Raw skin under breast after radiation...remedies??

Hi Angela, I had a mastectomy and could use silvadene.  But I'm writing to give you encouragement.  My peeling and really red skin didn't show up until 1 week after Rads ended.  Then it was sore and uncomfortable for 2 weeks, it all peeled, and looked really good relatively quickly.  Once I had to take motrin because of pain.  Hang in there.  It will get better!

I found wearing a white cotton T shirt next to my skin.....and then putting my bra on over the Tshirt helped

Ahowe I'm so sorry to hear about your daughter's diagnosis so soon after your own.  This disease is so insidious.  I am also large breasted and had some extreme redness and peeling under my breast and a constant burning sensation.  I used boiron calendula cream (there is also an ointment) for healing because it was all natural, and then a mix of aquafor and 5% lidocaine for the pain. My RO prescribed the lidocaine ointment and it was a godsend for all the extra sore spots.  I also got some non stick dressings from my nurse that were coated in aquafor.  I would place those over the really sore and red areas after adding some extra aquafor and lidocaine, then cover with another padded dressing, and that would allow me to wear a very soft bra (which then kept my breast from sagging down too much over the sore area under my breast).  Rads finished for me just under three weeks ago, and almost all the discomfort is gone and everything is healed up and looking pretty much normal again.

Wishing you speedy healing, a great outcome for your daughter, and sending you both a hug.

Hi Ahowe so sorry to hear about your daughters dx as well. As for the breasts after rads my skin also broke down big time. I found what helped me ( because I couldn,t wear a bra) was putting on my cream them I used a non-stick telfa pad by johnson and johnson in the crease of my boob it stopped the skin on skin friction and felt cushy. Good luck with healing, it will heal. And all the best for you and your daughter.

   roberta.

The one thing that worked the best for me was just letting it "air".  I would lie down in the afternoon for about an hour with my top off - no creams and just let it air.  I also used a soft non stick pad in the fold under the breast. I healed up within a few weeks of my last rads appt.  Wishing both you and your daughter a speedy recovery.  

Hope it works for you too!

I couldn't put anything on my wounds.  I used a mepilex dressing instead .. it is expensive, but it cleared me up in a week, you can't shower with it on, but after I started healing I was able to reuse one (taking off and then putting it back on after I was completely dry) for a couple days.  You can't put ANYTHING on underneath these in order for them to work - it will not stick if you do.

Good luck to you, it does get better! 

I have the same thing. I still have seven boosts to go. Wearing a bra kills under the breast. What I did was took gauze and put cream thick on it and place it on the skin under boob. Then I affix the bra over it. I don’t wear underwire at all. Once it is in place it seems to be ok. I also tuck some glaze with cream area side of my underarm It is also sore there. By the sentinel biopsy. I will keep this in place for several hours until I have to shower. Good luck. I just want to get through my seven boosts. I don’t want them to cancel anything