Radiation Burn - What To Use?

Kylez
Kylez Member Posts: 3,761 Member
edited March 2014 in Breast Cancer #1
I am starting to get burnt with rads, and, I am using what my radiation oncologist told me to

use. What has anyone else used for the burn? Thanks!
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Comments

  • Noel
    Noel Member Posts: 3,095 Member
    #2
    Lil Pink
    Kylez, I used Biafine, but, I didn't burn. I just got a little pink in a couple of places. Nothing serious. Are you close to being done?
  • chenheart
    chenheart Member Posts: 5,159
    #3
    Radiation
    The radiation center I went to had tubes of Aquaphor for the taking...I gooped it on liberally. My radiologist also wrote me a prescription for Hydrocortisone cream, as he told me the OTC brands wouldn't be strong enough. The burn didn't bother me so much as the Itching~ YIKES! But the hydrocortison helped a lot!

    What helped me the most though was this: I got a natural sea sponge and Aveeno body wash (unscented, made with colloidal oatmeal). When I showered, I saturated the sponge with luke warm water, added the Aveeno and made bubbles, and gently squeezed it over the "affected" side, NEVER even touching my skin with the sponge. I patted myself dry, and liberally gooped myself with the Aquaphor. Whenever possible ( which was daily, as I did home caregiver service for an elderly woman) I went braless and wore old, soft BIG white t-shirts so as not to irritate my skin further.

    Happy Healing to you~ it will be over soon!!

    Hugs,
    Claudia
  • Alexis F
    Alexis F Member Posts: 3,598
    #4
    chenheart said:

    Radiation
    The radiation center I went to had tubes of Aquaphor for the taking...I gooped it on liberally. My radiologist also wrote me a prescription for Hydrocortisone cream, as he told me the OTC brands wouldn't be strong enough. The burn didn't bother me so much as the Itching~ YIKES! But the hydrocortison helped a lot!

    What helped me the most though was this: I got a natural sea sponge and Aveeno body wash (unscented, made with colloidal oatmeal). When I showered, I saturated the sponge with luke warm water, added the Aveeno and made bubbles, and gently squeezed it over the "affected" side, NEVER even touching my skin with the sponge. I patted myself dry, and liberally gooped myself with the Aquaphor. Whenever possible ( which was daily, as I did home caregiver service for an elderly woman) I went braless and wore old, soft BIG white t-shirts so as not to irritate my skin further.

    Happy Healing to you~ it will be over soon!!

    Hugs,
    Claudia

    My oncologist gave me the
    My oncologist gave me the biafine too. I also use the aquaphor at night. It is really greasy, so, I don't want to use it during the day. Good luck!
  • DianeBC
    DianeBC Member Posts: 3,881 Member
    #5
    Alexis F said:

    My oncologist gave me the
    My oncologist gave me the biafine too. I also use the aquaphor at night. It is really greasy, so, I don't want to use it during the day. Good luck!

    How bad do you get burnt
    How bad do you get burnt from radiation? I am to start it soon. thanks
  • chenheart
    chenheart Member Posts: 5,159
    #6
    DianeBC said:

    How bad do you get burnt
    How bad do you get burnt from radiation? I am to start it soon. thanks

    Radiation Burns
    I didn't burn too badly at all~ but the radiation is cumulative, so be VERY gentle with your skin...see what I wrote above about Aveeno and natural sponges, etc.

    Hugs,
    Claudia
  • CR1954
    CR1954 Member Posts: 1,390 Member
    #7
    Also.......
    Biafine here also. And yes, it is cumulative. I didn't start to burn until the last few treatments. That's also when my fatigue kicked in.

    CR
  • mgm42
    mgm42 Member Posts: 491 Member
    #8
    Ditto +
    Aquaphor and Biafine helped me, too. However, my rad onco gave me a cream that had lidocaine in it also along with a soaking powder. That stuff was GREAT! You prepare the solution, then soak a washcloth, wring it out, and place it on the affected area. It was terrific stuff. I've forgotten the name of it, but I'm sure the nurse will know what it is and give it to you. Hugs, Marilynn
  • Kylez
    Kylez Member Posts: 3,761 Member
    #9
    mgm42 said:

    Ditto +
    Aquaphor and Biafine helped me, too. However, my rad onco gave me a cream that had lidocaine in it also along with a soaking powder. That stuff was GREAT! You prepare the solution, then soak a washcloth, wring it out, and place it on the affected area. It was terrific stuff. I've forgotten the name of it, but I'm sure the nurse will know what it is and give it to you. Hugs, Marilynn

