Pain after Rads??

susancats

I just finished rads 33/33 on Thursday 2/21/13 (yay), but the pain the last 3 days had been horrific. My tumor was located at about 6'oclock under the nipple, so the boosts were aimed there. This is right under the breast and it is where the body/breast meet. It is VERY red. Very sore. Oozing, throbbing, and feels like I'm ripping it when I move. I have silvadene to help with the infection, but I kind of wonder if that's making it worse?? Moist & raw. I tried using a cool hair dryer on it, NO bra all weekend. Advil & aspirin.



The rest of my radiation site looks like it's healing- the armpit, just dry & peeling.



Any Rads warriors out there have any ideas or suggestions?



My Dr did say it might get worse for a couple days (she was right) because of delayed reaction in rads.



When should it feel better??? Ugh.

crabbiepattie

I had one tiny spot similar to what you describe and in the same area - it really hurt!  The spot appeared before the end of my rads so I mentioned it the next day and was given a small sheet of a special gel bandage.  The pain was much reduced in a few hours of starting to wear the bandage; it healed in a few days.  If you're not better tomorrow, it might be time to call your RO.

mamglam

susancats,

I had similar reaction as you with Rads and was recommended by my RO to go to a burn clinic.  This did help me immensely and would recommend you speak with your RO.  The only thing was that I needed to have dressings applied on a daily basis but was kind of used to going for the Rads daily anyway!!  While attending the burn clinic, one of the nurses applied the dressing with one of those non-stick tapes but since my skin was so tender and sore that it actually ripped the skin (sorry TMI).  The healing from the tape was harder than from the rads.  I completed the Rads in April 2012 and my breast is still tender to touch.

Scottiee1

I had saline solutions and a cortisone cream.....took a week for it to get better.

FilterLady

susancats,

I had one small tiny spot appear after my 7 "boosts".  I used Cetaphil lotion and it made it so much better.  But it was never infected.  It did sting like crazy.

I suggest you check with your RO tomorrow since you don't want to put anything on your skin without checking with him or his nurse.

I hope you feel better soon,

LaDonna

Scottiee1

FilterLady is correct.....I was in so much pain that I just went to my local walk in clinic and was given a script for cortisone plus told to use a saline solution at the same time.

susancats

Thanks all. It just seems like an impossible spot to heal- kinda like putting a bandaid on your tongue- doesn't work!!



I really would be ok if I could stay home, be bra (sports) less, use a fan all day, and not create any friction. Ugh. It's the location. I'll try the saline soak.

melmcbee

I also used a gel patch that was called vigilon patch. It was a cool  blue patch that I kept in the fridge. Then I used silvadene in between the times I used those gel patches. I hope you feel better soon.