What did radiation burn healing look/feel like for you?

Hi Wanderlogic welcome to the forum. I dont know enough about your type of Cancer to answer with any sensible information  but I feel certain that someone will be along soon who can offer more information re this for you. I can empathise with the radiation burns, but mine were treated with a silver based cream and special dressings to keep the area dry which I imagine must be very difficult in your scenario. 

Hi,

I remember the skin around my groin doing dark and very dry, and it did begin to flake and peel as the new skin underneath came through. It was quite uncomfortable, like sunburn, but after a few weeks it was fine. 

I think you might have to check back to your radiotherapy team or doc just to reassure yourself that all is going as it should, then try to let your body do it's own thing and heal. It will.

As you've probably read here, we all have different side effects and to different degrees, but personally  found it was easier just to nurse myself through whatever discomfort I had and allow my skin to repair.

I do hope you are starting to see some signs of improvement.

Hi Wanderlogic, I used StrataXRT all through treatment and it seems I escaped external burns but did have pretty awful internal burns which were very wet and green gunge which was sticking my labia together like glue. It wasn’t an infection but the healing process going on. I would have to keep tearing the skin apart so that it didn’t heal together and painkillers were top priority around that time. I also used domeboro powders which help the moist desquamation. I got these from Amazon and you empty a sachet in a pint of warm water, get a nice soft flannel/muslin cloth and soak in the water and wring out and lay down and place this on your nether regions for about 10 minutes. So soothing and helps the itching no end.

Julie

Hello WanderLogic

You could be describing me; I was referred to the tissue viability nurse as my burns were so bad.  My team prescribed Flaminal Forte gel (for exuding wounds) which I used in conjunction with Polymem dressings.  I also had an additional silver dressing as I had a deep sacral sore (where the coccyx is) which took some time to heal.  About two to three weeks after treatment ended I started to turn the corner, and new pink skin did start to appear although internally took longer.  I was still have heel-drumming episodes on the loo every time I had a bowel movement and those continued for a good couple of months after treatment ended.  And I am happy to say the discoloured skin did change back to my normal too, probably by about four weeks.

You really are at the very sharp end of treatment, but things should start improving by about the end of the second week after end of treatment.

Sending you a gentle healing hug.

Irene xx