Skin burned from radiation

Posted by jwf227 @jwf227, May 30 8:13am

My skin is burned from 35 rounds of proton radiation. What is the best treatment? It is peeling and the blisters are very painful.

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Man that sounds painful 😣
Have you asked your doctor if there is anything to help ease the pain? A cream perhaps.
Sorry you're having to go through this.

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@talltxlady

Man that sounds painful 😣
Have you asked your doctor if there is anything to help ease the pain? A cream perhaps.
Sorry you're having to go through this.

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I have a cream he prescribed, but so far it’s not working.

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I used 5% lidocaine cream (got it on Amazon) and coconut oil. Was tolerable most of the time. Did take an occasional 5 mil. Methadone which worked wonders. They heal pretty fast so that is the good thing. My blisters were around my anus and tail bone where the radiation went in.
Hope you get relief soon.

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So I am wondering if this from the proton beam? I was under the (perhaps incorrect) statement that the proton beam does not burn

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Yes, it was proton beam therapy radiation. It does burn.

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My neck was very very burnt from the radiation, and I was advised by my care team to use 4 products in conjunction with each other to assist in healing:
• Aquafor/lidocaine mixture,
• Xeroform (Dukal Xeroform Petrolatum Gauze, Sterile, 5" W x 9"),
• Domeboro (Domeboro Rash Relief Medicated Soak, Calming & Soothing, Powder Packets)
• Gauze that was like a turtle neck (couldn’t find the exact brand).

Two or three times each day, I would first soak my neck using a medicated wash called Domeboro. I would dip a bandana in the solution and wrap it on my neck for perhaps 20 minutes. I would then mix Aquafor and liquid lidocaine 50/50%. I would open a Xeroform strip, unfurl it, cut it in two pieces and spread the Aquafor/lidocaine mixture on one side of the Xeroform and put it on my neck with the mixture against my neck. I would use the gauze to hold it in place. I would leave it on for perhaps an hour or more, until it felt like it was drying.

For me, after the Domeboro, the skin actually looked kind of white and gelatinous. As it healed, the skin area like that decreased, I guess meaning it was healing. I did this for close to 2 months after treatment until my neck appeared healed.

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A nurse recommended aloe gel, specifically fruit of the Earth as it is 100% aloe gel. We've just started using it.

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I so appreciate all of your comments.

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Now you might think this is off the chart, but a few years ago I had a beautiful Black Lab, "Cassie" who had cancer in her nose and I took her to the University of Illinois for treatment and surgery. She had 18 windows of radiation and it burned the side of her face and I found a book of natural remedies written by a Veterinerian that gave a treatment for burns, skin ittitations, etc., and the "recipe" was to get dried calendula petals (normally can get these from a health food store) and make a tea, then apply it to the skin that is affected and it sure did work for Cassie. The staff at UI small animal hospital could not believe how it healed her skin. "Cassie" was promised at least 18 months of quality life if we did her surgery and treatments and sure enough she had it! Baz10

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