before each to time.
Does it wash off.
thank you
Kerr Kerr
