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Radiation Oncology
Published in: Radiation Oncology 1/2013

Open Access 01-12-2013 | Study protocol

Preventing the acute skin side effects in patients treated with radiotherapy for breast cancer: the use of corneometry in order to evaluate the protective effect of moisturizing creams

Authors: Rossella Di Franco, Elena Sammarco, Maria Grazia Calvanese, Flora De Natale, Sara Falivene, Ada DiLecce, Francesca Maria Giugliano, Paola Murino, Roberto Manzo, Salvatore Cappabianca, Paolo Muto, Vincenzo Ravo

Published in: Radiation Oncology | Issue 1/2013

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Abstract

Background and purpose

The purpose of this study was to add, to the objective evaluation, an instrumental assessment of the skin damage induced by radiation therapy.

Materials and methods

A group of 100 patients affected by breast cancer was recruited in the study over one year. Patients were divided into five groups of 20 patients. For each group it was prescribed a different topical treatment. The following products were used: Betaglucan, sodium hyaluronate (Neoviderm®), Vitis vinifera A. s-I-M.t-O.dij (Ixoderm®), Alga Atlantica plus Ethylbisiminomethylguaicolo and Manganese Cloruro (Radioskin1®) and Metal Esculetina plus Ginko Biloba and Aloe vera (Radioskin 2®); Natural triglycerides-fitosterols (Xderit®); Selectiose plus thermal water of Avene (Trixera+®). All hydrating creams were applied twice a day starting 15 days before and one month after treatment with radiations. Before and during treatment patients underwent weekly skin assessments and corneometry to evaluate the symptoms related to skin toxicity and state of hydration. Evaluation of acute cutaneous toxicity was defined according to the RTOG scale.

Results

All patients completed radiotherapy; 72% of patients presented a G1 cutaneous toxicity, 18% developed a G2 cutaneous toxicity, 10% developed a G3 toxicity, no one presented G4 toxicity. The corneometry study confirmed the protective role of effective creams used in radiation therapy of breast cancer and showed its usefulness to identify radiation-induced dermatitis in a very early stage.

Conclusions

The preventive use of topic products reduces the incidence of skin side effects in patients treated with radiotherapy for breast cancer. An instrumental evaluation of skin hydration can help the radiation oncologist to use strategies that prevent the onset of toxicity of high degree. All moisturizing creams used in this study were equally valid in the treatment of skin damage induced by radiotherapy.
Appendix
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Metadata
Title
Preventing the acute skin side effects in patients treated with radiotherapy for breast cancer: the use of corneometry in order to evaluate the protective effect of moisturizing creams
Authors
Rossella Di Franco
Elena Sammarco
Maria Grazia Calvanese
Flora De Natale
Sara Falivene
Ada DiLecce
Francesca Maria Giugliano
Paola Murino
Roberto Manzo
Salvatore Cappabianca
Paolo Muto
Vincenzo Ravo
Publication date
01-12-2013
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
Radiation Oncology / Issue 1/2013
Electronic ISSN: 1748-717X
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/1748-717X-8-57

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