severe burning/itching with radiation

seof
seof Member Posts: 819 Member
edited March 2014 in Breast Cancer #1
Ladies,
At the center I go to for radiation, there is a lady who is at the 4 week mark who is having severe burning/itching with tiny blisters which have begun to open. She has tried Benedril, Aveeno, Oatmeal, Aloe vera, and other OTC lotions. It helps for a short time, but Doc. told her not to put anything on the radeated area for 8 hours before treatment, so she has to suffer all day. She is due to talk to the Radiation Dr. tomorrow, I think. I am at the 1 and 1/2 week mark, and am worried that I might have the same experience. I just thought I would see if any of you might have some advice I could share with her, and use myself, if I do have a similar experience.

Thanks, seof

Comments

  • mgm42
    mgm42 Member Posts: 491 Member
    #2
    I start my radiation next week. My doctor prescribed "biafine topical emulsion." He gave me a free sample and I found that my Medicare Part D won't cover it, but Drugstore.com does carry it. It's an expensive prescription, $50, but if it works, I think it may be well worth it. He also instructed me not to use 2 hours prior to my treatment. This prescription is to be applied 3 times a day to the entire radiated area. You may want to ask your radiation oncologist about this product. They also instructed me not use any soaps that contained perfume. The nurse recommended Dove for sensitive skin. They also told me no deodoraant with metal in it. Again, the nurse recommended "Toms of Maine." It's available OTC at Walgreens, CVS, etc. Hope this helps. Hugs, Marilynn
  • chenheart
    chenheart Member Posts: 5,159
    #3
    Nothing OTC worked for me during radiation...I think you saw my post about the sponge/Aveeno body wash , but that was just for cleansing. My DR told me to immediatly ask for a prescription for Cortisone Cream. Again, the OTC stuff wouldnt touch it, but the Prescription did. I had lots of dryness and itching, but no blistering...poor sweetie. My heart goes out to her. Also, the radiation center gave out tubes of that goopy Aquaphor ointment...I used it liberally! And, IF one can get radiation scheduled for 1st appointment of the day...gooping oneself up before bedtime pretty much would give the 8 hour lead time recommendd by her Dr....

    This too shall pass, honestly!

    Hugs,
    Claudia
  • 3cbrca
    3cbrca Member Posts: 206
    #4
    Hi Seof
    It might be radiation burn. Mine started at about 4 weeks and I had oozing burns on my chest. I think its a function of how much radiation you get. I had the max - 5 fields and a repeat on the front. My Rad Onc prescribed Biafin cream. My friend who had total body irradiation had the same problem and Biafin helped her too. It's expensive but worth it. They kept going with the RT though. Maybe she can schedule to go first thing in the a.m. I went in the morning and stopped in the bathroom on my way back to the office to put on the Biafin.
    Hope this helps.
    She
  • Unknown
    Unknown
    #5
    Do I have a similar experience? Wowie. Today, at the radiation center I go to a lady complained of the same thing! I told her to go on this board and seek answers. You don't go to Rancho Cordova Kaiser by any chance...
    Anyway, I will read on for advice to give her. love, JOyce
  • bev49
    bev49 Member Posts: 42
    #6
    When I had gone through most of my rads I did a similiar thing. I was told the white blisters and itching were caused from a fungus infection and was given a Rx for Sylvadene cream ( not sure of the spelling )a gray, thick cream to use everyday, and the rads were stopped for 3 weeks until it was gone. Not everyone does this, I washed the burn area like normal skin, something we just shouldn't do, but I did recover and got my last 9 rads that were up close to the tumor bed, as they called it. I would think that the Dr. is used to this problem, and would be able to prescribe something for you. I went through 2 small jars of this cream to get rid of the fungus infection, but it worked. Hang in there, this is normal, and soon it will all be gone, and we can all celebrate the day you finish!
    Blessings,
    bev49
  • KathiM
    KathiM Member Posts: 8,028 Member
    #7
    I am one of 2 people on the planet that are allergic to Aloe...sigh...so I had to figure something else out...

    I used Aquaphor applied right AFTER my daily treatment. Then, at night (I showered in the morning and washed it off) I used Silvadene (perscription from my radiologist). From shower in the morning till radiation (2 pm) I applied nothing...but, I think, the Aquaphor right after (as I was dressing from the treatment) was the ticket...

    Hugs, Kathi
  • jdubious
    jdubious Member Posts: 113
    #8
    hi,
    my rad team recommended domboro (I think that's how it's spelled) you mix it with water. It's a drying thing that's at the drugstore and pretty cheap. I think I could use it as often as I wanted and it really dried things up.
    jill
  • seof
    seof Member Posts: 819 Member
    #9
    unknown said:

    Do I have a similar experience? Wowie. Today, at the radiation center I go to a lady complained of the same thing! I told her to go on this board and seek answers. You don't go to Rancho Cordova Kaiser by any chance...
    Anyway, I will read on for advice to give her. love, JOyce

    My Center is The Center (for cancer and blood disorders) in Fort Worth, TX, but I think it is a common complaint, which is why I am hoping to "nip it in the bud", and get help before it gets too bad. So far I have had zero ill effects, but it is just week 2 for me.
    seof

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