Radiation Burns

[Judy-OK]

Do any of you wonderful people have any secrets for treating the radiation burns. I only have 4 more to endure but WOW these things are totally aggravating. They have given me Aquaphor, Carrasyn and some nu-gel pads all of which provide very temporary relief. Just wondered if anyone had some hidden magic they had discovered. Thanks.

Judy

[kamataca]

No ideas, but I'm praying for an answer for you soon. I would think that 'aggravating' is a mild word for it!

Hope you are rushed relief!

Kelly

[Don Wood]

We have used Aquaphor salve for burns and it worked pretty well. Don

[EastCoastLadi]

Judy,

My husband had a real bad burn after WBR, his radiologist ended up scripting him (forgive me about spelling ) SilverDeem Cream ?, it definitely help him tremendously. So ask the rad. techs about getting some or a script. from the dr.

Grace

[blaze100]

Hi Judy, Radiacare gel worked better for me than the aquaphor stuff.

You can ask the rad onc about it or look for it on the shelves at a pharmacy near the hospital. It comes in a white tube with blue and red lettering I think.

Hope this helps. Barb

[betty boop]

Ok, tell me... Does everyone get burns from radiation? How bad is it? I am talking to the radiation doc on Aug. 10 and trying to decide where to have radiation. There are two hospitals within 15 to 1 hour of our house that are suppose to be pretty good, but I am scared about it. Tell me what it is like? I have stage IIIb nsclc. I know everyone is different, but what do I expect? The unknown is really bothering me.

Thanks,

Betty

[blaze100]

Hi Betty, I was afraid of starting radiation too, until my husband told me to think of it as nothing more than an elaborate chest x-ray.

I only had slight sunburn over the field on my back and front. I used radiacare gel every night from the start.

I've heard some places have reputation of burning almost everyone. On the other hand, I heard no complaints of burning when visiting with folks in waiting room at my hospital.

Do you know anyone who knows someone who has had radiation at one of these hospitals? I wish you good luck on your treatments.

Barb

[Judy-OK]

Bettyboop ..... if this radiation burn is the biggest worry I come out of this with then I will consider myself blessed. I have a close friend that is also battling lung cancer and while it has not burned her skin she is experiencing problems in her esophagus (sp) which I gratefully have not had to face. Her burn is interior and mine is exterior. I think like everything else the amount it burns will depend on each individual. Best of luck to you and just keep the salve handy. Thanks to all for responses and shall attempt them all!!!!

JUDY

[marym]

I have had radiation twice without any burns. But my radiation ws to my back and front of chest and only 10 sessions. I think burns are more likely with more sessions, where the radiation is hitting and skin type, (I'm fair but burn then tan). Neck is very sensitive.

If the radiation hits the esophagus, or another organ, you can have problems with that as well, I had a slight problem with the esophogus but it just meant sip instead of gulp for a week or two.

Good luck.

Mary

[dchurchi]

Aleovera gel worked best on Alan's radiation burns.

[trish2418]

I had 36 radiation treatments and did not experience any burning. Before my first treatment, nurse told me to get pure aloe vera gel (no alcohol), but I never had to use it. I did have big time esophagus problems though; still do to a much lesser degree.

Good luck with the treatments, ladies.

Trish

[Carleen]

My husband had radiation to the neck area twice, chest once, and brain.

The first round of neck, chest and brain there was no burning, no side effects at all. With the brain radiation, his scalp did get pretty dry and peeling but not actually burned. When they were doing the neck the radiation onc gave him a lotion to put on his skin prior to radiation and something to drink to coat and protect his esophagus I think it was called carafat.

The second neck radiation, he did receive a sunburn effect. The skin at the curve of the neck is pretty sensitive. It was tender for a few days which didn't bother him too much, but what really did was the itching that followed. We tried all kinds of lotions, aloe, antihistomines, nothing really worked. Just time for the burn to heal.

[betty boop]

Had chemo today, blood counts a little low, both red and white. I have decided to stay in and catch up on laundry this weekend. Oxygen level was 100 and they felt like the shortness of breath is the red blood counts, I got another arenesp shot today too.

I talked to my doc's pa today and she was very postitive. They feel that I am stable and improving. Yeah!!!!!

I am going to see rad onc. at Bowman Gray Thurs, August 10. I prayed for God's healing from the start and believe in miracles. I know that so far I have been really blessed. I am going to put the worry away and know that it is all in his will for me. Thanks for your responses. I appreciate them.

Hope you all have a wonderful Friday!!

betty

[ginnie]

there is a dressing that is made for moist wounds. I can't remember the name but it was all that kept me from wanting to jump off a bridge when I had my radiation burns. it really works and takes away the pain of the burn

[Linda661]

I don't have any secrets for treating the burns, but one thing our radiation dept. told us was to be sure not to apply any creams or lotions at least 3 hours BEFORE treatment -- they can make the burns worse if present during radiation therapy sessions (so we were told). Apply after treatment.

Linda

[ellakc2]

Radiation burns have to do w/ skin type, how many treatments your having, where they are located and how strong they are. Good luck. Ask radiation onc. or your pharmacist and they can tell you what to use. I used over the counter burn treatment cream.

[ursol]

I completed my 23rd radiation treatment today with 12 more to go. No radiation burn yet but major esophagus issues. I have three radiation entry points, (from the back, to the side of my right chest, most extensive from the top mid-to right mideastinum). I'm also not too fair skinned, usually burn then tan right away. I think that makes a difference.

I only just started using a preventative cream a few days ago because I told them I wasn't using it as they had directed and the radiation oncologist was not happy. Name of it is "medline skin repair cream"