    Thank you!
    Thanks for all of this info. I will talk to my radiation oncologist tomorrow about using something different. I don't want to be burnt bad and for it to hurt a lot. And, my chest is tight, so, the aquaphor might help with that. Thanks again!
  • RE
    RE Member Posts: 4,591 Member
    #10
    RAD BURNS
    I had 16 weeks of rads and burned quite a bit, my doc gave me RADIA CARE GEL SHEETS by Carrington. It is a topical wound dressing for radiation dermatitis. They work wonders and give great relief. I was also give SD creme which is used for all types of burns and works quite well. I had a pressure cooker blow up on my arm and had second degree burns which the sd creme helped to heal quite quickly. My best to you.

    RE
  • tasha_111
    tasha_111 Member Posts: 2,072
    #11
    RE said:

    RAD BURNS
    I had 16 weeks of rads and burned quite a bit, my doc gave me RADIA CARE GEL SHEETS by Carrington. It is a topical wound dressing for radiation dermatitis. They work wonders and give great relief. I was also give SD creme which is used for all types of burns and works quite well. I had a pressure cooker blow up on my arm and had second degree burns which the sd creme helped to heal quite quickly. My best to you.

    RE

    Rad burns
    I used Polysporin for the red area and Hydrocortizone (Prescription) for the worst areas.......for about 5 days..Then I was OK. Hope this helps. Jxxxxxxxx
  • Christmas Girl
    Christmas Girl Member Posts: 3,682 Member
    #12
    Kylez said:

    Thank you!
    Thanks for all of this info. I will talk to my radiation oncologist tomorrow about using something different. I don't want to be burnt bad and for it to hurt a lot. And, my chest is tight, so, the aquaphor might help with that. Thanks again!

    Yes, please be sure...
    ... Your rad onc definitely approves of anything else you might use. The rad equipment itself can vary, and certain products may either interfere with effectiveness and/or cause unwanted reactions.

    Kind regards, Susan
  • Jeanne D
    Jeanne D Member Posts: 1,867
    #13
    tasha_111 said:

    Rad burns
    I used Polysporin for the red area and Hydrocortizone (Prescription) for the worst areas.......for about 5 days..Then I was OK. Hope this helps. Jxxxxxxxx

    All good medicines
    These are all good medications to use. It sounds like RE had it the

    worse. Sorry RE. I used Biafine for the small burn I got and I used the Aquaphor at night

    and still used it even after rads were done, because you are still cooking even after you are

    finished, so, don't forget that. Good luck to you!
  • dmc_emmy
    dmc_emmy Member Posts: 549
    #14
    Kylez said:

    Thank you!
    Thanks for all of this info. I will talk to my radiation oncologist tomorrow about using something different. I don't want to be burnt bad and for it to hurt a lot. And, my chest is tight, so, the aquaphor might help with that. Thanks again!

    Going through rads...
    I used an Aloe cream as well as the aquaphor. They worked great. The one thing to remember, and I am sure your dr has told you, is to stay out of the sun while ungoing treatment. I was told to wear a wide brim hat and long sleeves if I wanted to go outside. I was also very tired after treatment, so I slept a lot. I liked to take a lukewarm bath after my nap, it was very relazing, and it helped my body to not feel so tight.

    Wish you well.
    dmc
  • Kylez
    Kylez Member Posts: 3,761 Member
    #15
    Jeanne D said:

    All good medicines
    These are all good medications to use. It sounds like RE had it the

    worse. Sorry RE. I used Biafine for the small burn I got and I used the Aquaphor at night

    and still used it even after rads were done, because you are still cooking even after you are

    finished, so, don't forget that. Good luck to you!

    I will talk to my doctor
    I will talk to my doctor today about all of these. And, I won't use anything unless he says it is ok. And hopefully, the tightness in my chest is normal for radiation. Thanks again everyone!
  • Kristin N
    Kristin N Member Posts: 1,968 Member
    #16
    Kylez said:

    I will talk to my doctor
    I will talk to my doctor today about all of these. And, I won't use anything unless he says it is ok. And hopefully, the tightness in my chest is normal for radiation. Thanks again everyone!

