Treatment for Burn from Radiation

Sleuth01

I had a very bad burn from radiation on my shoulder blade area. It was a rather large open wound oozing puss and bleeding at times. Thankfully, that has healed. However, I do not know what to put on the red spot I'm left with. I was told by my surgeon that it would take two years to heal. My radiologist told me three weeks...'nuff said.

Someone mentioned aloe vera. This morning I noticed that the top layer of skin on the treated breast is peeling. I read on these boards that people have been using vitamin E cream for their treated breasts. I guess I'll try that for the breast. The burn is not on the breast though.

Thanks a lot. 

yellowdoglady

I had a burn from chemo when it leaked into my hand.  I was given a sulfadine creme.  Really amazing good, as it kept burning for days from the inside out.  That stuff worked wonders.

If you have an issue, ask for a prescription to get it handled.  That is what the doctors are there for.  Aloe vera is good for a sunburn, and vitamin E is good for healing too, but the radologists have better stuff if you have an issue.  Oncologists do too.  No one should tell you that you should just wait two years to heal.  I was told to shuffle my radiation because I was getting a burn.  Just a couple of days moving to the electrons from the protons or such and then back.  The reason was that if you break down the skin, it can take time to heal and/or skin grafts.  Why no one gave you something to prevent or protect or heal that thing is a mystery.  Any open skin on a person with a compromised immune system already is just asking for trouble.  At least that is what I was told.      

Sleuth01

I used the sulfadine cream for the open wound. That has healed. The radiologist is useless. The oncologist says that these burns are not her speciality and I should see the radiologist. duh. Now I am going to go to a dermatologist to see if I can find a solution to the resultant red skin that still hurts. I have not had an easy time here with doctors.

Megadotz

When I was having radiation burn issues the RO's staff told me about domeboro astringent solution to dry up weepiness and cool magic gel sheets to help with the burns.  They were sold at the pharmacy next to radiation oncology center.

Here's some web sites that describe them

 Cool Magic gel sheets:

http://www.mpmmedicalinc.com/productdetails.aspx?pin=c.WC.1.p.8 

domeboro astringent solution:

http://www.bayercare.com/domeboro.cfm 

 I ended up not needing them, but they might be  helpful for your situation.

Hope this helps. 

ebann

I used Jean's Cream it really worked well. www.jeanscream.com Try it!

Sleuth01

Thanks, but the open burn hs healed. I am amazed to hear that you have a radiation oncology center at your drugstore. We don't have anything like that here in NYC. What I'm left with is a spot of red skin that still hurts a bit and is sensitive to touch. I have started used aloe veroe cream I bought at the health food store.

Sleuth01

I checked out the Jean's Cream website. Did you use it after the open burn healed for red skin after treatment was over? If so, I will order it online. There are no stores nearby where I can buy it.

Thanks, Dale

Megadotz

sleuh01 -  The radiation oncology center and the drug store are both at the hospital's outpatient center.  The radiology imaging group and surgicenter are there too.  It's handy.

Good luck with the red spot.  Have you tried the aquaphor healing ointment -- that's what they gave me for some remaining redness after the radiation.

Hang in there 

Sleuth01

Never saw Acquaphor, but will see what I can find on the internet. This morning my GP told me to use Vitamin E cream.

How nice to have an outpatient center with all those things available.

Dale 

Megadotz

Sleuth01.

 It is nice.  The Aquaphor healing ointment is pretty widely available.  I found some at the Bed Bath and Beyond  near where I work.

Here's hoping that the red spots will soon be a memory.

Sleuth01

Thanks, but the surgeon said it takes two years for that type of burn to heal. Right now I'm dealing with the sensitivity to touch and slight pain. Still, it is sooooo much better than it was.

I'll check the Bed, Bath and Beyond next time I'm there. I never knew they carried lotions and things of that nature.

