Hi, I have just finished 5 weeks of radio therapy on my breast, and am struggling with the burns! My radio therapists were very helpful, but I am allergic to so many dressings they were a little stuck as to what to use. I have significant burns under my breast (I am quite large breasted), which I’m sure doesn’t help! And have a very sore, large blistered and broken patch on the top of my breast that can rub under my arm! I am already fed up and need advice please, particularly on dressings/creams! Thanks in anticipation!
Hi Tink3010
Sorry you haven’t had any replies to your question yet, but if you would like to post again in the Radiotherapy forum (link below) you should get more replies. If you would also like to give the helpline a ring and have a chat with one of the nurses there, I’m sure they’ll be able to help you. Calls to the helpline are free 0808 800 6000.
forum.breastcancercare.org.uk/t5/Radiotherapy/bd-p/4436
Take care,
Jo, Moderator
Hi Tink3010
I’ve also just finished radiotherapy and have some very sore burns under my breast. I saw the nurse two days ago and she’s given me absorbent pads and a hydrocolloid gel to put on the sores. It’s too soon to know if it healing yet but they definitely make it more comfortable and not so sore. The pad you just fold in the crease of your breast and place your bra over it to keep it supported. Have you gone back to see the radiotherapy nurse to see what they advise. I did this even though I’d finished treatment.
Hope this helps.
D x
I had 15 sessions in January and my skin started reddening and itching in week 3. I put cabbage leaves in my bra. These were soothing and pleasant if slightly smelly. I was warned that I would feel tired and the redness would get more intense after finishing and my BCN pointed out that my pale skin (I’m a redhead) woudl mean I would burn worse than many people. Immediately after the last session, I had itchy blistering which started at the top of what turned out to be an A4-sized rectangle-too big for the cabbage leaves, and I couldn’t wear a bra to hold them on as my underarm was so sore from the op! Slowly the redness filled the rectangle and the itchyness and pain followed from top to bottom- that must have been the order in which I was zapped. I used E45 cream and washing soap liquid. I went to the GP and was prescribed eumovate. I also had shooting pains along the line of the rads. It is exactly two months since I finished and I still have itchiness at the bottom of the rectangle which I still treat with the creams. I have been back in a crop-top for the past 3 weeks and the pressure of the elastic plus the “softie” has been quite soothing. Hope this helps.