    Kylez, I used biafine for
    Kylez, I used biafine for the burn and I used the aquaphor later on in my treatment only at night. Like the others said, it is greasy and will ruin and stain anything you have on if you apply it. But, it is like petroleum jelly and keeps your skin moisturized. Just be gentle with your skin. And, rest, get lots of rest!
  • lanie940
    lanie940 Member Posts: 490 Member
    #17
    Kristin N said:

    Kylez, I used biafine for
    Kylez, I used biafine for the burn and I used the aquaphor later on in my treatment only at night. Like the others said, it is greasy and will ruin and stain anything you have on if you apply it. But, it is like petroleum jelly and keeps your skin moisturized. Just be gentle with your skin. And, rest, get lots of rest!

    My radiation oncologist told
    My radiation oncologist told me to use pure aloe vera/the clear gell bottle. He said if it looked like I needed more, he would order a prescription Actually, I'm now putting it on my adhesive tape irritation I got on my upper thigh in the hospital when they had to catherize me during my hernia surgery. They did go ahead and take out the 2 lumps under my left arm pit. That alo was bothering me but isn't hurting like the hernia insision! It still hurts even with Vicodin!I have this binder I have to wear. Did you laidies who had mastectomies wear them after your surgery?
  • dmc_emmy
    dmc_emmy Member Posts: 549
    #18
    lanie940 said:

    My radiation oncologist told
    My radiation oncologist told me to use pure aloe vera/the clear gell bottle. He said if it looked like I needed more, he would order a prescription Actually, I'm now putting it on my adhesive tape irritation I got on my upper thigh in the hospital when they had to catherize me during my hernia surgery. They did go ahead and take out the 2 lumps under my left arm pit. That alo was bothering me but isn't hurting like the hernia insision! It still hurts even with Vicodin!I have this binder I have to wear. Did you laidies who had mastectomies wear them after your surgery?

    All good suggestions
    I used aquaphor (still have some left after 4 years--the stuff is fantastic). I also used an ahloe-vera cream daily, like lanie it was the clear gel. I started to use these before I burned and I think it may have helped me not burn too much. I think it will work even after the burning has started.

    dmc
  • mommyrn
    mommyrn Member Posts: 1
    #19
    rad burn relief
    I got REALLY bad burns. I tried the Aquapor and the prescript stuff, ended up making my own stuff. I used Aloe with Lidocaine, Vit. E, and Shae butter. Works pretty well, but remember to wash it off before Rad therapy. Also used spray Solarcaine a few times. My burn got so bad my Rad Onc. wanted to stop my treatments for a while to let my skin heal for a few weeks. I just wanted to get it over with. Now I have two treatments left.
  • heiditheeducator
    heiditheeducator Member Posts: 2
    #20
    mommyrn said:

    rad burn relief
    I got REALLY bad burns. I tried the Aquapor and the prescript stuff, ended up making my own stuff. I used Aloe with Lidocaine, Vit. E, and Shae butter. Works pretty well, but remember to wash it off before Rad therapy. Also used spray Solarcaine a few times. My burn got so bad my Rad Onc. wanted to stop my treatments for a while to let my skin heal for a few weeks. I just wanted to get it over with. Now I have two treatments left.

    radiation burns

    how many weeks of treatment did you have? Which dose?

    When dd you notice the burns start?

    I am worried. I don't know what to do.. I heard vit e before...

    Doc says lotion each day which is done, but still have 11 more treatments to 5400 g/dose.

  • Rague
    Rague Member Posts: 3,653 Member
    #21
    heiditheeducator said:

    radiation burns

    how many weeks of treatment did you have? Which dose?

    When dd you notice the burns start?

    I am worried. I don't know what to do.. I heard vit e before...

    Doc says lotion each day which is done, but still have 11 more treatments to 5400 g/dose.

    Domebro Soaks

    My burn did not start til after last rad.  Day 24 had slight pink and Day 25 (last scheduled TX) was a little pinker but not bad at all.  The next morning I woke up to the entire radiated area being blistered.  I had 'religiously' done everything to care for the area throughout TX that Dr. wanted done.   The burns kept getting worse for a long time and nothing was working - I even used all my huge aloe plant to no good.  Thankfully the deepest of the burns were in the area where I have no feeling from surgery.  Silvadene/Sulfadene is commonly used for rad burn but I'm allergic to Sulfa drugs so not an option for me but was lucky to not get any infection even in the burns up the side of neck.  I was given the option of trying Domebro soaks before being set to a burn unit.  They worked greaat and I was finally heealed in all areas 4 months after end of rads.  Have some 'great' scars from the deepest of the burns (primarily under arm and around to back and up side of neck.

    Remember that we are each unique so we all will not have the same experiences - the good and the bad - prepare/educate but do not assume you will have the same experiences as anyone else.

    Winyan - The Power Within

    Susan

     

     

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