Radiation Recovery

Arayasunshine69
Arayasunshine69 Member Posts: 50
edited June 2014 in Radiation Therapy - Before, During, and After

How long does it normally take for radiation burns to heal?  It will be a week tomorrow that I've had them, and they seem to be getting worst.  Very Blistered.  I tried to do some stretching before bed last night, and it just seem to bother it more. Is there anything I can do, to speed this up?

Thanks!

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Comments

  • grneyd5600
    grneyd5600 Member Posts: 420
    edited January 2011

    Are you applying neosporin or an antibiotic cream?  The skin will probably peel before it starts to completely heal. 

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  • sptmm62
    sptmm62 Member Posts: 665
    edited January 2011

    Kellie- My rad onco told me that my burns could worsen for up to two weeks after treatment ended.  But if you are blistered I would contact the RO and ask for some prescription cream like Silvadene or something.

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  • jo1955
    jo1955 Member Posts: 8,543
    edited January 2011

    Kellie - Like grneyd5600 & sptmm62 said, you need to use some kind of antibiotic cream on the skin right away if you are not already.  My rad onc told me that the radiation continues in the skin for up to two weeks, sometimes a little longer.  At some point, you may also need a 10 day course of oral antibiotics to guard against an infection.  

    Please contact your rad onc immediately.

    (((HUGS))) to you and wishing you a speedy recovery. 

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  • Smile_On
    Smile_On Member Posts: 141
    edited January 2011

    My doctor also said that radiation burns often get worse for a week or two before they start getting better.  She also said to stop stretching temporarily.  I have been so good with my post-mastectomy PT stretches & my lymphedema moves so that has been hard for me to give up, but I'm about a week and a half ou from my last radiation and the peeling is almost gone under my arm, and I think I'll be able to go back to stretching soon.  I got a hydrogel from my radiation onc that works really well, it is kind of messy so I put it on at night and shower in the am.  I also lived on Neosporin Plus (it has pain meds in it) for the last week or so of radiation and the week after when I was having severe peeling.  You can also use aloe-vera gel.  I made sure I wore really soft clothing, a soft cotton undershirt under day clothes (since I had a bilateral mastectomy I didn't wear a bra) and a satiny pajama top.  Hope you start getting some relief soon!

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  • Lorraine5
    Lorraine5 Member Posts: 35
    edited January 2011

    I completed RT Dec 16 (16 treatments in total).  I think I was very lucky as not too much pain and some edema and skin changes in the way of minor redness and sensitivity.  I notice that it did get worse about 7-10 days after and is now improving.  I did, however, use Glaxo base twice a day since Day 1 and that did seem to help.  I still get the odd twinge of sudden burning in small areas, but it lasts only seconds.  Interestingly, the one spot on my back shoulderblade is more annoying.  Regardless, all treatments (chemo, sx and RT) were all for a cure - which I seem to have attained.  Now on to screening and just continued Tamoxifen.  Figure the hot flashes are just fine - that means I am still here!!!  Be well!

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  • GG27
    GG27 Member Posts: 2,128
    edited January 2011

    Kellie,  I had quite a bad reaction to rads & it got worse up to about the 2 week post rads time period.  I ended up having to get silvadene creme, but you should probably get in touch with your Radiation Oncologist to find out what they recommend.  Good luck! Dee

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  • elenalb
    elenalb Member Posts: 8
    edited January 2011

    Hi mfrog,

    Just wondering....I've finished as of today(1/26) after 25+5 boost.  I've got bad burns (when the techs are concered before each treatment, they're bad) and have nausea over the last couple of days.  I'm on Silvadene, etc., but feel like I've got a long road (after two types of chemo and bilateral mastectomy last July).  I've been at this nearly a year and was curious about how you felt three weeks after.

    Thanks, hope you are healing well.

    elenalb (wishing she was on an island in the Pacific)

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