I just finished radiation therapy last week-YAY! But, I have this horrible rash that covers the entire radiated area and the itching is really affecting me mentally. I can't even sleep at night, because it wakes me up, and not allowed to scratch. Woe is me..ugh.

If anyone has been there and done that, but found some relief...please please please share this tip with me!! I have tried the recommended Aquafor, hydrocortisone, prescription topical steroid, etc....nothing is helping me at all. Sorry to be whining, but I am really losing it here :cry:

ur not whining.... I'm a retired nurse and yes, it is a reaction from the treatment... but sorry, I dont know a cure all for the itch.....

Prehaps, oatmeal type baths?


Feel better soon!!

Oh gosh I am sorry to hear that you had to go through radiation. My prayers are with you. When my late sister had her radiation she also had a rash and itching. She would sit in her bathtub and relax and she would put aveeno tablets in the water. And she said that helped some. She also did prescription benadryl but she didn't like that much as it made her sleep alot. I do hope that you find some relief soon.

I have no advice, but I do have sympathy. I had hives once and pretty much thought I'd be crazy before they firgured out the cause and got rid of them.

Have you tried an oatmeal bath? That supposedly helps with things like chicken pox.

Oh-that must be awful! My sister found that the more water she drank during radiation, the less itchy her skin was. She also took an antihistimine to relieve the itch. The local cancer center had lots of advice for her. Do you have any resources nearby?

Sorry, I can't add anything to what has been said, but that I'm thinking of you.

http://www.ehow.com/way_5579431_skin...n-therapy.html
There is some good info on this site

How about some white vinagar and boiled water. I would boil the water first so its clean and do 1/2 vinagar & 1/2 water and just soak a cloth and lay it on the area. 8-)

Aloe Vera plant. The plant, not the stuff you buy in the drug store. Take a leaf and split it open and rub the stuff inside on the rash. This also works on shingles, very bad burns, etc.

Can you take Benedryl? that might help.

You're not whining. I haven't had radiation treatment, but recently my doctor sent me for an ultrasound of my abdomen/ pelvic area thinking there was a mass that might be cancer. After they used the gel for the ultrasound, I developed a rash (just where they put the gel) and it almost drove me crazy (almost there anyway, LOL). I went to my doctor, they wrote prescrips for Benadryl gels, creams, nothing worked. I tried soda, Gold Bond Anti-Itch, Nystatin powder, nothing did any good. They then gave me a steroid shot and it finally worked. They sent me to a dermatologist and he stated it was probably a reaction from the gel used in the ultrasound.

I hope you get some relief soon, because I could have clawed my flesh off, but didn't want to make it worse.

Another home remedy to try is to add baking soda to your bath water and soak for awhile. I had shingles MANY years ago and the doctor recommended it for the itch. Then I had hives a couple of years ago and tried it. Again, it worked. Of course I stayed clean because I was taking 2+ baths per day. You problem might not respond to this due to the cause, but it might be worth a try. It is cheap and easy.

I have found the best itching relief to be australian tea oil...you can usually find it at health food stores, or possibly on line.

I've heard good things about the tree oil. Oatmeal baths and benedryl. U can use liq so take 1/2 dose?? Good luck

I would try the Clear Calamine lotion on it that you use for poison oak, I use it on my legs when my Cellulitetus acts up
and it stops all the itch .Hope it gets better soon

Ditto on the extra water during the treatments ... too late for that one now, though! Your skin is super dried from all that radiation!! When my husband had radiation there was a special OTC cream that we bought for him to help prevent that, and we were told to slather it on good, and there'd be less after effects that you are suffering with now. Sorry, but I can't remember the name of the stuff.

Ask where you are getting your treatments what to use ... and I'd be very leary on trying things. Check and be sure it's recommended and safe, before you do.

Rexeme helped the burn I had after radiation. I practically swooned with relief the first time I put it on. Hope this will help you.

Baking soda in bathwater
Calamine lotion
Antihistimine
Aloe Vera oil from splitting a leaf applied to skin
Arnica gel & tablets - health food store
Poltice of baking soda & little bit of warm water mixed together & applied to itchy area
Corn starch & little bit of warm water applied
Tree tea oil directly to skin

My 5 year old grand daughter went through the same thing the first of the year. No solution.....just lots of prayers for you!

