Radiotherapy blister

Hi Sparklers85

I would contact your radiology dept and ask about this. As the skin has blistered and may break this can be a source of infection so they could advise / prescribe some better cream for you to use like Hydrogel etc

This is fairly common even after 2 weeks as you remain 'cooking' for 2-3 weeks post rads.

Have you checked out the May Radiotherapy Chat discussion in the breast group to see if anyone else mentions this ?

Hope you get something to help with this soon, sounds sore :-/

Take care, G n' J

Hi Sparklers85 sorry to hear about your skin reaction. I had similar a few weeks ago - blistering, itching, pain, peeling etc. I was advised by my RT department to stop my normal moisturiser in the area where the skin was broken down in case I introduced infection, and to use hydrogel. My GP was unable to get hold of hydrogel so I rang my RT dept and we drove to the hospital to pick some up directly from them. When you use hydrogel it dries on your skin and then will give the effect of peeling skin by the way. I put it on several times a day and it can be washed off just with warm water (I would avoid any shower products on this area for now). I am now one month post radio and my skin has calmed down. I was told that 1 to 2 weeks post radio is the peak point for any skin reaction. Best of luck. x

Contact your BCN for advice.  If underneath breast a panty liner is good to protect it from bra friction x

Hi Sparklers85

I had radiotherapy blisters at the end of my radio.  I stopped using any creams at all on the area which was blistered and left it open to the air as much as possible. (ie not wearing a bra at home).  It soon cleared up. 
I have a badly scarred leg from a road accident in 1983 and this opens up quite a lot. Salisbury hospital has the best plastic surgeons in the country (if not the world!) and my advice from them has been for open wounds. (1) leave it open to the air as much as possible (2) avoid creams on the area (3) wash it normally in the shower with Badedas shower gem (horse chestnut in it is healing apparently).

Best wishes,

Hi Sparklers85 i got blisters after my radiotherapy, i stopped using moisturising cream and showered often then dried the area with a towel, but don't rub just pat it dry. Where abouts is it? Mine was underneath my boob and think that maybe sweating didn't help. So use to sit with a flannel under my boob to keep it dry. It soon cleared up.

Ring you're breast care nurse she will advise you whats best and maybe prescribe something, but i didn't need anything.

I call radio team and they ask me to come so that they could check if I didn't develop infection. They had a look and apparently everything is looking normal as it should at this time post radio. The advice is to apply intrasite gel(hydrogel) twice a day morning and evening at blister to protect against infection and to keep using E45 everywhere else. 

The most red place I got under armpit that's why I am wearing loose tank top to not rub that place no bra of course. Tap only after shower as well. 

They said that by the end of this week it should start settling down so something to look forward. Healing process can take up to month from then apparently.

Thank you all for your respond and advice.I really appreciate it. 

Hi Sparklers85

Glad you have got things sorted. Hope it heals well x 

Hi Sparklers85

Happy to read you got this sorted as well....

If you have any, loose fitting cool cotton garments may help rather than man made material ?

G n' J

Blisters are gone as my skin pills off. Now it's like a open wound. Radiology said to keep applying hydrogel.They can't do anything else. If it get infected call GP for anthbiotics. 

I am so worried now as it open wound.

Don't know how long it take to heal??? Radiology said a month.Is it really take a month???

Hi Sparklers85

sorry you are having problems. it does look very sore. My RT department gave me the same advice ie just stick with the hydrogel. I would say that by one month after the end of radiotherapy my skin was healing very well. You are at the peak time now (2 weeks or so after end of radio?) so in fact you could be looking at 2 more weeks, rather than 4 more weeks, if you see what I mean. My personal thoughts are to stick with loose cotton clothing, keep it very clean, keep using hydrogel as it dries to form a bit of a barrier, and at the very first sign of any infection, call your GP for antibiotics. Best of luck with it. x