Skin Problems During Radiation

Need some tips:

My skin is a mess. Some parts are as red as a fire engine, other parts the skin has died off and is is white and flaky, by my colorbone it looks more like a rash. I've tried Aquaphor, Aloe Vera, Vitamin E oil, Calendula Cream, and now have dropped all of those and am using Biafine. It has gotten so bad they had to take 3 days off of radiation. I've only had 17 treatments so far, no chemo.

Anybody got any tips?

Thanks,

Rick

Hi Rick,

I used the Biafine also. I started it before the radiation treatments began and was putting it on every hour it seemed. It worked pretty good for me as I didn't have any skin problems during treatment and haven't had any of the "woody" stuff post treatment. Your Radiation Oncologist should have some suggestions if the Biafine doesn't work but I guess since they had to stop your treatments the issue has already come up. Maybe if you make a call to a Dermatologist they might have a trick or two to help.

Good Luck!

Joe 

Thanks Joe. Maybe I'm not putting it on often enough, like 4 x's per day is all.

I like the dermo. idea too.

Thanks a lot for the tips.

Rick

Rick, my neck was so red and covered in blisters like I had been in a bad fire. Come to find out I was allergic to the lotion the radiation doctor gave me.  I thought my neck was going to fall off and so red.  I stopped using everything and ended up using baby oil only.  I cleared the blisters up after stopping their stuff.

 1 1/2 year later, I've only got a mild shadow, but no one can tell.  Good luck to you and you will be fine!!

 God Bless

Patricia

My hubbie was so burned his back neck area turned black, not kidding. The amophostine was excellerating the burn.

We used sween cream and then burn packs and the silver cream, which is prescribed by the docs.

best of luck ... you're almost done, right?

Wow, thar's the first I have heard of the shots adding to the burns. Never thought of that. I have 11 more treatments to go.

Thanks,

Rick

Hi Rick:

Just wondering if this is any better now.  My husband has been pretty lucky so far.  His southeast asian skin is very different from mine (think Snow White) where I burn just thinking about sunshine.  Just the prescribed creams alone have kept his skin okay.  A little dry rashing around his mouth and spotted rashing in back of head. 

Today however, we noticed a weird blackish rash around the outside of his armpit.  Such a strange location as it is unconnected to the field of radiation.  Keep in mind that his skin is dark so dry rashing will sometimes go dark vs. red like mine.  We were told a strange tale about this being the "dead cancer leaving the body."  This is the third time we have heard this. 

Did anyone ever mention this to you?  Just curious and hoping you are feeling well.

Kara 

we found out at his 3rd to last appt that he was allergic to amophostine! the doc said the rxn was causing the amofostine to act as an excellarent to the burn- of course, by then it was out of control and his entire body broke into a rash. fun times :)

After Im stopped using everything for my skin and took a 4 day break (2 days off of treatment and the weekend) all got better. All I am using is the Biafine which works well, except for some reason the back of my neck, sort of below my left ear around to the middle, an area about the size of my hand is really burnt and really hurts. The biafine doesn't seem to be doing anything for it, and since I think I was allergic to everything else. I'm afraid to try anything.

Ohh well, 10 more to go. I can stand it for that long I suppose.

God bless all who go through this (including caregivers and family) What a horrible thing to deal with.

Rick