My dad did his 16th radiation treatment today (yeah). His face (the whole face) is becoming extremely dark (we are African American). I noticed yesterday that his had two burn marks (thankfully, they are not hurting him yet). He is currently using Eucerin. Others I have spoken to are using Aquapor (by Eucerin). Is anyone using anything different and which one of these works best. He is also starting loosing hair (which freaked him out today when he came from the barber) at the back of the neck area. I wonder if he should be lotioning that part too? Also, can anyone tell me how they dealt with that mask especially the mouth piece because it drives my dad crazy.

He will continue to loose the hair on the back of his neck but it will return eventually. I never had any discomfort on the back of my neck but I did use the Aquapor stuff towards the end of Rad and it really helped me.

You loose the hair on the back of your neck because that is where the radiation exits. I am 7 months post treatment and mine has grown back. I was on the chemos cisplatin and 5fu, and my hair thinned out a little during treatment, but it was barely noticable.

Ask the radiation oncologist or their nurses for some cream for the burns. They said some over the counter lotions contain aluminum which is not good during radiation.

All I can say about the mask and mouth piece is that they play cd's and music during my 40 minutue radiation treatments which helped by distracting me.

RADIAIPLEX was prescribed right away for Buzz...I slathered it on him every day immediately following his IMRT, then 2-3 times more by bedtime. His burns were so severe that the RO stopped at 28 of 33 (even she was surprised by the severity) but the RADIAPLEX worked wonders for him.

Geo:

As the doctor for prescription beta-val cream. I also had used the aquaphor cream, but found beta-val to work much better. You put it on gently, no ned to rub it in sore skin. It will gradually soak in, I have no scars from my radiation. As far the the mask goes, I used to just close my eyes and try to pretend I was laying on a beach. Sometimes I would count, but I always closed my eyes so I wouldnt feel so confined. The hair on the back of his neck will grow back quickly.

Thanks for the suggestions. I will get the aquaphor not sure if the other is available over the counter but will check. Unfortunately, yesterday, when I stepped out, my dad put pure aloe vera on his skin, which burned him really bad. Now on top of the burn from the radiation, his skin has become raw. Help! What should we do now?

My face cleared up in no longer than 3 weeks and all I used was Aquaphor. I used it everytime it dried out on my face and I couldn't feel it. I even carried one everywhere I went. LOL it worked for me tho

I can say I would like to deal with the Rad mask with my 16 lb sledge LOL, but like some dipstick, I brought it home.

My mom's radiation oncologist prescribed silver sulfadiazine for her badly burned neck. It relieved some of the discomfort from the burning and seemed to promote healing.

I also used silver sulfadine for my burned skin although that was right after my radiation ended, not during it. It worked amazingly well!

During treatment I was given somehting called "radiagel" that was especially for use during radiation. I think it was mostly aloe in it and I honestly am not sure how much it helped.

Nelie