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Home Care after Breast Brachytherapy



Skin care is very important at this time.  When your last treatment is over, we will go over how to change the dressing.  We will give you all the skin care supplies you need.  If you have any questions, please feel free to ask or call us.

 

  • Keep the area dry until the puncture sites are closed and dry.  This takes about 2-5 days.  Most often, you will see new tissue forming inside the pockmark or a scab covering it.  You may stop the dressing changes when this happens.

 

  • Report any increased redness, tenderness, or pain at the sites.

 

  • Report any non-clear drainage from the sites.

 

Skin Care Twice a Day

 

  • Clean the sites with a dilute mixture of peroxide and water.  Fill the bottle to the 20 ml mark with peroxide.  Add normal saline  to the 100 ml mark (80 ml of normal saline).  Place one package of cotton swabs ( two in a package) into the mixture.  Wipe over the puncture sites.  Pat dry.  Put antibiotic ointment on the puncture sites.  Cover with gauze. Wear the surgical bra to hold the gauze in place. Do this until the sites are closed and dry.

     

    Take your temperature twice a day for 1 week, then daily for 1 week. Call your doctor if it is 100.0° F or higher.

After the Catheter Sites Have Closed

 

  • You may shower with a fragrance-free, mild soap.  Ivory®, Dove®, Aveeno®, or Cetaphil® are good choices for mild soaps.

 

  • Use a moisturizing cream that does not have any alcohol or perfume.  You may need to keep using a cream for at least a year.  Aveeno®, Cetaphil®, Lubriderm®, Eucerin®, and Curel® are good choices.  If you now use a cream that you would like to keep using, please talk to your nurse.

 

Activity

 

  • Do not lift more than 10 pounds for about 6 weeks.
  • Do not use free weights for about 6 weeks.
  • Listen to your body.  Do not over do.
  • Do not go into chlorinated pools until the redness goes away.


 

Sun Exposure

 

  • Avoid direct sunlight to the treated area.
  • If you cannot avoid the sun, please use a sunscreen with at least 30 SPF.

 

Medicines

 

  • You may start taking aspirin and herbal medicines that you stopped during your treatment.

 

Skin Color

 

  • The pockmarks will look red for at least 4 weeks.  They will keep fading over time.

 

Follow-up Care

 

  • Make a 1 week skin check appointment with the nurse and a 1 month follow up appointment with your Radiation Oncology doctor.  At 6 months you will need a visit with a mammogram

 

Supplies

 

  • A special container for the peroxide and normal saline mixture
  • Gauze 4 x 4 pads
  • Antibiotic ointment
  • Hydrogen peroxide
  • Sterile ABD pads
  • Sterile normal saline 
  • Cotton swabs

 

Phone Numbers

 

If you have any questions or concerns, please call us.

 

Radiation Oncology Clinic (608) 263-8500

If the clinic is closed, your call will be transferred to the paging operator.  Ask for the Radiation Oncology doctor on call.  Give the operator your name and phone number with the area code.  The doctor will call you back.

 

If you live out of the area please call 1-800-323-8942.  Ask for the Radiation Oncology Clinic.

 



The information provided should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed physician should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. Call 911 for all medical emergencies. Any duplication or distribution of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited.

Last Updated: 06/01/2010

Copyright © 06/01/2010 University of Wisconsin Hospitals and Clinics Authority. All rights reserved. Produced by the Department of Nursing. UWH #5893

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