The following tips have been shared by health professionals and women who have experienced skin problems as part of their radiotherapy treatment: Apply a moisturising cream twice a day to the breast/chest area, neck and underarm. Only apply cream to unbroken skin. Look for a pure sorbolene or zinc based cream.
Aquaphor® is often recommended to patients for general skin care. (Your health care team will give you a sample and a coupon for Aquaphor). If your skin becomes dry or itches and your doctor approves, apply the product to the treatment areas after radiation. Do not apply the product to the treatment marking lines.
Silver Sulphadiazine (Flamazine) cream is often helpful in moist areas if there may be an infection present but can only be used on completion of radiotherapy.
Wash the treated skin gently every day with warm water.
Be very gentle when washing your skin in the area that's receiving radiation therapy. You can easily irritate it, which can cause side effects on your skin. To avoid irritating your skin, skip the washclothes, sponges, and loofahs.
Wear only loose-fitting cotton clothing over the treatment area to prevent further irritation. You may prefer to wear a cotton T-shirt instead of a bra. If you have large breasts and need a bra for comfort, you may wear a well-fitted cotton bra when in public.
Look for a pure sorbolene or zinc based cream. In some cases your doctor may recommend you use a cortisone-based cream. Avoid using soap and soap-based washes. Soap-free washes are much gentler on the skin.
Don't wear tight clothing over the treatment area. It's important not to rub, scrub or scratch any sensitive spots. Also avoid putting anything that is very hot or very cold—such as heating pads or ice packs—on your treated skin.
OTC hydrocortisone cream: For mild itching and burning, this cream can be applied thinly over the affected area three times a day but not within one hour of treatment. 6. Prescription creams: Your healthcare provider may give you a corticosteroid or other prescription cream for your skin.
Skin reactions from radiation therapy are usually strongest 1 or 2 weeks after you finish radiation therapy and then start to heal. It often takes 3 to 4 weeks for skin reactions to heal. If you have any questions or concerns, don't hesitate to contact your radiation oncologist or nurse.
Depending on how much radiation therapy is being received, it is generally recommended to use aloe vera at least twice a day. In addition, the best aloe vera for radiation therapy should be 100% pure, certified organic, and free of any added preservatives or toxins.
Some people are recommended E45 but there are loads of really good creams you could use such as Aveeno or MooGoo. You can also use a 99% Aloe Vera gel concurrently with this which really helps with healing but this is up to you.
Useful options include commonly known brands like Aveeno moisturizing cream, Cetaphil cream, and Eucerin original. Remedy Basics Moisturizing Body Lotion is a light unscented moisturizer that easily absorbs into the skin and is commonly used.
Breast cancer surgery, and sometimes radiotherapy, may make your chest area feel particularly sensitive. Wearing a bra may make you feel more comfortable, but this isn't always the case. Your surgeon or breast care nurse may advise you on what bra to wear depending on the type of surgery you have had.
As you get farther into treatment, the skin on the breast or chest that's repeatedly exposed to radiation can start to look dry or red and feel irritated. It may sometimes even peel. When fatigue occurs, it usually appears toward the end of treatment.
The most common early side effects are fatigue (feeling tired) and skin changes. Other early side effects usually are related to the area being treated, such as hair loss and mouth problems when radiation treatment is given to this area.
More than 60% of NPC patients receiving curative-intent radiotherapy suffered from a weight loss greater than 5% during the treatment [8], [9].
Radiation burns may make the skin appear reddened or darkened, blistered, swollen and dry.
We recommend against the use of petroleum jelly, standard gauze, and occlusive petrolatum gauze because not only can these agents traumatize the wound bed, but the tape that is used to hold them in place can also be problematic.
Avoid oil/petroleum based products (e.g., creams, ointments, lotions, Vaseline®). Avoid prolonged sun exposure. Apply sun blocking lotion to radiation treated areas and wear protective clothing. Keep area dry and exposed to air when possible.
Skin burns have been treated with aloe vera gel for centuries, including after World War II when it was used successfully on skin burns of nuclear bomb victims in Japan. Radiation cancer treatments can cause painful burns and scarring skin reactions, but no benefit was found when applying aloe vera gel versus placebo.
Swelling & soreness
For some people, radiation therapy can cause fluid to temporarily build up in or around the breast. Radiation can also cause your breast, shoulder, or arm to feel sore or stiff and inflexible. For stiff shoulders, talk to your radiation treatment team about exercises you can do to stay flexible.
Fatigue is common during radiation therapy and may last for several weeks after treatment ends. Fatigue is mainly a short-term problem, but for some, it can persist [11-12]. You may feel like you don't have any energy and may feel tired all the time.
Radiotherapy can sometimes cause: a sore mouth. loss of appetite and weight loss.