Burn baby burn

One major side effect from radiation is skin changes. These are photos after treatment 22/25. I included a photo of my right armpit for comparison.

Along with the skin change is some discomfort and pain. Most of my pain is at my armpit area. The description I’ve been given is that it may feel like a sunburn. With my pigmentation, I don’t recall ever getting a sunburn so bad that it’s this painful. There is also swelling in the area. The skin also feels like it’s tightening which is affecting my range of motion again.

I had my weekly check in with Dr. Jabbari (virtually). I showed him my skin and explained what I’m feeling. He gave me some Meliplex to help wit the skin discomfort. What’s Meliplex?

“Mepilex® Lite foam dressing is designed to help manage non to low exuding acute and chronic wounds. The thin profile is soft and conformable, to make it easy to use for difficult-to-dress areas of the body.

Mepilex Lite is designed to conform and gently adhere to the skin without adhering to the moist wound. The Safetac® layer allows for atraumatic dressing changes and causes less pain and trauma for patients. Further, the Safetac layer of Mepilex Lite seals the wounds margins to reduce the severity of skin reactions from radiotherapy treatment.

• Less pain during dressing changes

• Soft and conformable design, for ease of use

• Minimizes the risk of maceration

• Can be easily cut to size, for versatility

Mepilex Lite can be easily cut to fit a wound and the soft foam is highly conformable. This makes it ideal for wounds in difficult-to-dress areas like armpits or under the breast.“

The nurse also said that I can take ibuprofen up to 3/day to help relieve the pain. She also said since the Vitamin E oil is high in antioxidant, I have to stop using it until after all my treatments. The antioxidants are working against the treatments.

Since my range of motion is being affected once again, I will be referred to more physical therapy. I’m hoping that the swelling will go down as well.

Over the weekend I felt a bit down and glum. It broke my spirit a bit which I know it’s ok. Thank goodness for Zoom meetings and FaceTime with family and friends. They really helped warm my heart. We had a couple of family birthday celebrations. Another with group of girlfriends that we got caught up with each other’s quarantine lives.

I am not doing any of this alone. I am grateful for all of you. All of this is almost done.

Be safe and be well everyone! Big virtual hugs to all of you!