Have a great weekend, Dale

PoliceWife84

Sleuth01,

I finished my radiation treatment last August, and I have to second the Magic Gel Sheets! They were a life saver for me - I am Irish and extremely fair, I ended up with 2nd and 3rd degree burns where the radiation was administered. The Magic Gel sheets were given to me by my radiation oncologist and I used them constantly toward the end and after my treatment. I am from Charleston, SC, and it gets really hot and humid here during the summer- the sheets kept my clothes from touching the area, provided a constant "cooling" feeling, and could be applied and removed with no pain whatsoever. The best part was you could cut and shape the "sheet" to fit the area, it can go in the fridge to get cold, and you can wear one sheet for up to 3 days. The best thing ever! I know they are used for burn victims as well - so if your radiation oncologist doesn't have them, mayble check a burn center or online. Everything will heal a little more each day! Take care and God Bless, Brandi

ebann

Yes I used the cream on my wounds...it did a good job and it was not sticky or greasy either. Open air for it to breath is great. If you can run around topless in your home I would.

Cleb

Hi Ladies - I finished tx on 4/5/11 and nothing really remarkable during  that time.  5 or 6 days after my boosts a softball sized lump appeared on the opposite side of my back which would have made sense given the angle the boost were shot at from under my armpit and tumor was located at 7:00, but it means it went thru spine, lungs and whatever else got in the way of the ray.  This large lump also included the chemical type burn, over 1/3 of surface of lump.  In addition, there was a lot of redness and more soreness than any of the direct radiation shots, 35 altogether, and this is on the other side of my back!  I called the radiation nurse who actually told me this was made clear to me that something like this could happen and I was made fully aware before rads began.  WRONG!  I was never told ever what to expect.  I was however exhausted from Aug. biopsy, Sept. surgery Oct. chemo start date, more surgery for port installation, chemo ending in mid-January, 2011 (dose dense chemo) and then 35 rads ( four months of ACT.)I was too tired to argue.  But it is June, my lump continues to return and is severely sore as well, so I called again and the rad nurse told me that perhaps I should take this up with my family Dr.  I was speechless.  I called family doc and spoke to his rn.  She called them immediately and told them that neither she nor I appreciated them passing the buck like they did.  I went to see the head rad onc yesterday.  I told him that I felt that because I was on Medicaid they weren't taking my case quite seriously enough for me.  I lost my insurability in 2004 from inhaling mold and ended up in ICU with a chest tube in with hypersensativity pneumonitis.  I thank God for Medicaid but let me tell you ladies, it absolutely determines how some narrow minds treat you.  I don't think it is  the Docs as much as it is the nurses.  So, ofcourse, radiation can cause pneumonitis!  I know what it feels like.  I conveyed this to the Rad Onc dept. head who apologized for hurt feeling I might have had unnecessarily (yeah, right) by misunderstanding while getting blown off from rad nurse.  However, This guy had the audacity to tell me it was a physical impossibility for the returning red lump on the opposite side of my tumor site to be related to radiation!  If they would have seen me when this thing appeared he wouldn't be able to smugly make such a broad statement.  BTW, it looks just like the smaller lumps that appear on my back on the side where the tumor was.  It's very disheartening to have doctors and nurses providing half-ass care arguing with you about physical impossibilities.  Had they done their job originally, none of these words would be getting typed now.  THANKS FOR LETTING ME VENT!  Well I finally said it!  While I was unemployed and taking care of my mother for her breast cancer, which lasted quite a while, I developed breast cancer.  I had had a biopsy a year before discovering my tumor and it showed a papilloma, but no malignancy.  One year later I found a 2.5 cm tumor which also did not show up on mammo.  I have TNBC with metaplastic features and am afraid that my tx is in the hands of a few boneheads that really don't care.  THANKS AGAIN FOR LETTING ME VENT!!!!!!!!

tvandyk

Hello, My RO gave me RadiaDres gel sheets. They are specifically made for burns, particularly those caused by rads. They felt really good.

Bethie1

I had radiation after my chemo in July 2009, and my skin was breaking down faster then it was healing.  I used Aquaphor ointment.  Worked wonders.  It's vaseline based, so it won't sting.  I would suggest warm pack the area with a warm to hot washcloth.  dry area thoroughly, then apply.  Try this at bedtime to get the most benefit then you're not moving arms as much