Hi All
My skin has started to split under my breast, I have two areas at the moment one about an inch and a half long and another about a quater of an inch and they are both very sore, they have given me aquaform gell to put on 4 times a day but it doesnt seem to be stoping it and they seem reluctant to give me anything else. My question is as i still have a week of rads to go is it likely to get much worse and can it appear on any other part of the breast and surrounding skin
Tina57
Hi Tina
Whilst you wait for the other forums users to reply with their experiences and advice you may find it useful to have a look at the BCC fact sheet on radiotherapy as there is a section on caring for you self during treatment. This can be found by following the link below:-
breastcancercare.org.uk//docs/radiotherapy_mar_06_0.pdf
I hope you find this helpful.
Kind regards
Sam
BCC Facilitator
Sorry that you are suffering - I got to the last week before I split. Initially it was on my collarbone then the crease under my arm split too, luckily I am small chested so didn’t split under the boob. I weas given intrasite gel and none-adhesive dressings which I used for a week after rads finished and by then it was much better. Sadly I have to say that other parts can start to split and it can be quite a nuisance. A lot of ppl are advised to blow a fan on it to keep it cool and dry it out - as I was at work this was not an option for me … topless would not go down well in my office!
Keep using the foam they gave you and keep an eye on the split area for any sign of infection - hopefully you won’t get any but if you do get to the GP for anti-iotics immediately.
Good luck with the last week of your rads.
Love Lilac
Hi Tina57 I am suffering as well so know how you feel , mine is glowing in the dark …nipple has swelled to size of a raspberry but feels like a bullet. As if my boobs are’nt big enough …very swollen too. I have four days to go next week and feel like saying s*d it know but of course I won’t. Seems like five months not five weeks. Are you getting burning and stabbing pains , ??? If anyone else tells me it’s a small price to pay for the sake of your life I will not be responsible for my actions . OP ,chemo, pancreatitis, hair loss, burning boobs , not forgetting the deppresion the fear , being half brain dead , living half your life at hospitals plus having your boobs poked and prodded by all and sundry…I could go on. This had better b/dy well work cuz I ai’nt going through it again!!! Thanks for your input lilac , BC nurse told me about antibiotics only have a tiny split under boob at present. Also taking paras with codeine for pain, think it does coo lthings down a little. Love Bobbiexxx
Hi Tina
I had the same problem and had daily constant care from bcn after each rad session.she applied a cream called tri- adcortyl and it has done the trick
Mine split terribly and no gel or anything helped then I started blowing a hairdryer set cold on it[more of a blast than a fan]I also used melolin dressings between bra and boob to stop rubbing.This did prevent it getting worse although you do go on cooking for quite a while after you finish rads.You can also use those panty liners that say they have silk or cotton in them but I found the long melolin was best till it started to heal.Love Valxx
Hi All
thanks for your advice, i am going to try the hair drier tip after my shower tonight. the aquaform gell has stoped the splits getting any bigger but it hasnt made them any better either. i will ask again for something else tomorrow. I have another problem now but i think i will have to put it on the hormone therapy thread. hi corsa, yes i am getting the burning and stabing pains but not a great deal so for me the splitting is worse. thank you all once again
Tina57
Hi there
sorry to hear about your skin. I finished rads at the beginning of June and I had the same problem with splitting skin and blisters under my boob.
Keep putting the gel on because it does seem to make a barrier to stop infection.
My skin healed up quite quicky once the rads finished.
Best wishes
Alison
Thank you ladies for your advise, my radiotherapy team have told me that even though i have my last zaps on friday my skin can still get worse fo a couple of weeks after but they will give me something to take home with me to take care of it,i looked it up on the internet yesterday and it is called moist desquamation and mine is very minor compared to some women so i cant complain, thanks again for your replies
Tina57
Hi All Blisters along scar line (lymph node) I have my last zap tomorrow and have been told same as you Tina , I have been given mepolex dressings and granugel . I have got some Emu oil hospital had never heard of it , it is very soothing but I make sure I have none on my skin when I go for Rads, just in case !!
Hairdryer marvellous idea thanks Val… I am not sleeping well due to discomfort. My nipple !!! well chapel hat pegs!!! and throbbing. Do hope I can get on with my life a bit after tomorrow. Wish they could say that’s it your cured , find that the scary bit.
Love to all Bobbiexxx
Hi All, had my last review today and was given flamazine cream but nothing was said about dressings, i cant wear a bra so i hope that it clears up a bit sharpish. i have just looked at the directions on the box and it says discard any unused cream after 7 days but i think it might take a bit longer than that to clear up.
I have just read the info leaflet inside the box and it says that for burns you put the cream on and cover with a non stick dressing which they didnt give me and then in the do’s and dont’s it says do not use if you are being treated for diabetes which i am. It goes to show that they dont look at your notes befor pescribing something for you. corsa what do you think of the emu oil, apart from being soothing do you think its helping your scar, is your last zap today ,thursday ,mine is tomorrow friday no more getting up at six oclock in the morning lol .
love and luck to all
Tina57
HI Tina Yes last zap today , will be thinking of you tomorrow!!! Bio oil helped scar tremendously. Have not used enough EMU oil to compare scar but is very soothing on blisters. I have been told today to keep burns dry and not use anything except mepoflex dressings. I am leaving my bra off as much as possible but being big cannot go without when I am out and about.I hope to have a lie in tomorrow too.
Love Bobbiex
Hi
I finshed rads in May 08 and at the end my skin was in a mess! also was given the flamozine cream.
I used a fan on the area as much as possible each day and this really dried it out, much more powerful than hair dryer. i just laid on the bed with fan on tummy!! pointing at the bad area! Hope this helps
lisa x
Hi Lisa
what did you think of the flamozine, do you think it was any good. I spoke to the nurse at the hospital today regarding the dressings and the diabetes and she said that although the instructions tell you to use dressings and not to use if you are diabetic to go ahead and use it anyway.
love
Tina57
Tina
To be honest i dont think it helped that much! the fan really dried it up. i have scars underneath by boob for where it was so raw! But luckily it didnt become infected.i dont know about the diabectic side of things. looking back not a nice time but it did heal very quicly once rads stopped. i had 5 weeks.
lisa x
Hi!
Just want to endorse the Emu Oil - the hospitals here don’t seem to have heard of it, but in Australia breast cancer patients are told to buy it before having radiotherapy.The Aborigines have used it for centuries on their wounds and burns.
You can buy it on the Internet, but use 100% pure Australian oil not the cheaper American version. It’s non comodegenic (doesn’t block the pores) and you need very little each time. I’m also using it on my arthritis in my left shoulder as well as on my boob for radiotherapy.