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Radiation dermatitis: the evaluation of a new topical therapy for the treatment and prevention of radiation-induced skin damage and moist desquamation: a multicentre UK case cohort study

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  09 February 2021

K. Johnson ,
G. Fenton  and
R. J. White
K. Johnson*
Affiliation:
Hull University Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, UK
G. Fenton
Affiliation:
Hull University Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, UK
R. J. White
Affiliation:
Plymouth Science Park, UK
*
Author for correspondence: Kirstie Johnson, Radiotherapy Department, Hull University Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, Castle Hill Hospital, Castle Road, Cottingham, East Yorkshire HU16 5JQ, UK. Tel: 01482 461216. E-mail: [email protected]
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Abstract

Introduction:

Radiotherapy is a mainstay of cancer therapy for a wide variety of anatomical areas. An unfortunate side effect of treatment can be radiation damage to the skin which can be a painful and debilitating problem. Previous experience from the experimental use of Flamigel® in two large-scale clinical studies on affected skin has proven sufficiently positive for the addition of a new product in the Flamigel® family (now commercially available in the UK as Flamigel RT®, Flen Health UK). The aim of this investigation is to evaluate the use of this new product to study how effective it is in the prevention and/or treatment of radiation-induced skin damage.

Materials and methods:

A survey was conducted among radiotherapy specialist teams in dedicated UK radiotherapy centres between 1 January 2017 and 31 October 2017. This report is of a preliminary evaluation conducted by UK-based specialists on 108 patients undergoing radiotherapy. The scoring system for skin reactions of the ‘Radiation Therapy Oncology Group’ was used.

Results:

Results show that the use of Flamigel® has the potential to soothe (p = 0·0001), reduce pain (p = 0·0001) and reduce pruritus (p = 0·004). The product met the expectations of the clinicians involved (p < 0·0001) of whom most were happy to continue use or to recommend its use to colleagues (p < 0·0001).

Conclusions:

Flamigel® is an effective treatment in the management of radiation-induced skin reactions. Erythema was unchanged through the study period (p = 0·42). No adverse reactions were reported after the use of Flamigel from twice to six times a day.

Keywords

breast cancermoist desquamationperineal cancerradiotherapyskin damage
Type
Original Article
Information
Journal of Radiotherapy in Practice , Volume 20 , Issue 4 , December 2021 , pp. 461 - 465
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Copyright
© The Author(s), 2021. Published by Cambridge University Press

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