done 12/21, how long for nipple and breast to heal?

poetjanet
poetjanet Member Posts: 41
edited June 2014 in Radiation Therapy - Before, During, and After

 The top layer of skin has come off my nipple.  It is so painful and tender, I have to keep aquaphor on it to keep the pain under control. I was wondering from you all who have finsihed treatment, how long it took your nipple and breast to stop hurting, and needing to keep things like aquaphor and other moisturizing lotions on it?

One of ther rad doctors told me to keep putting lotion on for a month.  How were you doing after a month?  Very glad to have the radiation over, but wondering when I can stop using this gooey, messy aquaphor.  Anybody switch to vitamin E instead of aquaphor after radation was over, or something else that kept you moisturized as good or better than aquaphor?

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  • TenderIsOurMight
    TenderIsOurMight Member Posts: 4,493
    edited January 2010

    Hi Janet,

    The nipple needs to "re-epithelialize", where literally the epidermis grows back and surprisingly when  in health occurs fairly rapidly due to a good blood supply. Rads can diminish our bone marrow and the good immune cells (macrophages) which like Pac-man, scavenge around and engulf the necrotic tissue and local bacteria. 

    An emollient and coating action is provided by the Aquaphor, so nothing sticks to the nipple and tears off the new skin. Vitamin E doesn't have that same effect for as long a period of time, and may dry out allowing sticking of under garments. 

    A month sounds about right, but who knows, maybe you'll be a fast healer. Some extra protein, vitamin C (since your past your rads since it's not used during rads due to it's antioxidant affect), may help your situation out.

    I'm sure others will be by with great suggestions as it's been a while for me. Our search on this site would be helpful too using "radiation and nipples/breast) as I recall wonderfully helpful threads over the past two years.

    Good luck, and happy new year.

    Tender

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  • poetjanet
    poetjanet Member Posts: 41
    edited January 2010

    Hi Tender,

    Thank you very much for explaining to me what is going on.  I'm glad I found out that the aquaphor is keeping the new skin from coming off. I guess within a month or so that new skin will become less and less delicate.  

    Blessings to you,

    Janet

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  • pj12
    pj12 Member Posts: 25,402
    edited January 2010

    Hi Janet,

    My nipple was never as raw as yours but I was surprised at how quickly raw skin under my breast and axilla healed once rads stopped.  I would say raw, irritated skin healed over in two to three weeks.  But I would not say my breast nor nipple is back to normal 6 months after end of radiation. My breast is slightly swollen still and the skin is very dry. If I don't use lotion I am itchy. The color of my breast  skin has faded but the axilla is still quite dark.  My nipple is very pale in color, almost flesh colored and looks larger although that may be an optical illusion due to lack of color.   My rad onc says all is normal.  I am not physically uncomfortable anymore.  I had a mammogram at three months post rad and did not find it painful at all.  

    I was worried my treated breast would end up remarkably smaller than the other,  so far, it remains slightly larger (due to some lingering edema) so I have hope that some day things will even up.  :)  But for everything my poor left breast has been through i am not unhappy.

    Wishing you good health in 2010!

    pam 

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  • LRM216
    LRM216 Member Posts: 2,115
    edited January 2010

    PoetJanet:

    I had my last radiation treatment on December 5, 2009 and was left in very similar circumstances as you.  I am happy to report to you that it really does heal fast!  I have a small bit of peeling left, which began about 5 or 6 days after the last treatment and by Christmas, it was almost perfect and no burn left at all.  Hang in there - you will be feeling much better really soon!  Best of everything to you in this New Year.

    Linda

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  • poetjanet
    poetjanet Member Posts: 41
    edited January 2010

    Dear Pam & Linda,

     Thanks for sharing your experiences.  It 's encouraging to hear that you both were doing better in a few weeks.  It sounds like from you pam, that we need to keep putting lotions on for a number of months due to dryness, and to avoid itchiness.  I'm glad that your breast doesn't hurt anymore.

    I'm thankful for people like you that will let us know things will get better.

     Blessings, and Happy New Year,

     Janet

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  • pj12
    pj12 Member Posts: 25,402
    edited January 2010

    So glad to be able to share.  There is nothing like being able to hear from others who have been through it.

    Best wishes for  2010.

    pam 

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