Burning skin after radiation

lrpabon

Well I'm finally done with all my rad treatments (25).  It's been a week after and my skin is burning and tingling so bad sometimes I can't hardly bear it.  I've had mascectomy left breast, so they treated the chest wall, axilla & subclavicular area, with a bolus to the skin.  I was fine during all the treatments and now it itches and burns.  I use aloe and also emu oil but I dont see any improvement, it seems to be getting more red.  Any one else experience this, how long before it starts to heal?

RegulJ

Try Vit E cream also. I use a combo of Vit E cream and Aveeno intense night time cream.

My routine right after rads was Aloe in the am (before my shower) Vit E cream mid day and Aveeno at night

Good Luck

redsox

My rad onc said the skin would get worse for 4-5 days after the end of treatment and then it would start to improve.  That turned out to be very accurate.  After treatment I used OTC hydrocortisone and aloe (99% pure) liberally but nothing else. 

You might try different lotions from those you have used.  It is always possible that some ingredient in one is bothering you. 

jenn3

I had a BMX, had 28 with bolus and boosts.  I did great during radiation, it was 5 days later when the skin began hurting, peeling, oozing and blistering.  I was told to continue using aloe, creams and hydrocortizone for the areas that weren't open and oozing.  I found the hydrocortizone to give me the most relief.  Then once the skin opened I went in to have it cleaned daily and also cleaned it at home - the mixture was peroxide and water 50/50.  It actually felt good to clean the area with room temp - cool water.  During that process the nurse and/or me would remove some of the skin.  I'm not sure if your center has this, but they gave me these wonderful pads that stuck to the open wounds and absorbed the moisture, but did not hurt when removed - they are made specifically for radiation wounds.  They couldn't give me a prescription for them, but they were able to give me a few each time I went in to have it cleaned.  She said they're much better than gause or non-stick pads.  In all honesty, I did so well through radiation that the pain caught me off guard 5 days later.   I also took medication for pain for about 5 days during that time. 

I was told radiation to areas where there is no breast tissue is more painful b/c there is no breast tissue to absorb the radiation. 

I hope you feel better soon.

lrpabon

Thank you so much everyone.  It's so good to know we're not alone.  I appriciate all the advice and I should be on the way to healing soon.

RegulJ

Also with the Vit E and Aveeno my skin is 99% back to normal and I am 30 days out from treatment. My chest is back to the original color and my neck still has a "tanned" area- but it reacted the worst.