Skin changes from radiation therapy usually start a couple of weeks in, peak 1-3 weeks after treatment ends, and often heal significantly within 4 to 6 weeks post-treatment, though severe cases or deep damage can take longer, with some sensitivity remaining. Mild reactions like redness and dryness typically improve quickly, while blisters or peeling may need closer monitoring and care, with the skin remaining sensitive for longer periods, sometimes months, and requiring sun protection for up to a year.
Skin Care
Most mild radiation burn symptoms start to improve a few weeks after you finish treatment. But your skin may remain sensitive for up to a month. Healing a radiation burn completely may take longer. While you're healing, you should continue being extra careful with your skin, like avoiding sun exposure.
Keep skin moisturised and hydrated
Apply moisturising cream – for example, pure sorbolene – to unbroken skin after each radiotherapy session. Twice a day (or as your medical team advises), use plain moisturisers with no perfume and a balanced pH (acidity). For example, MooGoo is available at most pharmacies.
Let your health care team know if you notice any skin changes so they can be treated promptly. Sometimes radiation therapy can cause the skin on the part of your body receiving radiation to become dry and peel, itch (called pruritus), and turn red or darker. Your skin may look sunburned or become swollen or puffy.
Apply a healing gel (such as calendula) up to 3 times per day and allow it to dry. Then you can apply a moisturizer (Eucerin, Aveeno, or Aquaphor).
General long term side effects
Do not put anything hot or cold (such as heating pads or ice packs) on the treatment area. Do not squeeze or scratch pimples. Do not wash or scrub off any markings used to target radiation therapy until after the last treatment. Rinse well after swimming in a pool because chlorine can dry the skin.
Keeping skin clean during radiation
Avoid hot water. Wash with mild, pH balanced soap like Dove® or Basis®. Use a mild shampoo such as baby shampoo.
You may have been given creams already, but if not and the skin becomes dry and itchy, apply a moisturiser such as Diprobase, E45 or Aveeno, twice each day. Avoid perfumed soaps, creams or lotions, in the area until the reaction has settled.
Don't use any skin care products on your skin if you notice your skin has broken down. Avoid hair removal where possible, including shaving, waxing, cream and lasers unless advised otherwise by your consultant, nurse or radiographer. Don't use makeup or other cosmetics in the treatment area.
For example, the following tissues and organs are listed from most radiosensitive to least radiosensitive:
Once your course of radiation therapy is finished, continuing to take good care of yourself is essential. No matter what type of cancer you've had, you will need regular checkups and perhaps lab tests and X-rays to determine how successful the treatment was and if you need additional therapy.
If you have skin reactions, they will most likely peak up to 2 weeks after your last treatment. It may take several weeks for your skin to heal after you finish your radiation therapy. With some radiation treatments, side effects don't appear until weeks or months after treatment ends.
Some patients undergoing radiation suffer from side effects that damage the skin. Although the affected skin may heal with time, some cases do not get better and require treatments.
How is radiation fibrosis managed? Physical therapy, occupational therapy, stretching, exercise and massage therapy can all be helpful. MD Anderson patients can work with our physical therapists and massage therapists. I also encourage patients to do daily massages of the breast at home to help break down scar tissue.
In general, success or failure of standard clinical radiation treatment is determined by the 4 R's of radiobiology: repair of DNA damage, redistribution of cells in the cell cycle, repopulation, and reoxygenation of hypoxic tumor areas.
You can use any moisturiser that is free from Sodium Lauryl Sulphate. Do not use moisturiser on open skin, so if your skin breaks let us know and we can give you a different product to use on the broken area. Wear loose cotton clothing to avoid extra irritation.
Replenish fluids throughout the day. Avoid caffeine and alcohol. Eat more soluble fiber, such as sweet potatoes, carrots, oats, apples without skins, and bananas.
Radiation therapy and chemo are often combined to treat cancer. While both treatments are effective, chemo generally produces more serious side effects than radiation therapy. How radiation therapy is used to treat cancer. American Cancer Society.
Drinking lots of water and staying active can help patients flush radiation out of their systems faster. Not only this, but increasing your fiber intake is also a great way to increase the amount of radiation released from your body.
Standard Range of 15-35 Treatment Sessions. Most people get between 15 and 35 radiation sessions. These sessions happen over weeks, giving the body time to heal. The exact number depends on the cancer and the patient's health.
Palliative radiotherapy aims at symptom alleviation and improvement of quality of life. It may be effective in conferring a reasonable quantum of local control, as well as possibly prolonging survival on the short term.
Radiation exposure
The most radiosensitive cells in the body are those that are highly proliferative and sufficiently oxygenated. The most radiosensitive organ systems are bone marrow, reproductive and gastrointestinal systems, skin, muscle, and the brain (Hall and Giaccia, 2006; Cox and Ang, 2010).