Finished required rad treatments--week later skin

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Katski
Katski Member Posts: 55
edited June 2014 in Radiation Therapy - Before, During, and After

All the docs were so proud of me for finishing rads.  Now a week later, I wished I had stopped at day 20.  My skin is separating from my breast and it is one open angry looking thing.  And the neck part is hurting like a 12 on the pain scale.  Rads nurse has put an allederm patch on the neck area which does feel better now.  This open part on my skin worries me.  She said to use the cream but leave it open.  I worry about infection, etc.  I am taking a pain pill for the pain now after crying how bad I hurt.(I guess a little drama does work but I should not have had to cry).  I am allergic to sulfa so the creams are limited.  I am making sure there is no friction and stuff but really am worried about infection.  Any ideas?  (I am airing it too).

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  • Denise-G
    Denise-G Member Posts: 1,777
    edited April 2013

    My skin did exactly the same thing one week post rads.  It looked horrible.  I had Silvadene

    which did help(so sorry you are allergic), but it was difficult to apply because of the soreness, openness, and peeling skin.

    That was the bad news.  The good news is it started to heal one week later.  And because all that

    skin peeled, I am now 8 months later and skin looks really, really good.  Doesn't even look like

    I had radiation.   Just wanted to give you encouragement!

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  • Cynthie
    Cynthie Member Posts: 32
    edited April 2013

    Denise, that is encouraging, thanks from all of us in the middle of rads! 

    Spiney and Denise, how many Gray and fractions did you both have?  I'm scheduled for 61,6 Gray delivered in 28 fractions of 2,2 Gray per session (including a 0,4 Gy boost each session instead of all at the end).  Ten down, eighteen to go...

    Fingers and thumbs crossed that you heal up quick!!


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  • Denise-G
    Denise-G Member Posts: 1,777
    edited April 2013

    Cynthie - I never asked details but I know it was heavy duty.  I was so detailed out by the

    time I got to rads it was kind of like - do whatever.   I had 28 and 5 boosts to the scar.

    The boosts to the scar is what did me in.

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  • tuxtails
    tuxtails Member Posts: 39
    edited April 2013

    I did the four week trek, I started blistering the last week and then afterwards it got worse. I used alot of Aquaphor, placed a folded soft hankie over my breast to keep it from getting all over. Couldn't wear a bra for a week....it has been almost 2 weeks since I finished tx and I am healing fairly fast. The redness has faded considerably. I too was worried about infection, but I aired it out as much as I could and it helped me heal. Hope you are feeling better!

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  • MameMe
    MameMe Member Posts: 425
    edited April 2013

    Hi, I am glad to hear this from everyone, as I am recently done with rads for a second bc episode, and am extremely sore and angry red in left axilla, which I don't recall happening with rads in 2003. There is a hard, sensitive lump near the tumor bed which I also did not have before. I guess I expected to feel much better very rapidly after rads were done, but its been four days and its almost worse. I look forward to the week after next, which from what others are saying, should show big improvement?

    Wha wha whaaa!

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