Burning during radiation

georgeann

I have had only 8 treatments and already my skin is a pinkish-purple and my breast feels like it is on fire. Has anyone found a way to help cool the skin? I tried ice last night, which helped, but as soon as I nodded off I woke back up with the burning sensation. The doctor will prescribe pain killers, but I'd like to try and get by without them for as long as possible.

inkblot

Hi Georgeann:

The kind of burning pain you're experiencing is not something I've heard that typically happens so early in radiation. Perhaps your tissue is particularly sensitive or you've just had a more severe reaction earlier and it will diminish as you continue treatment?

Hope this may help: Something which was really cooling for me, during radiation, was aloe...straight from the plant. I applied it often during the day and at night, I used the pure aloe oil before going to bed. I wore no bra for the duration and wore only a soft cotton tee, which I continued wearing for several weeks after I completed radiation and my skin had pretty much healed.

I used no other creams, lotions or deoderants on the irradiated side during treatment and used only a natural, herbal soap for bathing the area. I know quite a few women who also found cooling by applying a cornstarch paste.

Hang in. You've got a little over a week behind you already. It can seem "long" but it actually passes fairly quickly and you'll be finished and feeling on cloud nine!

Love, light and laughter,
Inkblot

nasa2537

Hi...so sorry you're having trouble. My doc told me to use aloe after every treatment. We had plants in the yard, so I picked some leaves and put them in the fridge. I also was told to use over-the-counter 1% hydrocortisone cream 3 to 4 times a day to take some of the inflammation out of the skin. Both seemed to help a lot. If you don't have aloe plants, you can buy 100% pure aloe gel at Wal-Mart or other similar stores, and keep it in the fridge. Best of luck to you! Cyndi

ksfc

I feel your pain! I've had twenty-something treatments now, and I'm pretty burned. They started me off with some topicort cream and last week went to silver sulfadiazine (SSD)for areas where the skin had completely broken down. This week, they stopped my regular treatments and switched to the electron boost to give the sore spots a rest. Then they'll go back and finish up the regular radiation. My info from the radiation doc says not to use ice. I've been spending time laying on my bed directly under the ceiling fan (I warned my 16 year old son that he might want to make sure he knocks before he enters). I think radiation is just another thing that affects people differently. I still think it beats chemo! Hope you find something to help you feel better! I'll be thinking about you..Diane

mish

Hi Georgeann,
When I had radiation treatments, my skin burned badly. I used aloe vera, as well as a cream that my doctor gave me. I'm not sure of what it was but it smelled like Desitin. My technician and nurse also strongly suggested using cornstarch on the skin...no lotions or deoderant...just corn starch. I also had to go without a bra for weeks (which was not a pretty sight since I am fairly well endowed). But it was much more comfortable than wearing one.

Hope this helps...
Michelle

mish

Hi Georgeann,
When I had radiation treatments, my skin burned badly. I used aloe vera, as well as a cream that my doctor gave me. I'm not sure of what it was but it smelled like Desitin. My technician and nurse also strongly suggested using cornstarch on the skin...no lotions or deoderant...just corn starch. I also had to go without a bra for weeks (which was not a pretty sight since I am fairly well endowed). But it was much more comfortable than wearing one.

Hope this helps...
Michelle