Forum Discussion

Sister's avatar
Sister
Member
7 years ago

Radiation and Mepitel

I'm not yet finished chemo but trying to get my head around the radiation in 4 weeks.  I have been told that I can use the Mepitel film at Royal Adelaide and at the last appointment I was given a piece to patch test for 24 hours which came out okay.  The nurse there said that women who use it tend to do one of two things. 
1. Leave it on (fixed up as needed) for the full time of treatment which in my case will be 3 weeks. 
2. Leave it on during the week and have it removed for the weekend, reapplied each Monday before treatment resumes.
Just wondering if anyone has any advice or information about which they feel is the best method to follow.  I'm guessing that the first allows complete protection of the area right throughout but the second allows some air (and washing) plus the opportunity to use the moisturisers.
@joeyliz What is common practice at your centre?
radiation
side-effects
  • Sister's avatar
    Sister
    Member
    7 years ago
    Just in with the nurse getting my Mepitel fixed up for my last 3 treatments and we got into a conversation about length of treatments.  She said that she hasn't heard of anyone having longer than 20 + 5 boost in years and that my 15 is pretty standard.  This is in the Royal Adelaide.  Interesting as I know lots of women who have had more treatments than that recently.
  • Finch's avatar
    Finch
    Member
    7 years ago
    I asked about mepitel but my clinic doesn't use it.  The onc told me they did a trial and it didn't seem to make any difference.  Reading up on here if I could have I would have used it.  I've just had my last all breast radiation and now on for five boosts.  I've been doing the deep inspiration breath hold as its my left breast.  I can't believe I'm coming to the end of active treatment. All the best to you @Sister xx
  • Janny54's avatar
    Janny54
    Member
    7 years ago

    Well that's good to hear @sister. The holding the breath thing scared me more than anything else. I dunno why.

    Good luck with your LAST chemo on Thursday.


    Jan xx


  • Sister's avatar
    Sister
    Member
    7 years ago
    @janny54 It's the right side so I don't - about the only good thing having it on the right!
  • Janny54's avatar
    Janny54
    Member
    7 years ago
    Hi @sister. I used it when I had my Radiation from October to December last year. I left it on and the lovely nurse used to patch me up when needed. I am a person who loves a bath and it didn't affect me at all. Do you have to do the holding your breath thing. 

    Jan xxxxx
  • Sister's avatar
    Sister
    Member
    7 years ago
    Thanks @joeyliz - that does help.  I was leaning towards the 2nd option (as I'm the type to whip bandaids off as soon as possible to get air to wounds) but if there's a good reason to leave the film on for the duration, that's what I'll opt for.
  • JoeyLiz's avatar
    JoeyLiz
    Member
    7 years ago
    It is ideal to leave the large piece on for the whole time and just fix up the edges as needed. When it is applied it can actually slightly change the tattoo position and contour of your breast (depending on how good the person applying it is etc). Images are used to double check it hasn't been changed (and images are used regularly throughout treatment anyway) but by redoing it each week it allows for an extra degree of change but certainly nothing to worry about. Our patients have it on for 6 wks and as long as you don't face the shower and scrub the area you can wash as normal. Mines been on for 4 wks and no touch ups necessary.
    Hope that helps x