Has anyone used Mepitel ?

Posted by annieisland @annieisland, Apr 12, 2023

I’m about to start radiation therapy and I have incredibly sensitive skin. Has anyone used Mepitel to ease the severity of skin issues? And if so, how was your experience? Did it help?

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No, I hadn't heard of Mepitel. Just looked it up and it gets good reviews from a study. I had 38 radiation treatments on my chest (recurrent breast cancer in chest wall after mastectomy). I used Calendula cream twice a day from day one. Great stuff!!! The first maybe 20 treatments it was just like I had a mild sunburn then it started getting worse. I have fair and sensitive skin also. They told me my skin was doing really well the first few weeks because I was using the cream as instructed. They said too many women wait until they have an issue and then it's too late. I highly recommend the cream unless you're covering the skin with Mepitel then I guess it wouldn't work. I finished my radiation two years ago and still need to use Calendula and other creams or the skin gets very dry. The dark pigment your skin gets from the radiation will go away in a few months. Best of luck to you.

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I found two members @melissa1979 and @sweetmoose that both used it and said it really helped a lot. I read that it is a thin silicone film that doesn’t adhere to wet wounds or water.
I hope other members that have used it might chime in as well.
When are you due to start radiation?

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@auntieoakley

I found two members @melissa1979 and @sweetmoose that both used it and said it really helped a lot. I read that it is a thin silicone film that doesn’t adhere to wet wounds or water.
I hope other members that have used it might chime in as well.
When are you due to start radiation?

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I'm due to start in about 3 weeks. I have my prep / simulation session in a week and then radiation will start a week or 2 after that.

From the studies I've read it does look promising, and I do plan on asking my doctor if it's a viable option. But yes, curious to learn from others!

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I’m using it right now and am grateful to have it! If you can afford the cost I highly recommend it. Having said that, I’m also pretty lazy and appreciate that I don’t have to put lotion on all the time. The only annoying part is that if you have to have it under your arm it doesn’t stay on as well because of all the arm movement.
Good luck!

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I also have very sensitive skin and the Mepitel was so helpful. I had 30 treatments of proton beam radiation at Mayo and had the Mepitel on for the whole time. The only part of my skin that had some wet peeling after radiation was right under my armpit where the Mepitel didn't stick very well due to it being summer at the time of my treatment and I have very sweaty armpits. My plastic surgeon and radiation oncologist both said my skin looks really good. I only have a little bit of a "tan" from the radiation on the spot that the Mepitel didn't stick well. If you have any questions please feel free to ask.

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@joymccarthy

I’m using it right now and am grateful to have it! If you can afford the cost I highly recommend it. Having said that, I’m also pretty lazy and appreciate that I don’t have to put lotion on all the time. The only annoying part is that if you have to have it under your arm it doesn’t stay on as well because of all the arm movement.
Good luck!

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Hi! May I ask where you bought it and what size? Will be starting radiation in a few weeks. Thank you!

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@brighterdays

Hi! May I ask where you bought it and what size? Will be starting radiation in a few weeks. Thank you!

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I purchased the Mepitel film at the Mayo Clinic store in Rochester , MN where I was receiving my care. My nurse told me to buy 2 of the 15×20cm and 2 of 10× 25cm. I ended up buying one more of each part way through treatment but didn't end up using them. The nurse told me if they are unopened and you have your receipt you can return them to the store, which I was able to. Hope this helps.

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Bought mine from Amazon have too many but was glad I used it it only came in a box and I only used one sheet. I had 5 days of radiation

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@sessioja

Bought mine from Amazon have too many but was glad I used it it only came in a box and I only used one sheet. I had 5 days of radiation

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Can you send me a link? I was on the Mepitel website and there are several different types. Mepitel one, mepitel ag, mepitel lite. Which one is it? Thank you!

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I used it. I had 15 doses of radiation and you cannot tell looking at my skin. No burns, rashes or peeling. No changes other than over the months since radiation the skin had tightened a bit. Definitely recommend it. I also bought mine at the Mayo store, so not sure which type it was.

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