Breast cancer patients report less pain, itching during radiotherapy when using barrier film
Breast cancer patients report reduced sensitivity and pain during radiotherapy when using a barrier film over treatment areas, according to a Danish study published this month in Technical Innovations and Patient Support in Radiation Oncology.
Research led by Pia Krause Møller, MPH, of the department of oncology at Odense University Hospital in Denmark, found that radiotherapy patients offered the option to undergo treatment with the protection of a technology-based film ultimately experienced less pain, burning and itching as a side effect of therapy and reported fewer symptoms of radiodermatitis.
“Experienced pain and discomfort due to radiodermatitis makes it important to prevent and manage skin reactions,” Møller et al. wrote. “In the past 10 years, several studies have investigated preventive strategies with steroidal or non-steroidal topical treatments, oral systemic therapy, light-emitting diode treatment and barrier film.”
Of those methods, though, the authors said, semi-permeable barrier film emerged as an intriguing way to minimize the uncomfortable side effects of ionizing radiation without triggering other complications. She and a team of researchers from hospitals across Denmark evaluated 101 breast cancer patients across three local radiotherapy centers, noting their skin reactions to therapy both with and without film.
The patients in Møller and co-authors’ study acted as their own controls, the researchers explained—all participants were randomized to have either the lateral or medial sections of their chest covered by Mölnlycke Healthcare’s “Mepitel Film," while the rest of the treatment area remained bare.
“Patients reported reduced symptoms from the skin with Mepitel Film, and the majority would have preferred film as a standard offer to cover their entire treatment area,” the authors said of the research. “Especially women treated after mastectomy had a significantly lower level of radiodermatitis and preferred the film over standard care.”
Indeed, according to the data, 76 percent of the study population indicated they’d rather use film on the entire treatment area during radiotherapy, and 84 percent said they’d like to see Mepitel Film as a standard treatment option in the future. Pain, itching, burning, edema and sensitivity were all reduced across areas covered by Mepitel Film.
Still, in spite of a positive reaction from patients, Møller et al. said that in a blinded staff evaluation, no significant differences were noted between standard care and treatment using the film.
“There was no overall statistically significant difference in observer-rated radiodermatitis two weeks after radiotherapy,” the authors wrote. “[However], based on their own experience, the patients recommend that the use of Mepitel Film should be a standard offer to other patients irradiated for breast cancer.”
After graduating from Indiana University-Bloomington with a bachelor’s in journalism, Anicka joined TriMed’s Chicago team in 2017 covering cardiology. Close to her heart is long-form journalism, Pilot G-2 pens, dark chocolate and her dog Harper Lee.