#83573 11-05-2008 05:44 PM | Joined: May 2008 Posts: 219 Platinum Member (200+ posts) | OP Platinum Member (200+ posts) Joined: May 2008 Posts: 219 | My neck has gotten blisters on the back and sides and seems to be going down further on my shoulder area and it itches like crazy. I had my RO to look at it and he said it was from radiation. My question is how would you be able to tell if it's actually from the radiation or could it possibly be from an allergic reaction to something I've used or taken? The reason I am asking is that it seems to be spreading and it is like small blisters that is itching me to death. Did radiation burns itch other of you like this? Thanks, Angel
SCC left tonsil, tonsillectomy with additional tissue removed 06/10/08, a few teeth on top left side removed 09/05/08,recurrence before treatment started at BOT and tonsil area, 35 IMRT treatments began 10/15/08, and Cisplatin IV (began10/16/08) weekly for duration of radiation.
| | | | Joined: Sep 2008 Posts: 27 Contributing Member (25+ posts) | Contributing Member (25+ posts) Joined: Sep 2008 Posts: 27 | It seems awfully early in your treatment for you to have radiation burns. I know everyone is different, but my husband's neck didn't really burn until the very last week of treatment. So my guess would be it's an allergic reaction to something you are taking.
Caregiver to husband, 44, nonsmoker, nondrinker Diagnosed 7/15/08 with BOT SCC, stage IVa. Two positive nodes removed Cisplatin and erbitux ended 10/15/08 Radiation over 10/20/08 Back to work 11/24/08 PEG out 12/9/08 Scans 12/2008 and 3/2009 Clear
| | | | Joined: Jul 2008 Posts: 507 "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts) | "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts) Joined: Jul 2008 Posts: 507 | The fourth or fifth week into TX I remember getting a couple small blisters below and behind my right ear.
At times they were a little itchy.
I showed them to the nurse and she told me not to worry about them or pick at them.
I picked them anyway -- finally managed to pop them, then they went away.
I assumed they were from the exit radiation.
Don TXN2bM0 Stage IVa SCC-Occult Primary FNA 6/6/08-SCC in node<2cm PET/CT 6/19/08-SCC in 2nd node<1cm HiRes CT 6/21/08 Exploratory,Tonsillectomy(benign),Right SND 6/23/08 PEG 7/3/08-11/6/08 35 TomoTherapy 7/16/08-9/04/08 No Chemo Clear PET/CT 11/15/08, 5/15/09, 5/28/10, 7/8/11
| | | | Joined: May 2008 Posts: 551 "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts) | "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts) Joined: May 2008 Posts: 551 | Angel,
I didn't get any blisters or sores on my radiated skin until after my treatment ended, and even then it was pretty minor, but yes, they sure did itch! I assumed it was because the skin was so dry. Check with the nurses for some sort of relief - that is if the nurses at your treatment center were like mine - much better at managing the day-to-day stuff than the doctors.
- Margaret
Stage IV SCC lt lateral tongue, surgery 5/19/08 (partial gloss/upper neck dissection left side/radial free flap reconstruction) IMRT w/weekly Cisplatin & Erbitux 6/30/08, PEG 1 6/12/08 - out 7/14 (in abdominal wall, not stomach), PEG 2 7/23/08 - out 11/20/08, Tx done 8/18/08 Second SCC tumor, Stage 1, rt mobile tongue, removed 10/18/2016, right neck dissection 12/9/2016 Third SCC tumor, diagnosed, 4/19/2108, rt submandibular mass, HPV-, IMRT w/ weekly Cisplatin, 5/9 - 6/25/2018, PEG 3 5/31/2018
| | | | Joined: Aug 2008 Posts: 1 Member | Member Joined: Aug 2008 Posts: 1 | My husband is in his 5th week (of 7) with radiation, and a few blisters and mild itchy feelings are there also. Keep slapping the cream on, use a saline soak a couple times a day too.
left to watch over us December 2, 2008.
| | | | Joined: May 2008 Posts: 219 Platinum Member (200+ posts) | OP Platinum Member (200+ posts) Joined: May 2008 Posts: 219 | I appreciate all your input. I have had a blister on my ear previously from radiation but I don't think this is from the rads. I have chemo tomorrow and I will let the nurse look at it because it seems to be spreading outside of the radiation field.
