What did you do to help radiation burn?

Posted by cadunkin @cadunkin, Oct 24, 2022

After lumpectomy & lymph node removal (margins & nodes showed no cancer) I had 15 rounds or radiation in 3 weeks. At the end of treatment two weeks ago I developed a rash on my chest from the radiation. It’s very red & itches like crazy, which makes it hard to sleep. I’m using over the counter cortisone cream & Aquaphor for the dryness. Has anyone had success with other ways to treat this while waiting for it to heal? This site has helped me tremendously so thank you to everyone!

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Breast Cancer Support Group.

dick61 | @dick61 | Nov 1, 2022

In reply to @cadunkin "Thanks to everyone for the great tips. I’m alternating between hydrocortisone cream & Vanicream. The rash..." + (show)

Mine lasted about 5 weeks. But I heavily used Vanicream twice daily!

leolion811 | @leolion811 | Nov 2, 2022

In reply to @polianad22 "My friend used everyday during radiation treatment Aloe vera." + (show)

I am also using 100% aloe Vera everyday and so far, no burns! 7 more treatments to go! But I hate the radiation stickers- they itch and come off! I have 15 stickers on me!

cadunkin | @cadunkin | Nov 2, 2022

The information I have received from those of you on this site has helped me tremendously, both practically & emotionally. Thank you!

dconradvlasak | @dconradvlasak | Nov 3, 2022

To prevent further irritation I lined my bras with satin material over a thin pad. It worked great.

lakegirl99 | @lakegirl99 | Nov 4, 2022

My radiation oncologist gives all her patients Calendula cream. It's over the counter and also comes as ointment and gel. I rubbed the cream on the entire radiation area 3-4 times a day. You CANNOT use it right before radiation treatment. I had only very slight "burn" or "abrasion" under the breast where it meets the torso. And I used the ointment on that for a few days. BTW, the gel is fantastic for itching--bug bites etc. Good luck.

sandybainy1 | @sandybainy1 | Nov 14, 2022

My doctor gave me samples of Aquaphor for my burns. I had 25 radiation treatments and this really worked well for me. Quite soothing on the burn.

polianad22 | @polianad22 | Dec 6, 2022

Someone recommended this treatment:

Hi ladies, today was my last day of radiation treatment. A total of 25 rounds every day Monday through Friday. I wanted to share a protocol that another survivor shared with me. This is how my chest looks today after radiation. The doctors were impressed by how my skin reacted to the treatment, that I reacted well. I wanted to share the protocol forward.I told this to the docs as well so that they could share with their patients. After every treatment, I put cabbage on my chest For 15 minutes and let the cabbage absorb the heat. Then I would put RadiaPlex cream followed by Cerave. Then at night before going to bed I would put RadiaPlex followed by cerave followed by Aquaphor.
I also used these during the weekend at least twice a day. Now after treatment I will continue to use at least Cerave 2x a day until skin is no longer red. Just so that you see in perspective, the upper red area is a radiation burn. I did not put much cream in this area up until later in the treatment when the doctor told me that the radiation will go up that high. In the beginning I did not know therefore I wasn’t putting cream on that area and this is how the whole area would have looked if I hadn’t followed this protocol.

rinar001 | @rinar001 | Dec 7, 2022

Tried Aquaphor because it was recommended by RO technician, but switched to 100 % aloe vera gel, which was much more effective and absorbed by my skin. No skin burning at all with aloe vera. Aquaphor provides a protective barrier that lays on top of skin, but is not absorbed and did not have any healing effect for me.