Radiation burn!!!!need help

[Tanya]

Seven more days of chemo and radiation. But this week was hard.inhave my second mytomicyn on August 18and after it is wors. But burn it terrible. I use so many cream , but itis not help, I barelly can walk. Itis everywhere, in privet area too.help, please.

[pfCml73183]

Have you tried aloe vera gel? It can be used as often as you want I believe because it is not a drug. You can keep it in the refrigerator too. I think ice packs may help you also.
Celeste

[teachpdx]

Sorry for your pain, I know how difficult it can be. I put Jojoba oil over my privates after shower or when the area is feeling irritated. It absorbs easily and doesn't leave a greasy residue. I spent a great deal of time in the bath as well, where I got quite a bit of relief. I hope you find some relief. Peace Kristi

[MrPleistocene]

I also soaked in baths. Sometimes I would fill two. One as hot as I could stand and one as cold. I'd do five minutes hot, one minute cold. It was at least a distraction.

[chemo sabe]

What does the Dr say?? When I had radiation, I saw the Dr every week. I could have asked for him at any time. This is the worst place in the world to get medical advice. You need to talk to a real Doctor.

[Lydia666]

Have you tried flamazine cream?

[SugarBubbie]

calmoseptine is very soothing. Also, there is a forum at http://csn.cancer.org/forum/196 that is for anal cancer patients. Hope this helps.

[Phoebesnow]

Hi Tonya,

I used aquaphor and tried silvadyne cream which is by prescription. After treatment a nurse came every day to dress the wounds. I could not wear underwear and wore a skirt so the wounds had good air circulation.

I used a spritz bottle when peeing to ease the painful urination and then AZO when it got really bad.

I loved my hand held shower head.

I also used sitz bath several times a day.

U r almost done these last treatments are the toughest.

You will be feeling better about 10 days after treatment stops.

Ask your doctor or nurse now about the dialators.

[MrPleistocene]

This is the worst place in the world to get medical advice. You need to talk to a real Doctor.

I saw my Rad Onc every week. He wouldn't even look at the burns. Ditto for my Onc. I asked, I tried to show them and they literally turned away. Since then, I've talked to other cancer patients and found that often, the rad onc's aren't helpful or knowledgeable with acute symptom relief, especially not as knowledgeable as people on this board. I was given creams. One with silver in it which is used for burn victims. The trick is it had to be fully removed before treatment or it makes the burns worse. My penis was oozing blood to where the scab was sticking to my clothes. How on earth am I supposed to apply and remove that every day? I wouldn't ONLY take advice from 'this place', but it is far from the worst place to get medical advice, especially on comabating side effect of treatment.

Ask your Dr. (ask any Dr. that will listen. Try and get a Derm... whatever), but don't expect them to have the breadth of collective experience or personal investment in symptom management that you will find on this board.

[Jacques]

...Ask your Dr. (ask any Dr. that will listen. Try and get a Derm... whatever), but don't expect them to have the breadth of collective experience or personal investment in symptom management that you will find on this board.

What MrPleistocene says is the truth, as far as I am concerned. I have never managed to get any useful information from the medical staff in this particular area. They all seem to be 'out to lunch'. That's just my opinion.

I have reverted to doing a Do-It-Yourself (DIY) approach to symptom relief in this area.

[weisssoccermom]

I have to agree with the assessment of rad oncs and their openness with patients. I'm sure that there are practices out there that are very proactive and helpful, but in the 9 years since I had my treatment....from my experience and from reading on this and a few other boards about patient's experiences...I think rad oncs rate very poorly in the
helpful category. After treatment, I asked my rad onc why they didn't tell me about all the side effects (I had learned about them on another site prior to treatment so did well) and they flat out told me that 'if we told you what to expect, you wouldn't do it'. Seriously? My friend's sister who had breast cancer radiation also was given the same answer. Over the years, particularly when it comes to the female rectal cancer patient, I have heard over and over again that the rad oncs and their staff 'neglected' to mention the severe problems that are prevalent with pelvic radiation....side effects that can be minimized or avoided if given the correct information from the very beginning. A female patient shouldn't have to wait until the end of treatment to ask about dilators....she should be given them from the start and told about the possible side effects. Patients shouldn't have to wait for serious side effects before the doctor steps in and plays the 'hero' by giving drugs to combat the pain. Why not be proactive and try to minimize/avoid many of these problems? For crying out loud, it's only a mere short 6 weeks of our lives. I can only speak for myself but even if the docs had been forthcoming and told me everything upfront, I still would have had the treatments....wouldn't all of you?

I am very passionate about this subject and worked with the local rad onc clinics to help prepare patients better for their treatments. There is just no reason that all the pain, burning etc has to happen and be so severe. I hate to tell you but once the burns get as bad as you have indicated, all the creams in the world aren't going to magically fix it....it will take time and patience...but it will get better.

[Tanya]

Thanks to all.
Yes, cream it is not help a lot,all of them. I take the pain killer every four hour, it is help.
Doctor prescribed cream and said " itis expect side effect"
So few more days.

[weisssoccermom]

MY point - it didn't NEED to be an expected side effect. The docs should have told you, at the very beginning, how to be proactive at avoiding or, at the very least, minimizing the side effects so you wouldn't be where you are now.

[Rstarrg]

Hello all, I was diag with stage 2a rectal on july 27. I have had 9 of 25 radiation treatments. I just joined this forum and was reading this subject. I have not had any burning to date but know it is otw. Will someone please tell me what I need to do now to prepare??? My dr has only mentioned diarrhea as the main side effect. I'm Very scared as I read of what will likely happen soon. I am a widow raising 3 boys and am battling on my own. I want to do anything to minimize the pain from burning. Thank you in advance and hope we all find comfort.

[Lydia666]

Hello all, I was diag with stage 2a rectal on july 27. I have had 9 of 25 radiation treatments. I just joined this forum and was reading this subject. I have not had any burning to date but know it is otw. Will someone please tell me what I need to do now to prepare??? My dr has only mentioned diarrhea as the main side effect. I'm Very scared as I read of what will likely happen soon. I am a widow raising 3 boys and am battling on my own. I want to do anything to minimize the pain from burning. Thank you in advance and hope we all find comfort.

I am halfway through my treatment and I don't have any burning sensation. It might come towards the very end. My doc said not to put lotion if all is well. Some people on here might disagree.