A Pilot Study to Evaluate the Validity of Skin Care Protocols Followed by Women with Breast Cancer Receiving External Radiation

Abstract

Purpose/Objective(s)Women with breast cancer receiving external radiation are often instructed to avoid aluminum-based deodorant on the treated side and not to apply skin care products in the radiation field four hours prior to treatment to prevent severe skin reactions. If allowing a woman to use her deodorant and skin care products on a convenient schedule has no significant effect on skin reactions, then eliminating these instructions will be less disruptive to her normal hygiene routine.Materials/MethodsThirty women treated between October, 2005 and December, 2006 were given skin care instructions which included using their aluminum-based deodorant and applying 100% aloe vera gel 1–3 times per day with one application of aloe within a half hour of treatment. Criteria included informed consent, diagnosis of Stage 0, 1, or 2 breast cancer, treatment with external radiation, no lymph nodes directly treated, and Zubrod performance status of 0–2. Skin was assessed twice a week during treatment and 2, 4, and 6 weeks post-treatment using the Skin Toxicity Assessment Tool (Berthelet et al., 2004). Subjects completed a written survey at the end of treatment evaluating the convenience of the aloe vera schedule and the importance of using their own deodorant. A convenience sample of 30 women treated during the same time period and meeting the same criteria served as the control group. This group was given the department's standard skin care instructions (no deodorant and no skin care products applied within 4 hours prior to treatment) and data was collected from a retrospective chart audit. Time to onset and maximum severity of skin reactions were compared between the two groups.ResultsMean age: Experimental group (E) 64.3; Control group (C) 58.3. Race: White with the exception of one.ConclusionsTabled 1Time to Onset of Erythema by Treatment FractionGroup#MedianMeanC3012.0013.07E2913.0012.90 Open table in a new tab Tabled 1Maximum ErythemaGroupErythema by gradeCETotalNo erythema (Grade 0)0 (0.00)1 (3.33)1Faint, transient erythema (Grade 1)15 (50.00)17 (56.67)32Bright erythema (Grade 2)15 (50.00)12 (40.00)27Total303060 Open table in a new tab Purpose/Objective(s)Women with breast cancer receiving external radiation are often instructed to avoid aluminum-based deodorant on the treated side and not to apply skin care products in the radiation field four hours prior to treatment to prevent severe skin reactions. If allowing a woman to use her deodorant and skin care products on a convenient schedule has no significant effect on skin reactions, then eliminating these instructions will be less disruptive to her normal hygiene routine. Women with breast cancer receiving external radiation are often instructed to avoid aluminum-based deodorant on the treated side and not to apply skin care products in the radiation field four hours prior to treatment to prevent severe skin reactions. If allowing a woman to use her deodorant and skin care products on a convenient schedule has no significant effect on skin reactions, then eliminating these instructions will be less disruptive to her normal hygiene routine. Materials/MethodsThirty women treated between October, 2005 and December, 2006 were given skin care instructions which included using their aluminum-based deodorant and applying 100% aloe vera gel 1–3 times per day with one application of aloe within a half hour of treatment. Criteria included informed consent, diagnosis of Stage 0, 1, or 2 breast cancer, treatment with external radiation, no lymph nodes directly treated, and Zubrod performance status of 0–2. Skin was assessed twice a week during treatment and 2, 4, and 6 weeks post-treatment using the Skin Toxicity Assessment Tool (Berthelet et al., 2004). Subjects completed a written survey at the end of treatment evaluating the convenience of the aloe vera schedule and the importance of using their own deodorant. A convenience sample of 30 women treated during the same time period and meeting the same criteria served as the control group. This group was given the department's standard skin care instructions (no deodorant and no skin care products applied within 4 hours prior to treatment) and data was collected from a retrospective chart audit. Time to onset and maximum severity of skin reactions were compared between the two groups. Thirty women treated between October, 2005 and December, 2006 were given skin care instructions which included using their aluminum-based deodorant and applying 100% aloe vera gel 1–3 times per day with one application of aloe within a half hour of treatment. Criteria included informed consent, diagnosis of Stage 0, 1, or 2 breast cancer, treatment with external radiation, no lymph nodes directly treated, and Zubrod performance status of 0–2. Skin was assessed twice a week during treatment and 2, 4, and 6 weeks post-treatment using the Skin Toxicity Assessment Tool (Berthelet et al., 2004). Subjects completed a written survey at the end of treatment evaluating the convenience of the aloe vera schedule and the importance of using their own deodorant. A convenience sample of 30 women treated during the same time period and meeting the same criteria served as the control group. This group was given the department's standard skin care instructions (no deodorant and no skin care products applied within 4 hours prior to treatment) and data was collected from a retrospective chart audit. Time to onset and maximum severity of skin reactions were compared between the two groups. ResultsMean age: Experimental group (E) 64.3; Control group (C) 58.3. Race: White with the exception of one. Mean age: Experimental group (E) 64.3; Control group (C) 58.3. Race: White with the exception of one. ConclusionsTabled 1Time to Onset of Erythema by Treatment FractionGroup#MedianMeanC3012.0013.07E2913.0012.90 Open table in a new tab Tabled 1Maximum ErythemaGroupErythema by gradeCETotalNo erythema (Grade 0)0 (0.00)1 (3.33)1Faint, transient erythema (Grade 1)15 (50.00)17 (56.67)32Bright erythema (Grade 2)15 (50.00)12 (40.00)27Total303060 Open table in a new tab