radiotherapy and creams

[Guest guest]

Hi all.

I have been reading a lot about creams for radiotherapy (UK term ) (USA

radiation treatment) ~ same thing.

Don't know if it is available in USA but 'Flamazine' ~ silver sulphadiazine

1.0% is brilliant if your burn is inflamed and sore. Read the pack insert for

more info.

My hospital recommends Aloe Vera gel for surface burns but whatever you have

keep in the fridge, wrapped, it is even soothing just being cold. (Surface burn

is classed as reddening with soreness) (no breaks in the skin)

Whilst the Flamazine soothed and prevented my burn getting worse it did not

actually improve it greatly except for the peripheral areas. But my burn was

from internal, interstial, iridium rods radiotherapy. In the end I had to have a

latissimus dorsi flap to graft over as during the 7 years I had shrinkage and

and scarring building up that was thick and gnarled and the oncologist I was

then seeing (and still am) was concerned about recurrence in the scarring

If you have any open skin/wounds make sure you apply all aseptic techniques ~

wash hands thoroughly and dry on disposable towel or certainly a freshly

laundered one, then use a glove to apply, you can cover with film if you need to

apply a thick layer. Never rub in, just lay it on. You can ask the hospital for

gloves and film. Sorry if I sounds bossy here.

Also don't apply soap or anything perfumed, just trickle water over the area,

I know this is difficult when you are in the shower but avoid anything that may

irritate. And don't rub dry, just dab gently or put a hairdryer on cool and blow

dry.

If you are searching the net look up 'burns treatment' rather than 'burns

radiation' you will get a whole set of different pages.

Wear clothing that doesn't irritate, pure soft cotton is ideal and don't use

biological washing powder, tablets or whatever, get something for sensitive

skin. Ask about fabric softeners ~ divided thoughts here in UK.

I had a burn down to the sternum and manubrium bones, the skin surface area of

about 3 inches by 5 inches, but only later found out how deep it was, it

remained open, bleeding and weepng for 7 years, partly due to the fact that I

had a dreadful oncologist who refused to do anything about it or refer me,

always giving me some excuse not to go and see someone else. That was in the

days when I didn't go against what I was told. (HUH that has changed now ~ I

challenge!)

I sometimes think his refusal to refer me to a plastics and burns specialist

was because he didn't want anyone to see me like that, to see what treatment he

had given me. And I had complained to him that I had not been fully informed

about the internal radiotherapy and the side effects and had I known I wouldn't

have had it ( I had tubes like fine drinking straws inserted in theatre through

one side of the breast or what was left of it and out the other side, then the

physicist brought the iridium wires/rods which were threaded through the tubes

and bolted on at each end and there I remained for one week in an isolation

room. I was bear breasted as clothes caught on it all and pulled, the weight of

the mechanics tearing me at the cleavage edge because there was really no tissue

to support the weight and realising there and then that I had made a dreadful

mistake. ( the original tumour had been on the inside edge near the cleavage)

Once my family doctor referred me to a specialist and must have sent a copy

letter of the referral to my oncologist because a week or so later I received a

letter in the post to say an appointment could not be made because I was still

under the care of Dr so and so and I could not be seen. Some years later when I

applied for a copy of my records, I found a letter from the oncologist

requesting I not be seen, so my suspicions had been right all along. (Under the

NHS system it has been traditional for patients not to see their notes/results

but 'The freedom of information' laws have changed all that as you can now apply

for copies, though the hospital makes a charge for them. I automatically get

copies of everything now as standard even though I am at a (different) NHS

hospital.)

But when I found another burns and plastic surgeon, I photographed myself and

typed a letter explaining the problems and asked my family doctor to send these

and NOT let my oncologist know, for the first time I had someone who firstly

said, 'Good Heavens I didn't know anyone was still using this old fashioned

treatment, this went out 20 years ago and then said now what we can do is.....

because this will never heal.' The next time I saw this surgeon I was

photographed by all the students who were lined up to see the state I was in.

But then was sent to the geneticist who recommended prophylactic mastectomies

and so that was done first. Also the surgeon could look under the burn as much

as he dare to get an idea of how he would proceed with remedying the burn site

and a latissimus dorsi flap was the only answer ~ which was entirely successful.

But before that I had to have a CT guided core biopsy from the bone ...... this

is another story and gruesome too, done at another

hospital as a cardio thoracic specialist had to do it, then a bone scan that

showed hot spots from the collar bone down to the end of the sternum andacroos

part of 5 ribs but the result of the biopsy showed no cancer ... at that time,

it did later. (Hot spots on bone scans show abnormalities which may or may not

be cancer and my hot spots at that time were radiotherapy damage.)

Anyhow I have rambled on for long enough ~ I only meant to write about the

Flamazine and Aloe Vera but got carried away!!! I think it has been cathartic.

Might I just say thank you so much for all the support I have had this week

after finding out the cancer has progressed again. I truly do not believe I

would have got throught this week without you, you are precious and treasured

friends indeed, what wonderful people you are, be safe, Velvet

Send instant messages to your online friends http://uk.messenger.yahoo.com