Is it normal to have a severe "radiation burn" from radiation treatment? - Radiation

PJ Hamel, Health Guide

10/ 5/08 1:40pm

Ulrike, I don't know how common this reaction is, but it certainly happens. Happened to a friend of mine; she couldn't stand to wear any clothes at all from the waist up for awhile... luckily she was retired and could stay home. So yes, I've heard of this happening. I believe the medical pros are right- they can avoid irradiating that area for the last week, and yes, it'll heal. Sorry you had such a bad reaction- on top of all the rest of your treatment, you must feel like you're going theough the Seven Plagues! Hope things go well for you as you get through this active treatment phase and move into drug therapy, or wherever you go next. Best of luck - PJH

American being treated in Europe

6/14/09 4:00am

I am having a similar reaction. Stage III breast cancer with 7 positive lymph nodes, lumpectomy, chemotherapy and just finished 5 weeks of radiation treatment and next week will only have radiation on lumpectomy site. This weekend the skin under my arm has 3 serious looking burns, one of which has peeled, is about 3 inches around, and is very painful. My questions are: How long will the radiation burning continue to get worse? Will next week's radiation treatments make everything worse? or will it be limited to the area being irradiated?

The doctor has only prescribed using Panthenol spray which is not effective in pain relief so I am using aloe vera gelly which cools the area and provides some pain relief. Will this affect the radiation of my lumpectomy site?

PJ Hamel, Health Guide

6/14/09 6:45am

Hi - Everyone reacts differently to radiation; unfortunately, it sounds like you had a severe reaction. I'd surmise that next week's treatments, if they're not aimed at the burned area, won't worsen it. I think it takes a direct shot of radiation to produce burns. And be sure to wash off the aloe vera before getting radiation—IF they're radiating where the burn is. When I did radiation, I was told creams and jellies can affect its delivery. Bottom line: ask the tech(s) when you go in if you need to wash it off. Hope things go well this week so you can get past this and get healing- PJH

Haven

8/12/09 3:22pm

After 18 radiation treatments I had severe inflamation, pain and that lovely shade of red skin. Stage III, 10 positive lymph nodes, masectomy, 8 treatments of chemotherapy and 37 treatments of radiation. Each time you get the treatment it gets worse since the effect is cummulative. If available have the Doctor prescribe Silver Sulfadiazine Cream 1%, this cream is great, it alleviates the pain, cools the area and you will see improvement. It is usually prescribed for burn patients.

Phyllis Johnson, Health Guide

10/ 5/08 6:34pm

Ulrike, I think your response to radiation is not unusual. People do vary in how much they burn. I had a fairly extensive area of burns that looked really bad to me, but my doctor was saying how pleased she was with how well my skin was holding up. Sometimes radiation has to be stopped because the skin breaks down. I was getting extra radiation because 16 of my lymph nodes were positive, and seeing that you are Stage 4, I'm guessing that your doctor might be giving you more radiation than some of your friends whose cancer is less advanced have received. Studies show that radiation really works, so try to hang in there. The nurse should be able to give you some creams and dressings that will help.

Angi

10/ 6/08 11:30am

Ulrike - I had a simular reaction when I underwent radiation. The doctor and nurses all told me to make sure I lather up with Keri Original, Jergens with Aloe, or the like type of lotion 3 times a day. I went from being regular skin toned to burnt to a crisp overnight. But once radaition ended (in Aug) my skin bubbled & peeled like a sunburn and now I'm just a tad darker. The lotion really helps. You should likely be checking in with your radiation dr weekly - have him look at the burn and see what he thinks. He may rx some special aloe gel.

Good luck!

Angi

Shivv

5/22/09 7:15pm

Hey its sounds pretty normal Unfortunately that s what happens some people on radiation. Everyone is different My mother just finished radiio two weeks ago and is now in hospital for severe burns she received from it. It's two weeks on and it's very slow. At the time she was totally bedridden and could not even dress herself All her skin broke and got infected. With these thing s its time that is the healer unfortunately. They are using chamomile soaks on her and pain relief but nothing else. Just telling you in case you think something is wrong or abnormal. Hope you heal well

Shivv

5/22/09 7:17pm

Hey its sounds pretty normal Unfortunately that s what happens some people on radiation. Everyone is different My mother just finished radiio two weeks ago and is now in hospital for severe burns she received from it. It's two weeks on and it's very slow. At the time she was totally bedridden and could not even dress herself All her skin broke and got infected. With these thing s its time that is the healer unfortunately. They are using chamomile soaks on her and pain relief but nothing else. Just telling you in case you think something is wrong or abnormal. Hope you heal well

ng10

7/ 1/10 1:00pm

I think skin changes it can be "pretty normal" but does not have to be as awful as you describe. I work at a hospital that has a breast center. We recommend patients use lotions like "Burn Block" which has aloe and panthenol or Aquaphor as soon as radiation begins. Don't wait until the skin gets pink. Most places want you to come in with clean untreated skin before you receive your radiation treatment socheck with your rad. onc.first but there should be no problem applying immediatley after.

ng10

7/ 1/10 1:01pm

I think skin changes it can be "pretty normal" but does not have to be as awful as you describe. I work at a hospital that has a breast center. We recommend patients use lotions like "Burn Block" which has aloe and panthenol or Aquaphor as soon as radiation begins. Don't wait until the skin gets pink. Most places want you to come in with clean untreated skin before you receive your radiation treatment socheck with your rad. onc.first but there should be no problem applying immediatley after.

angry

11/20/10 11:17am

My son in law receive numerous radiation treatments. He has cancer in his tongue, neck and chest. He was burnt so badly that under his chin there is a huge gapping hole. This hole also has an odor to it. His cancer is aggressive and come to find out the treatment did not work. But why would they continue to burn someone so severely. Is this normal?

Phyllis Johnson, Health Guide

11/20/10 8:05pm

I'm sorry that your son-in-law had such terrible burns from radiation only to find out that the treatment didn't work. This is a breast cancer site, so we don't know much about radiation for other types of cancer. I also had an aggressive cancer, and my radiation did cause bad burns. I found that the nurses at the radiation center were the best people to advise me on dressings that helped keep the wounds clean and as comfortable as possible.

The amount of radiation given for each type of cancer is carefully determined by research, and the radiation oncologist knows how much is necessary for the best chance to kill the cancer cells. Unfortunately, the research can not predict how well an individual's body will hold up under the radiation. If your son-in-law's burns have not healed, he needs to call the radiation oncologist and go back in for treatment for the burns. He may even need to see a wound specialist.

angry

11/21/10 11:28am

thank you for your response. They were going to fix it , if they didn't find cancer in his chest but they did so now they r just leaving it alone. They said he was terminal. I guess it is worth a shot but why wouldn't the doctors mention it to him. We are not giving up hope , he is only 20.

Q: Is it normal to have a severe "radiation burn" from radiation treatment?

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