Dark purple burns

Hi there. The area under your arm looks bad because it rubs more than your breast. Did your RO explain what areas you have had radiated? Getting radiation to the axilla is pretty common. Turning purple/black is usually the last stage befor it starts to peel a bit. Hang in there, you are almost done.

Yes! What I am experiencing the exact same thing! I have completed 23 of 32 sessions. The sentinel node scar is far worse than the tumor scar. The area under my breast is also pretty discolored and is starting to peel like a bad sunburn. The Radiation Oncologist said they could give me a prescription lotion that burn patients get.

Hope you find some relief!

Yes, I also had (and am recovering from) this experience. The area under my arms peeled badly starting the fourth week, as did my chest wall, as well as a couple of other areas, like the tops of my shoulders. Like others, I found that the pain couldn't be managed with OTC meds alone and switched to tylenol with codeine during the day and norco (leftover from surgery) at night. The SEs will keep getting worse for 1-2 weeks after the rads end. The worst of the pain lasted about a week, and then I was able to gradually do away with the codeine, switching to ibuprofen and tylenol.

My RO's office prescribed silvadene cream for the peeling/open areas, and had me use aquaphor everywhere else. While the rads were still going on and for about a week afterwards, I came in daily so they could see and dress the problem area. They gave me dressings so I could continue at home. The areas that peeled first also were the first to heal, so while my chest wall is still raw (a little over two weeks after radiation ended), my underarm areas are mostly covered with new skin.

The things that helped most were 1. not being a hero about the pain. I really did need the codeine and had no trouble giving it up when the pain eased. 2. being given a time frame for healing 3. the silvadene.

I also bought some very cheap tank tops and plan on throwing them out when this is over. It's winter here so going bare isn't an option, but I didn't want to get cream or liquid from the wounds on my regular clothes. Also, I'm still wearing a wig in the wake of chemo. I apply the creams and stuff at home when I'm not wearing the wig, but when they dress it in the hospital, I bring a hat so I can stuff the wig into the hat and the hair doesn't get cream on it.

The nurses were really helpful, but it was interesting that each one has a slightly different system for dressing/managing the wounds. It took a bit of experimentation to find the methods and supplies that worked for me.

I also found that chocolate therapy was a help and recommend it highly.

Good luck--I'm sorry you have to go through this.