Thank you, Angel
SCC left tonsil, tonsillectomy with additional tissue removed 06/10/08, a few teeth on top left side removed 09/05/08,recurrence before treatment started at BOT and tonsil area, 35 IMRT treatments began 10/15/08, and Cisplatin IV (began10/16/08) weekly for duration of radiation.
| | | | Joined: Sep 2006 Posts: 8,311 Senior Patient Advocate Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | Senior Patient Advocate Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) Joined: Sep 2006 Posts: 8,311 | Check the contraindications for the pain meds you are taking. I remember one that made me itch all over but I never had any blisters.
David
Age 58 at Dx, HPV16+ SCC, Stage IV BOT+2 nodes, non smoker, casual drinker, exercise nut, Cisplatin x 3 & concurrent IMRT x 35,(70 Gy), no surgery, no Peg, Tx at Moffitt over Aug 06. Jun 07, back to riding my bike 100 miles a wk. Now doing 12 Spin classes and 60 outdoor miles per wk. Nov 13 completed Hilly Century ride for Cancer, 104 miles, 1st Place in my age group. Apr 2014 & 15, Spun for 9 straight hrs to raise $$ for YMCA's Livestrong Program. Certified Spin Instructor Jun 2014.
| | | | Joined: May 2008 Posts: 219 Platinum Member (200+ posts) | OP Platinum Member (200+ posts) Joined: May 2008 Posts: 219 | David, I think the cause is the aquafor. I washed it off last night and put benedryl lotion on it because I couldn't stand the itching and in 5 minutes after using the benedryl the itching stopped all night and today and it feels so much better. Everyone keeps saying at radiation that the rad's is causing it, and at chemo they say the chemo is causiong it. I think I am just allergic to what they gave me (aquafor) for dry burned skin on neck. It is healing up nicely today.
Now that I got that one fixed, I am having very bad nausea tonight from chemo. Every day it is something new. One thing about it it keeps me busy. lol Angel
SCC left tonsil, tonsillectomy with additional tissue removed 06/10/08, a few teeth on top left side removed 09/05/08,recurrence before treatment started at BOT and tonsil area, 35 IMRT treatments began 10/15/08, and Cisplatin IV (began10/16/08) weekly for duration of radiation.
| | | | Joined: Sep 2008 Posts: 250 Platinum Member (200+ posts) | Platinum Member (200+ posts) Joined: Sep 2008 Posts: 250 | I've been reading these posts back and forth and not seen this mentioned at all yet.
When I started rad treatment, I was told to use absolutely nothing but pure aloe. Anything else would react with the radiation and make things worse. I could use something else on the weekends if I really wanted to, but I would need to make sure that it was completely cleaned off before Monday am treatment.
When I moved into the patient housing, one of the other paitients went out and bought me some the next day. Now this was over 2 years ago and things may have changed since then, but I never had a serious problem with the burning of my skin. It was just like a sunburn and very dry, but not anything I was very troubled with. I know we are all different, and with different skin types too, so maybe I was never destined for a hard time with it anyway, but I just thought it might be worth mentioning.
Lani
SCC part glossectomy 3/06, recur 8/06 glossectomy, floor of mouth, part of jaw removed, RT/chemo thru 10/12/06, PET clear 7/08 "A bend in the road is not the end of the road, unless you fail to make the turn" Passed away 12/14/08
| | | | Joined: Jul 2008 Posts: 507 "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts) | "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts) Joined: Jul 2008 Posts: 507 | I was started out with an Aloe cream but it didn't seem to work too well, so they switch me to Aquafor.
They also gave me Biafine to use if I went out and didn't want a greasy neck from the Aquafor.
I was told to always wash them off before daily treatments.
I never noticed the aquafor causing itching, but thinking back, the dry, burnt skin did seem to itch and tingle a bit at times.
Don TXN2bM0 Stage IVa SCC-Occult Primary FNA 6/6/08-SCC in node<2cm PET/CT 6/19/08-SCC in 2nd node<1cm HiRes CT 6/21/08 Exploratory,Tonsillectomy(benign),Right SND 6/23/08 PEG 7/3/08-11/6/08 35 TomoTherapy 7/16/08-9/04/08 No Chemo Clear PET/CT 11/15/08, 5/15/09, 5/28/10, 7/8/11
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