This article is the start of a three-part series of articles about managing the side effects of radiation. In total, seven areas in all will be discussed:
Skin problems
Armpit discomfort
Chest pain
Fatigue
Heart problems
Lowered white blood cell count
Lung problems
But today, we will start with skin problems that may be brought about due to radiation therapy. Even though many patients have very little difficulty with radiation treatment, everyone’s experience is different. It’s best for your medical team to act preventively and quickly to anticipate skin problems. Further, since these side effects will come on slowly, a timely response will curb the intensity of any discomfort. It is important to involve your medical team because if left untreated, there may be a risk of infection. You will notice after your radiation course stops that eventually, symptoms will improve.
As indicated by BreastCancer.org, listed below are reasons some areas of your body react more so than others:
The angle of the radiation beam is parallel to the skin there, so radiation skims the skin
This area may have been overexposed to the sun and therefore takes longer to heal
The arm rubs against the radiated skin, which is already irritated by sweat and hair
The bra rubs this area
The skin fold rubs against this area
Your complexion is fair and you’re susceptible to sunburn
You have large breasts
You received radiation after a mastectomy – doses will be high
You’ve had recent chemotherapy
What You Can Do
There will be a gradual change in the color around the treated skin area, usually going from flesh-toned to red. With darker-skinned African Americans, skin tone changes may not be noticed as readily but there will be soreness and/or dry skin present. Sometimes the dry skin may peel away in a dry and flaky manner. But other times, it may take on a wet and blistery type of appearance.
According to BreastCancer.org, the following are very good tips for preventing irritation before and after daily treatments:
Wear loose-fitting shirts, preferably cotton
Use warm rather than hot water while showering
Try not to let shower water fall directly on your breast
Avoid harsh soaps that have a lot of fragrance
Avoid skin-on-skin contact
Regularly dust the breast area and inside the skins folds with cornstarch to absorb moisture, reduce friction, and keep down odor
With or without radiation, yeast infection around the folds of the breast is common. Treat infections quickly as possible; usually, an anti-fungal cream is sufficient.
Additionally, BreastCancer.org gives tips on managing irritation during and after your course of radiation:
Before even any side effects begin, moisturize skin after each daily treatment and at night before bed
For mild irritation, apply aloe vera preparation
If irritation is no longer mild, ask your doctor for a stronger steroid cream
Don’t wear a bra if there are raw areas
If the skin becomes flaky, moisturize frequently and cleanse skin gently
If a blister develops, leave it alone. It is acting as a protective covering for healing skin underneath.
Lastly, many persons have questions in regards to sun exposure for both during and after radiation therapy. BreastCancer.org gives helpful hints in that regard as well:
During Radiation
It is best to keep the treated area completely out of the sun
Wear a bathing suit with a high neckline
Wear a cover-up when not in the water
Wear an oversized shirt over the treated area
Avoid chlorine – it will dry skin out worse
If you do swim in a pool, spread petroleum jelly on treated areas to keep chlorinated water away from skin
After Radiation
Use a sunblock that is rated SPF 30 or higher
Apply sunblock 30 minutes before going out
Reapply every few hours
Knowledge is power but cancer is one thing that tries to take power away from us. Don’t let it. Arm yourself with knowledge so you can better fight the fight!
Good health to us all!
Resource: BreastCancer.org
Dita Faulkner is a freelance writer who loves good food, a funny joke and a good movie. Just saw Just Wright with Queen Latifah and it rocked!