I have to slather this on three times a day. For the first half hour it makes my neck feel really hot and kinda itchy. Is that supposed to happen? Now it will bother me less when I use it around dinner time and not at all tonight.
Thanx,
Barbara~

hi Barbara,

i used biafine and don't recall having any hot or itchy sensation from it.

hopefully you won't have too strong of a radiation burn. i needed to be very careful to stay out of sunshine, which was hard even in the fall of the year. in summertime, i guess one needs to be overly careful to stay out of the noontime sun. collar up and big hat.

cu,
larryb

Hi Barb,

I used Biafine and still do occasionally and don't have any of that problem. The it up on Medline and see if that is one of the side effects or ask the dr that prescribed it. Maybe you are allergic to something that is in it.

Take care,
Eileen

Thank you Larry and Eileen. They give me all of it I want at the treatment center. I am to let them know when I am low so they can give me another tube. I am supposed to use the sunscreen when I am outside and the Biafine when I am inside. This is very confusing sometimes. A hat outside and avoid the sun between 11 and 2.

I am assuming I would wash off the Biafine when I put on the sunlotion and then wash that off when i put on the Biafine. I meant to ask them this morning about the burn and itch and since I go there without it on I totally forgot.

Did it help you both a lot when it came to the burn or did it just keep your skin from getting think and leathery?

Blessings,
Barbara~

Barb,
I didn't get it until the end of rx. By then I was so fried I couldn't turn my head. They had to give me a couple of days off. You cannot use it open wounds, but it really healed the burn very nicely. Since I spend my life in the sun, I don't usually burn.

Anyway, just make certain you do not have any kind of lotion, makeup etc. on your neck when you go for the radiation treatment. I think you would put the sunscreen on over the Biafine, but ask. It's always a good idea to stay out of the sun from 11-2, even for a sun worhshipper like me.

Take care,
Eileen

I am going to try and remember to ask tomorrow. Its a total shame you didn't get it until the end. I hope it works. I am putting that stuff on like Chrisco. LOL I have dark hair, light skin and pale blue eyes. I burn in 10 minutes out in the sun. I am dreading getting a burn. I went to my friends to try and get a quick tan before the treatments started but it was so hot and humid I just could not take it.

I have also heard others who use Aloe gel. I only use that in my hair but am thinking of asking about that also.

Blessings,
Barbara~

Hi Barb!

Like Eileen I didn't get Biafine RE until close to the end of treatment when I too was fried. I always found it to be soothing and effective for a much longer period of time than aloe vera which I had been using. It was effective in healing my burn. You are very fortunate to have it now, so long as you do not have an allergy to it. The warning on the Biafine box says "Biafine RE should not be used prior to extended exposure to the sun. Do not apply within four hours prior to a radiation session."

Hi Zenda. I am beginning to think I am lucky to get this stuff and they said ask for it anytime as they have "tons" of it stocked. I put the third gob on before bed and lightly wash my neck in the morning and rinse well and pat dry before I leave for treatment.
I always take it with me too cause the second I am off that table I am opening that tube. I gob it on about 1/4 of an inch too like it says. I am sure I look really cute when I leave but if it saves me from getting a burn then who cares right?

Does it keep you from getting a burn or does it just make the burn less bad do you know?

Blessings and love,
Barbara~

Barb,
I wish I could answer your question but I was already burned when I began using Biafine RE. I had to ask my RO for a prescription and was very glad that I had learned about it here on the forum. The box states "Biafine RE reduces the frequency and severity of radiation induced skin reactions..."

hi Barb,

i also got free samples from the nurses and used it on my face and neck areas.. and avoided sun!!!

still, my radiation was strong enough that i did a huge peel from my shoulders to the top of my head twice...everywhere...and the 'tan' line could be seen for months after treatment.

i was really impressed with how well i was cooked. fried chickent had not much on me.

yet its for a great cause and it will pass. i can't tell you enough how much i think you need to avoid sunlight during this period... at least that was my case.

enjoy the tan,
cu,
larryb

You know-- some of the things I read on this forum make me really scratch my head in wonderment. John has 4 more rad tx's left [out of 30] We had to ask for something for his skin last week because it had gotten so burned and uncomfortable. He was given Aquaphor. It is giving him some relief BUT WHY DID WE HAVE TO ASK FOR IT? Barb, write your questions down and take them with you every day. Amy

Oh Amy I never asked for anything. Day two the Onco nurse had a visit with me after my treatment. Went over my medical history and handed me a big tube of the stuff and said when you start to run out don't hesitate to ask anyone for more. there is a ton of it here for you so ask for all you need.

Larry the diatician told me today I was getting "agressive" radation so I will lay you ten to one I get a nasty burn. She said by mid week next week I will be off solid foods. What a bummer.

Zeda mine is not RE but WDE whatever that means. I guess it may be different strengths maybe. Blah. That is my word for the whole thing.

Blessings and love,
Barbara~

Barb, if you might go off solid foods soon, eat everything you can get your hands on now!! And eat as often as you can. Don't worry about your "girlish figure", Amy

Biofine worked wonders on Dan, he was given this in Oct of 01, he was part of the hospital trial. He never had a burn, never looked or felt worse than a long day at the beach. Can't imagine what he would have endured without the biofine cream

Well I use mine three times a day. Though my neck is not burnt it is a deep red and the skin is think and tight and itchy. They now have me on hydrocortisone between Biafine applications to stop the intense itching.
God love to you,
Barbara~

Hi --

How does Biafine compare with the also-mentioned Radiocare Gel? Is it one or the other or do they have different effects and uses? That is, do you use both or not?

Also, assume the hydrocortisone is the prescription strength.

Thanks,
Gail

Good question. I was given radiacare and I have to say that it prevented a severe burn for me (and I have fair skin that burns easily) until the very end of treatment when my neck suddenly got very red and inflamed and I ended up, two days after treatemnt ended, in the hospital with a fever and diagnosis of cellulitis on the neck (but I also was neutropenic so very vulnerable to that sort of thing).

I should say that I never had to ask either--I was given it by the nurse during week 2 of rad.

Well the Hydrocortisone is just the kind you buy over the counter. They said use it in between aps of the Biafine to keep the itch down and it works but doesn't last for more than a couple of hours and then the itch is back. Thing is you can only use the Hydro three times a day so I am not sure if its a waste or not. She said if it doesn't help doc will give me a script.

I bought some cow udder cream and had the pharmacist check the stuff for medals and she said none so I am using that this weekend to see how it goes. My rad nurse said no medals but anything I wanted to try was fine with that exception. I must say I used the "Moo" cream yesterday and this morning and my neck feels wonderful. No itch and no tightness whatsoever.

I will be telling her about this in the morning. Larry I do not go out in the sun without a scarf to cover my neck. They warned me about going out with the Biafine on.

(((((((Larry)))))))) I am so sorry you had to go through that horrible ending. You are all my heros and I pray for you daily.

God bless and keep you til we meet again,
Barb~