Radiation burn treatments

z

husband2 said:

I was wrong about seeing a
I was wrong about seeing a wound doc. The doctor we saw was a radiation oncologist. I liked him as he seemed to have great knowledge and he could explain it to us.

Doc confirmed what you just said. The visible effects of radiation follow the radiation by 7-10 days. So what you "see" on week 3 is from what happened on week 1 or 2. So on week 5, when my wife didn't think that the creams were working as the burns were worsening because of the continued radiation. The creams may have been fine, just the burn source (radiation) was doing its job.

He said that the largest factors are: 1. medication for pain control; 2. cleanliness; and 3.some moisturizers but plenty of air.

My wife claims the Silvadine irritates her, but she is going to try it again as the doc recomended it. He also thought that the Xenaderm which the local hospital prescribed was good as well. But no gauze, as they suggested. He said use one for several hours, then the other, then air. He suggested that the creams would build up, so the creams should be removed using a vinegar and water solution to break it up.

The biggest thing (for my wife's sanity) was control of pain, for which he prescribed morphine.

Since she is 7 days out of radiation, healing should start soon. Good. She seems much more comfortable now with the morphine.

Good things take time. Thanks for everyones ideas.

husband2
I'm glad that you have some information and prescribed medicine that will benefit your wifes pain. It feels like razor blades in the most sensitive area. I hate to be so graphic, but thats the best way to describe it. I found that the baths help a lot also, and I used bag balm, which is used on cow utters. Now this was given to me by my radiologist and I used it through the whole treatment process and after. I hope your wife will start healing asap. Lori

AZANNIE

husband2 said:

I was wrong about seeing a
I was wrong about seeing a wound doc. The doctor we saw was a radiation oncologist. I liked him as he seemed to have great knowledge and he could explain it to us.

Doc confirmed what you just said. The visible effects of radiation follow the radiation by 7-10 days. So what you "see" on week 3 is from what happened on week 1 or 2. So on week 5, when my wife didn't think that the creams were working as the burns were worsening because of the continued radiation. The creams may have been fine, just the burn source (radiation) was doing its job.

He said that the largest factors are: 1. medication for pain control; 2. cleanliness; and 3.some moisturizers but plenty of air.

My wife claims the Silvadine irritates her, but she is going to try it again as the doc recomended it. He also thought that the Xenaderm which the local hospital prescribed was good as well. But no gauze, as they suggested. He said use one for several hours, then the other, then air. He suggested that the creams would build up, so the creams should be removed using a vinegar and water solution to break it up.

The biggest thing (for my wife's sanity) was control of pain, for which he prescribed morphine.

Since she is 7 days out of radiation, healing should start soon. Good. She seems much more comfortable now with the morphine.

Good things take time. Thanks for everyones ideas.

Burns
I'm glad you found a radiation oncologist that knew what to do. The vinegar solution makes sense, since vinegar has been used for sunburns so maybe that will help with the burns in addition to removing the creams. Wearing boxer shots is helpful because they don't rub in the crease of the legs and there's more air flow. Healing should start soon and then it's pretty fast.
I wish all radiation oncologists were knowledgeable about radiation burns...

mp327

AZANNIE said:

Burns
I'm glad you found a radiation oncologist that knew what to do. The vinegar solution makes sense, since vinegar has been used for sunburns so maybe that will help with the burns in addition to removing the creams. Wearing boxer shots is helpful because they don't rub in the crease of the legs and there's more air flow. Healing should start soon and then it's pretty fast.
I wish all radiation oncologists were knowledgeable about radiation burns...

Domeboro
I have heard that these pads applied to the burned area can be quite soothing.

mitchi

mp327 said:

Domeboro
I have heard that these pads applied to the burned area can be quite soothing.

Thank you

This forum was so completely helpful as a resource during my mother's treatment. Her burns were unbearably painful. Because the sitz bath proved to be too cumbersome, we took the idea (thanks to the suggestions) and filled douce bags with water for her to use while going to the bathroom--which proved to be quite a relief (all that can be had, anyway). We wouldn't have thought of this if not for the suggestions posted on this forum.

I can't tell you how much we appreciated the resource. 

Thank you

Lorikat

husband2 said:

Burns
Thanks for the biofine idea. I appreciate the help.

Oh how well I remember!

Oh how well I remember!  Biafine and a lidocaine gel helped, but only time made it better...  Good luck

 

Marynb

husband2 said:

Wife
I guess that they hinted at it when they originally diagnosed the anal cancer. They said that she was stage 4 anal with a spot in her liver and several lymph nodes. Their indirect hint was that they wanted to treat the anal cancer, then look at the liver to figure out what kind of cancer that was. I don't recall what they said was "off" in her blood sample, but whatever it was was an indicator of a different cancer somewhere between her mouth and rectum. I think that they just wanted to look forward to getting through a step.

Husband2
I really hope that your wife is being treated at a top rated cancer hospital. All hospitals are not equal at all! If she hasn't been treated at a very reputable hospital, get her to one right away. What state are you in?

I also had a second cancer, unrelated, that had to be dealt with after the treatment for anal cancer. In my case, they did a biopsy before the first treatment so they knew what they were dealing with. i know that if I had not been at a very reputable hospital, I would be dead already. 8 weeks after I finished treatment for anal cancer, I had major surgery for the second cancer.

I hope that your wife feels better soon. Healing is usually fairly quick.

mp327

mitchi said:

Thank you

This forum was so completely helpful as a resource during my mother's treatment. Her burns were unbearably painful. Because the sitz bath proved to be too cumbersome, we took the idea (thanks to the suggestions) and filled douce bags with water for her to use while going to the bathroom--which proved to be quite a relief (all that can be had, anyway). We wouldn't have thought of this if not for the suggestions posted on this forum.

I can't tell you how much we appreciated the resource. 

Thank you

mitchi

I'm glad you found good information here that helped your mother.  I think the advice from people who have been there is better than any advice given by the medical professionals.  How is your mother doing?  I hope her recovery is going well.