Thanks to everyone for your tips, tricks, and ideas. I will try them all for sure! I really don't mind itching, so long as I can scratch it, but not the case here. From what they tell me, mine is worse than most they see. I cannot drink tons of water due to my stage 4 kidney disease...I swell enough as it is. I have always had extremely dry skin, so this just added another dimension.

Oh my! I am so sorry for that little thing and the emotional despair that your entire family endured! Well wishes for the little darling
:)

Where can I buy this wonder cream?? I don't feel burned, but the itching nearly makes my eyes roll in the back of my head. I can't concentrate on anything else..sigh. The only relief I seem to get is if I wash the area every few hours, but that will just dry it out more, and it's not very practical around the clock.

I had radiation in July of 2010..and I still have a rash and it does itch terribly. If you ask they will give you lotion. The doctor gave me Calendula Lotion..it is Homeopathic and nongreasy. He also gave me Dove for sensitive skin soap.
I had the radiation in the back and in the front for my spine. The front didn't get a rash as bad as the back.
Hope this helps you..it takes time!
Peace and Blessings,

Aveeno is a fine oatmeal bath and comes as a soap bar too.

I Googled it and you can get at Amazon.com as well as other places. Good good good luck to you! :thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup:

(((Hugs)))

There are several anti itch lotions, Gold Bond has one, another is Sarnia ( spelling?) I know they work for my guy who is always getting poison ivy. Maybe they would help you.

Hugs to you and your battle! That is not good news...a year later and you still have it?!?! Oh Lord, I am really getting depressed now! I wish mine was somewhere else, because it gets embarrassing to itch your boob in public, but I can't help myself. Perhaps I will ask the doc for a short-term dose of prednisone, which is usually what I need for poison ivy. This is very similar to my allergic reaction to the ivy- ugh.

You might try Benadryl Gel --I finally got some relief with it.
Good Luck.

When my friend had went through radiation, she used Ammens powder to relieve the itching.

Years ago, I had a friend who went through radiation treatments and she used a cream made by Johnson & Johnson called *Purpose*. She gave me a sample tube to use on a mole I had on my neck that was itching from tanning too much:( It works! It's fragrance free,hypo-allergenic, won't clog pores and instantly releives redness and itching! Your local pharmacy should have this. God Bless you through your treatments. ((HUGS))

Call your Dr. pronto! and tell him about this.

My sister had radiation last year for a brain tumor and she developed a rash all over her head the Dr. told her to cover her head with selsun blue shampoo and leave it on for about 10 minutes a day, it did seem to help. She looked kind of like a martian with a green head because it was green insteaed of blue.

Ask your doctor if Clobetasol is an option. I use it for SUPER itchy exsema on my legs, and it's a wonder-cream in my opinion!!

I'm so sorry that you're going thru this!

They know- they called in the script. They say it goes away in a few weeks, but not what I am hearing now. I think I will go to the dermatologist and possibly get a steroid shot!

I don't have an answer for you but my baby sister is going through the same thing right now and I pray for her every day. Her 13 yr. old son had testicular cancer 5 years ago and had to go through chemo while in his first three years of High School. I think he is cured now. Her dog also had cancer and went through chemo and is in remission. With all this history she feels she has a good chance of beating it. As I said before, I pray for her every day and will add you to my prayer list. God bless you and a quick recovery so you can get back to your quilting!!!

Call your radiation oncologist.

I had radiation 9 years ago for colorectal cancer. I got radiation burns in my pelvic area. I tried every cream imaginable, but nothing worked. A man that worked at the radiation clinic said to try diluted peroxide. Sure enough, it healed my "crotch" in a couple days and was very inexpensive. I don't know if the dilute peroxide would help inching, but it would be worth a try. Many prayers to you during this difficult time.

Walgreens or Wal-Mart has a product called Cobroxin that might help. Try the topical gel. and the best of luck to you. My DH had the same problem, and is still peeling (like from sunburn) 6 months later

Oh my! She has been through the ringer emotionally already and now this! That poor baby- I hope he is OK now, that is very sad to watch a child go through that. She is such a nice person to even consider saving her pet companion, as many wouldn't/ couldn't, but I know I would as well. I hope everything goes smoothly and successfully for her :)