Hi;
I live in Wisconsin, USA. I am 57 years old and I just finished 33 radiation treatments for breast cancer on the right side. My doctors and nurses who had proven to be extremely diligent in their jobs remained somewhat, "general" on how to prepare and weather through the skin burn caused by radiation when compared to other treatments -in my opinion.
Since the day I was told that I was having radiation, I "Goggled" to see what I could find to assist me through it - especially the burning of the skin side effect. What I found was a bunch of anything and everything.
So, having few strengths but one being resourceful, I began purchasing products and experimenting. Please note that I did not do or use anything that my medical staff would ever object to – only all natural and never applying 4 hours or less prior to radiation… I continued to follow all the general rules.
- Do not use or do anything that you haven’t discussed with your doctors or nurses first; they do know best.
- Never apply 4 hours or less prior to a treatment – it could make it worse!
- Start using whatever healing ointments you choose immediately; do NOT wait until you begin to feel the burn!
- Loose cloths always and cotton not polyester if you are able.
- If you are a woman wanting to wear a bra – don’t; at least every minute of the day you feasibly can. I found myself eventually comfortable going shopping and running errands without anything else to conceal what I was missing and at that point, I didn’t care because it felt so much better that way.
Also know that I was on a budget; yet I felt I needed to pursue any option. Some of the typical recommendations are: What I started with was:
- Corn Starch – I typically use for making gravy…
- Organic Aloe Vera Gel - which in the ingredients list, I found to be a lot of other things along with some Aloe leaf juice. So if you have an Aloe Vera plant, use it!
- Vitamin E Topical Skin Oil - There are many versions, some very watery to some that are like glue but still worth consideration.
- Organic Coconut Oil – also many variations available and definitely worth consideration.
- Organic Calendula Oil – used but no determinations. The description of it is highly recommended for wound care but because it is quite strong, I only used it sparingly mixed in with any of the other products listed above.
- Miaderm – Very highly recommended and also very expensive. When I ordered on amazon.com, I paid $36.00 for a 4 ounce tube. Instructions said apply 3 – 4 times a day; so logically, how long is my 4 ounces lasting?
- Aquaphor Healing Ointment Advanced Therapy – Not cheap but not expensive.
- CeraVe Healing Ointment - Because the Aquaphor was recommended and this tube was right next to it in that department, I decided to compare.
This is my final observations about these products as I tried them:
- Corn Starch – OK instead of using other approved deodorant but I personally didn’t see any other advantages of this and still do not.
- Organic Aloe Vera Gel – Good but limited in results. It relieved the initial heat and calmed the skin right after the treatment yet didn’t do much for overall healing.
- Vitamin E Topical Skin Oil – Good but limited in results. It also relieved the initial heat and calmed the skin right after the treatment and through the following hours and night and may have assisted in the overall healing.
- Organic Coconut Oil – Good but limited in results. It also relieved the initial heat and calmed the skin right after the treatment and through the following hours and night and may have assisted in the overall healing.
- Organic Calendula Oil –I only used very sparingly mixed in with any of the other products listed above such as a bit mixed in with the Coconut oil but only used hours after the treatment.
- Miaderm – I used sparingly because it was so expensive. It had a slight burn when going on but faded.
- Aquaphor Healing Ointment Advanced Therapy - EXCELLENT. THIS IS WHAT I ENDED UP HAVING THE MOST SUCCESS WITH. Their website is: https://www.aquaphorus.com/?gclid=Cj0KEQiA08rBBRDUn4qproqwzYMBEiQAqpzns2e4lp6gBVfFxwOBgWUAh9kpCLM4J1... Make sure you use the Healing Ointment - NOT the cream version.
- CeraVe Healing Ointment – Ok; similar to Aquaphor but more expensive and heavier to apply to very sensitive skin.
So, here is where I go off the rails; my creativity (in my mind only) decided the following would assist with the healing of these products:
I purchased,(any type of), food grade “Saran Wrap” yes, yes I did. I began experimenting on how, when, where and how much to apply in order to maintain the saturation of the cream or ointment for longer than just a few minutes of relief. In addition, by using the wrap, I avoided the possibility of the cream or ointment drying onto my shirt and when removing my shirt causing great pain as it remove several skin layers; (Yes, yes I did.) If you apply cream or ointment and air hits it for a while, it creates a seal with your skin and clothing. This is not what you want to experience. Putting cream on without wrap is the best without any clothing over it until it has fully dried.
Lesson – If you do not use any type of wrap, do not wear anything that touches the cream or ointment until it is completely dry. I am hesitant to display pics but I am willing to do so if requested. The methods of applying the wrap are really a trial by error. Radiation may be needed in any part of the body and then of course, the area can be varied in size and shape. Therefore, all I can recommend is to apply enough wrap to cover the burn area with at least an inch or more outside of it.
This was an issue for me because my burn site was about the size of a business paper 8.5 X 11. It began right where my left breast stopped and continued to the opposite side of my underarm; (yeah, I gave up on deodorant).
I started applying a few tablespoons of Aloe Vera to about a 10” X 15” cutout of wrap then folding it, putting it in a baggie and taking it with me to the treatment. Before dressing to leave after the treatment, I applied the wrap – carefully – well, the best I could. Yes, it squished out everywhere and I turned green but I had towels and a robe to wipe excess off. So even the initial messy trials, I felt I achieved something. I always read that the sooner you apply gel or ointment for burns, the better it will heal instead of leaving the burn fester. So, I decided my 20 minute drive home after treatment was too long and would create more burn if left untreated.
As the days progressed I got smarter (of course, it took longer than most). I figured out that instead of applying the cream or ointment directly onto the wrap, I would bring a folded piece of clean, dry wrap along with the tube or tub of ointment or cream I was using for that treatment. Immediately after treatment, while in the bathroom or dressing room at the hospital, I applied the ointment or cream to the burn area and slightly beyond. Then I applied the wrap onto the area, wiped any residual off, dressed and I was off.
Once home, I would keep the wrap on for various lengths of time. I found that if I left any of the creams or ointments on too long, they dried out and became harder to remove. Although having done that, never did it hurt or remove skin.
I created a schedule; My treatment was at 11:00 AM; therefore, I would apply at the completion of the treatment about 11:30ish and leave it on for the afternoon. If the skin felt good, I would remove the wrap and let it, “Air” until bedtime. Then, at bedtime, I would apply the lotion or ointment with another wrap. Some nights I removed the wrap sometime during the night and always before 7:00 AM; (4 hours or more prior to the next treatment).
I have read just a few of the blogs of angels going through this process in many varying degrees. I am one of the luckier ones yet I feel a sincere need to assist anyone going through this part of their process. I acknowledge that just like all of us, cancer is varied and surprising. If you do want to contact me after this rambling, I have created a specific Gmail email for us to communicate. I set up, lizziecancerwarrior@gmail.com if you would like to communicate knowing that I am not selling anything nor do I want anything from you.
All of everything I did and recommended above is based on my own common sense. Your own common sense must dictate what is best for you in this endeavor. I am doing this because there wasn’t anyone out there for me to give me some additional crazy ideas.
God Bless and know that in some way, we were meant to go through this… which is such a bunch of crap.
--Lizzie Cancer Warrior
** UPDATE: It has been 9 days since my last radiation treatment. I continue to use only the Aquaphor but I find I need the wrap less and less – today I am only applying it right after my bath after I apply the Aquaphor. I am healing much faster than anyone told me I would!
xxx