Fair warning - this may be a little too descriptive...the burn WAS repulsive...
Maybe I have been a night owl long before I or anyone else in my family realized it. I suppose I've also always been rather independent, believing I could do things all by myself.
I was 5 and my sisters had just snugly and safely tucked me in bed. Having me out of their hair they went downstairs to have some hot chocolate and watch television. Unbeknownst to them I snuck out of bed, quietly crept downstairs and into the kitchen where I discovered the pan of hot water on the stove. The handle was facing outward toward me, practically begging me to share in some hot chocolate, and with a little extra height I would gain by standing on my tippy-toes I was sure I would be able to reach the pan. Soon the mug I held in my left hand would contain my bedtime rendezvous treat - yummy hot chocolate. So I stretched, and I managed to reach the pan, but I barely had a grip and my little hand was strong enough to hold the heave pan of water. The result was hot water on my face and hand, rather than in the mug, I suffered from second and third degree burns on my entire face as well as my left hand.
Memories of my burn are clouded, which I think is a good thing. My healing was nothing short of miraculous leaving no traces of scars. I thought that I would never again in my life be burned anything like that. I was wrong.
I knew the radiation would cause the treated area to burn but I was not prepared for just how badly my skin would be burned. After the first week of treatment my entire breast and armpit were burned. It was tolerable and could treated with Biafine, a prescription moisturizing cream. I had googled radiation burns and was frightened by some of the images I viewed. Bi-weekly I would ask the technicians if the burn would get much worse and each time I was asked I was reassured that it was probably as bad as it would get.
The final 5 treatments are called a "boost" where a higher radiation dosage is aimed specifically at the tumor site, rather than the entire breast and lymph node area. During this week my initial burn already started healing and the skin was turning tan. It had already become difficult for me to sleep at night due to discomfort and I wasn't able to lay on one side or on my stomach. I used a pillow as a support for the treated breast (left) and had not been able to wear a bra since end of week two. Still, all tolerable.
After my final treatment my skin continued to burn. The treated area was an approximate 3" circle and was very red and very painful. By day 5 it was showing signs of blisters. All within about a day I suddenly had multiple blisters which opped immediately leaving the skin raw and exposed. The Biafine would sting when I put it on and because of the openness of the would I wasn't able to rub it in very well. i would have to stand in front of a fan to help cool and dry me off. When the blisters popped they oozed a clear fluid and a few spots actually bled. The site remained like that for 2 full weeks.
My intent is not to scare anyone but to better prepare anyone who may have to face radiation. Granted, I was told that burns to the extent that mine were are not common, but they are also not unheard of.
It's been a few weeks now, 4 as a matter of fact and the burn has mostly healed. The raw spots scabbed over and have since fallen off. The breast area that received the boost is still pink and a little tender but at least it is back to the tolerable state.
Once as a kid and once as an adult, I think that's second and third degree burns about 2 times too many. :0(
