Post-radiation advice?

MECsupport
MECsupport Member Posts: 3
in Head and Neck Cancer #1

After 33 grueling sessions, my last radiation is this evening! I read through several posts on this forum to try and preempt some of the side effects. I don't know if it's the fact that I received proton radiation or the fact that I was expecting the worse, but for the most part my side effects were not too too terrible. The one thing that I'm really struggling with is skin burn. The skin on half of my face is raw pink and peeling. If I leave it dry for even 10 minutes it's extremely painful. I have some mouth sores, but it's not terrible. My throat gets a bit itchy at night but sips of water and a humidifier have helped.

I wanted to ask for any tips you may have on what I should do to help alleviate side effects in the short term post-radiation but also minimize long term side effects. Is there anything you did or wish you had done?

Thank you for everything! I wouldn't have made it without this group.

Comments

  • motorcycleguy
    motorcycleguy Member Posts: 483 Member
    #2
    MEC,

    CONGRATULATIONS on finishing your treatment (tonight)! At my Center, we "rang a bell", whenever we finished a course of treatment.

    You've been through a lot - at 33 sessions - which was about the same as mine.

    The good news is that you're done, but the effects may continue for another week or two, before the healing starts. Take good care of your skin. I personally was amazed at how fast I healed up - once I was a couple weeks out. Keep the affected area covered with the lotions that your Doctor recommends.

    Don't be surprised if you're really tired for a little while. Healing takes a lot more energy than people realize. Take it easy on yourself, and let the healing happen.

    Again - CONGRATULATIONS - you're well on your way back to a more "normal" life!!!

    Well done!

    mg

  • MarineE5
    MarineE5 Member Posts: 1,034 Member
    edited May 2021 #3
    Outstanding

    MEC, 

    As MG stated, keep putting lotions on your radiated skin as you have noticed, it gets uncomfortable. Try to not expect to be yourself for a bit. You are still in what we call the "Cooking" Stage where all the treatments continue to work on you. Measure recovery in weeks not days so you are not disappointed. Fatigue as MG mentioned can be an issue, listen to your body, when tired, rest. 

    My Best to You and Everyone Here

  • SuzJ
    SuzJ Member Posts: 446 Member
    #4
    Radiation

    The Drs Nurse is an awesome font of knowledge. I woke up with my hair stuck to my skin, and to my nightdress, all goopy, and icky.

    I went to radiation dept, found Kathy and cried.. she cleaned me up, with "ultraklenz" then a healing cream - whose name I cannot remember - then padded dressings were cut to sixe and shape needed, with a tubular badage over the top.

    My son was amazing, he cleaned and dressed it, twice a day, for about 10 days, so after it healed you couldnt see the mess it was..

  • skidog
    skidog Member Posts: 74 Member
    #5
    Post proton rads treatment

    Hello, I completed proton rads 3 years ago. The worst part by far was the neck burns. What helped me the most was Siver Sulfadiazine Cream. This was a prescription cream from my Rads doc at Mayo. REALLY helped with the pain and itchiness. Good luck. You are on the road to recovery. Congrats!!

  • Logan51
    Logan51 Member Posts: 470 Member
    edited May 2021 #6
    Congrats

    My only really noticeable burns were on the back of my neck, and just used Aquaphor. But that was a long time ago (2009) and I would go with skidog's advice and also talk to Dr.s- maybe even a Dermatologist? Again, my burns were not severe, so I'm not an expert from experience, and mainly wanted to give you my Congrats.

  • wbcgaruss
    wbcgaruss Member Posts: 2,482 Member
    edited May 2021 #7
    Congrats On Finishing

    Your treatment. What a relief when it is over. But now it will take a while to recover from the treatment. It is my understanding you are in a better situation if you can get the proton therapy as there is much less damage to surrounding tissues and areas. The folks have given you suggestions for the rad burns and I don't have anything to add really as I was in Logan's shoes I just had Aquaphor and it works very well but is a bit messy. I just had a couple of old t-shirts I mostly wore while using it to recover from the burns so I did not mess up new ones but no matter it will wash out. As far as alleviating future side effects I don't think there is much to do once you are treated it just depends on how many after-effects you have and how severe as per your treatment such as chemo can cause neuropathy and rads can cause damaged salivary glands and other things it just depends on your case what they were able to avoid damaging to get the cancer..  It's a good omen that you are experiencing mild effects and hopefully, it carries into the future. Less is better. You are very welcome and I say that as a group because we come together on here because we are in the same boat and we bond together as a group to make things easier for each other and especially the next guy, the new guy or gal showing up with a cancer situation they never dreamed they would have to deal with. Wishing you a continued good and quick recovery and Clear Scans Ahead-Take Care-God Bless-Russ

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