Radiation Recall?Anyone??

undecided8

I was just curious if anyone had ever dealt with this or even heard of it before? I had chemo and radiation in 2008. I'm now back in chemo and doing radiation at the same time. Yesterday the oddest thing started to happen. My area that got really burnt the last time starting burning, itching, and turning REALLY red again. I'm not even being treated in that area??? I'm now told that I have what they call "Radiation Recall". It's when you've had radiation and then months even years later do chemotherapy and the chemo drug actually goes to the previous burnt site and irritates it! I had NEVER heard of this in my life and thought I was going nuts to be burnt in a place that isn't even being radiated. Learn something new every day.

Suzanne E.

NativeMainer

Radiation recall happens because the radiation permanently damages all the tissues it goes thorugh, making it more susceptable to damage for the rest of our lives.  That's why we can't let irradiated areas ever get sun exposure, and why the effects of chemotherapy on "healthy" tissue is exaggerated in previously irradiated skin.  Keep an eye on that area, the skin can actually burn, blister and open up just like during/after rads.  Immediately report ANYTHING that looks like an infection--infections in that skin need to be treated ASAP and aggressively. 

mrsnjband

Suzanne E,

 Yes I had radiation recall last year.  I had a CT scan & bone scan and got radiation recall. It was like I had a radiation treament all over again onlly worse.  The entire radiated area became red, hot & then it ran around my rib and down the ribs in my back.  I was miseralbe and angry. They say it was the die for the ct but I don't think so.  I just had a chest xray and now my skin is breaking down again. I looks burned, now I'm having little red bumps & it hurts and itches.  I am so sick of dealing with all these issures. I really want it to go away.  Haven't I suffered enough? I'm sorry to be venting, but I can't even get away from the bc issues for 5 minutes.

mrsnjband

My last post was in July, it's now mid August and I'm still dealing with this lastest reaction.  It is so annoying. I was finally able to do more things and now this.  I did get some new meds for it yesterday and it's a little better today.  I don't think I realized soon enough that it really was radiation recall again and from a chest x-ray.  I don't want anything to do with radiationn anymore.