Radiation Burns and Raw Skin

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Susan T
Susan T Member Posts: 3
in Anal Cancer #1

First, thank you to everyone who has posted questions and answers on this discussion board.  I don't know anyone else who has anal cancer -- didn't even know it was a "thing," until I was diagnosed last February (2017).  My 6 weeks of radiation/2 weeks of chemo started at the end of February and ended the first of April.  I had some issues dealing with the treatments -- didn't realize what the chemo would do to my mouth and ended up in the hospital 2 nights because my white blood count dove -- but other than that, I went to work every day for the first 4 weeks and then worked from home the last 2.  And I drove myself to all of my treatments, except during week 6, when my friends insisted they drive me.  So I was really pleased with how I handled my treatment.  My question....I have a raw spot from the radiation that will not heal.  It's gotten smaller, but it's still about 1 1/2" long x 3/4" wide?  I've tried every cream, every ointment, everything anyone has suggested.  My rad onc and surgeon did a biopsy and a nitric acid treatment in November.  The biopsy came back as "ulcerative and irritated skin after radiation therapy."  The nitric acid seemed to help the raw spot heal a little more.....but here it is, almost a year later.  And that raw spot still hasn't healed.  Has anyone else dealt with a radiation burn not healing?  Thank you!!!!!

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  • eihtak
    eihtak Member Posts: 1,473 Member
    #2
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    Susan T...

    Hi,

    I am so sorry to hear this, it must be so frustrating after handling this treatment so well to still be dealing with this issue! Congratulations though, I am impressed at your ability to work, drive, etc as you did...you did great!!

    Although my burns inside and out were severe and have left me with lasting damage (its been almost 7 yrs now) They all healed fairly quick after treatment ended. I don't know too much about essential oils but I have heard numerous people say that lavendar promotes tissue healing...have you checked into that or any other essential oil advice? Its probably worth a try at this point.

    I hope someone else chimes in with words of wisdom to get you through this. I will keep you in my thoughts and prayers for swift healing!

    katheryn

  • Mollymaude
    Mollymaude Member Posts: 431 Member
    edited January 2018 #3
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    Susan

    Where is the spot exactly? Does it get rubbed by clothing? If it does can you wear something baggy so it can't rub? All my burns healed fairly quickly after treatment. I went to a pelvic PT who swore by coconut oil so you could try that. Maybe leave it open to the air as much as possible too. Also you might Google hyperbaric oxygen and see if it's available near you. Hope this helps.

  • Susan T
    Susan T Member Posts: 3
    edited January 2018 #4
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    Mollymaude said:

    Susan

    Where is the spot exactly? Does it get rubbed by clothing? If it does can you wear something baggy so it can't rub? All my burns healed fairly quickly after treatment. I went to a pelvic PT who swore by coconut oil so you could try that. Maybe leave it open to the air as much as possible too. Also you might Google hyperbaric oxygen and see if it's available near you. Hope this helps.

    Sorry for the colorative

    Sorry for the colorative explanation of where the spot is.....not used to this "language."  It's right behind my anus.  It was about 3" side x 3" up...between my buttocks.  The area was totally raw after treatment.  And it's been getting smaller....but still hasn't healed.  And my treatments were over 9 months ago.  I wore men's boxer shorts for months and months and wore loose clothing.  I was told to not sit, to not sleep on my back.  To take warm baths.  To air dry.  I've tried almost everything.  Haven't tried coconut oil or lavender oil.  But will.  (Someone even gave me an ointment that the VA Hospitals use....didn't work)  Sometimes the area hurts, sometimes it doesn't.  My oncologist and surgeon said something about going to a wound care clinic, but neither has referred me to one.  Thanks!

     

  • mp327
    mp327 Member Posts: 4,440 Member
    #5
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    Susan T

    I'm not sure where you live, so don't know what type of doctors are available in your area, but perhaps seeing a wound specialist would be a good idea, just as your doctors have suggested.  That's a long time for a wound not to heal and I would be concerned about possible infection.  I hope you can find a doctor who can help you.

  • Ohmy
    Ohmy Member Posts: 102 Member
    #6
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    My doctor told me to use

    My doctor told me to use Domeboro compresses on my burns when my treatment ended.  I used it for about two weeks and walked around bottomless.  I also used Aloe.  Don't try anything without asking your doctor.  

  • Mollymaude
    Mollymaude Member Posts: 431 Member
    #7
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    Susan

    From your description the spot is in the "crack" (not a medical term but descriptive), so it is really hard to get it to air out and heal even if you go bottomless. That is a nice moist warm area for yeast to grow so I wonder if that might be part of the problem. I found that to get referred to any specialists you have to ask, they don't automatically do it. So if I were you I would ask for a wound care consult. Usually it is a nurse and if that's all they do they really have some useful tips and products. All that said, as Ohmy talked about the domeboro soaks helped me too. And it might be worth a try to get some diaper rash antifungal ointment and try that if you think a yeast growrh could be part of the problem. Good luck, it sound uncomfortable!

  • Susan T
    Susan T Member Posts: 3
    edited January 2018 #8
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    Radiation Burns and Raw Skin

    Thanks!!!!  I'm going to check out Domeboro and will ask to see a wound care specialist.  Thank you!!!!!  While they're telling me they got the cancer, I'm just waiting for them to tell me it's back, and I need to to through treatment again.  Which I will gladly do.  But I want this spot to be healed before having to go through treatment again.  I just need to feel more positive!

  • caholz33
    caholz33 Member Posts: 45 Member
    #9
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    I used aloe (actually bought

    I used aloe (actually bought a plant to have it fresh) and felt like it helped with burns.  However, I did not have any lingering problem.  I wouldn't put anything on it without running it by your doctor.  Best of luck!

  • Patchwork
    Patchwork Member Posts: 1
    #10
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    Susan T said:

    Sorry for the colorative

    Sorry for the colorative explanation of where the spot is.....not used to this "language."  It's right behind my anus.  It was about 3" side x 3" up...between my buttocks.  The area was totally raw after treatment.  And it's been getting smaller....but still hasn't healed.  And my treatments were over 9 months ago.  I wore men's boxer shorts for months and months and wore loose clothing.  I was told to not sit, to not sleep on my back.  To take warm baths.  To air dry.  I've tried almost everything.  Haven't tried coconut oil or lavender oil.  But will.  (Someone even gave me an ointment that the VA Hospitals use....didn't work)  Sometimes the area hurts, sometimes it doesn't.  My oncologist and surgeon said something about going to a wound care clinic, but neither has referred me to one.  Thanks!

     

    Calmoseptine

    I am so sorry about the residual burns... Did you try Calmoseptine?  It is a burn ointment that I used after radiatiion to treat the burns and it soothed them and helped them heal.  I had horrible burns in my rectum and holy cow did it hurt to go to the bathroom!  It took acouple weeks but this stuff has some kind of numbing compound in it and I feel like it helped a lot.

  • Msmoxie
    Msmoxie Member Posts: 46 Member
    edited March 2018 #11
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    burn treatment suggestion

    I have heard of colloidal silver to be extremely effective on wounds of this nature.  Look into the possibility of this to help you.

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