Radiation burns - ongoing irritation

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Momine
Momine Member Posts: 7,859
edited December 2014 in Stage III Breast Cancer
Radiation burns - ongoing irritation
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  • Momine
    Momine Member Posts: 7,859
    edited December 2014

    I should ask in the rads forum, but I figure most people here had rads and I am used to checking this forum.

    I finished radiation treatment almost 3 years ago. I had 6 weeks of daily zaps, with a bolus for some of it, total of 35 Gy.

    My front (no reconstruction) has recovered quite well. It is the back that is the problem. I have 2 wide bands of darkness across my shoulder blade and it ITCHES. The skin must be very fragile, because I constantly get open sores from scratching it. Has anyone else had this?

    I will go see a dermo, but thought I would ask if anyone has any experience.

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  • sbelizabeth
    sbelizabeth Member Posts: 2,889
    edited December 2014

    Momine, I had a similar rads protocol, but with boluses to the front as well as a place behind my arm, toward my back, where my RO was concerned a seroma from my mx might seed malignant cells.  I didn't have significant scarring except for on my back.  It was a dark, scarred-over band, adhered down to the underneath tissues, and affected my shoulder range of motion.  My plastic surgeon has worked on excising it a couple of times and now it's just a clean, healed incision.

    The skin that USED to be there, though, was fragile and tender.  Not very itchy, but sensitive.  I hope you find some relief!

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  • Momine
    Momine Member Posts: 7,859
    edited December 2014

    Elizabeth, thanks. That tells me I am not just being a whiny-baby ;) Thankfully it does not seem bad enough to interfere with mobility and the like. It is just incredibly annoying.

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  • Morwenna
    Morwenna Member Posts: 1,063
    edited December 2014

    It might be worth seeking a medical or surgical opinion nevertheless. If it still breaking down over this length of time, then you do have a problem .....

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  • Momine
    Momine Member Posts: 7,859
    edited December 2014

    Morwenna, yes I will get it checked out. It is not really a "problem," but it is quite annoying.

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