Film Bandage Helps Protect Skin During Radiation Therapy
Mepitel Film, a type of bandage, reduced the risk of skin problems by 80% during and after radiation therapy for breast cancer, according to a study.
The research was presented on Oct. 18, 2022, at the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Plenary Series: October 2022 Session. Read the abstract of “Mepitel Film for the prevention of acute radiation dermatitis in breast cancer; A randomized multi-centre open-label phase 3 trial.”
Skin side effects of radiation therapy
External radiation therapy commonly causes skin changes in the treated area. The reaction is much like a sunburn, with redness and possible itching, burning, soreness, peeling, blistering, or darkening of the skin. These changes usually happen gradually throughout your treatment and typically only in certain areas.
You’re more likely to have significant skin side effects if you had mastectomy or chemotherapy before radiation or if you have:
fair skin
larger breasts
certain health conditions that affect skin healing, such as a connective tissue disorder
About Mepitel Film
Mepitel Film is a clear, silicone-based film bandage-type skin covering for fragile and sensitive skin. Each bandage is about 4 inches by 4.8 inches in size (10 centimeters by 12 centimeters). The film is waterproof and conforms to the shape of the area it’s covering.
About the study
Doctors have been looking for ways to reduce the risk of skin side effects in people receiving radiation therapy for breast cancer. In this study, the researchers wanted to see if Mepitel Film could help prevent skin reactions.
The study included 376 women who were scheduled to receive radiation after lumpectomy or mastectomy between January 2020 and May 2022. All the women have larger breasts:
with a bra size of 36 inches or larger
that are a C cup or larger
The researchers randomly assigned the women to have Mepitel Film applied to the treated area or to receive standard skin care:
251 women had Mepitel Film applied to the treated area
125 women received standard skin care
Standard skin care included:
using a moisturizer
keeping the skin away from extreme heat or cold
avoiding things that irritate the skin, including shaving, perfumes, and powders
wearing loose-fitting clothing over the treated area
Women who had Mepitel Film applied to the treated area were less likely to have grade 2 or grade 3 skin reactions than women who received standard skin care:
39 women (15.5%) who had Mepitel Film applied to the treated area had a grade 2 or grade 3 skin reaction
57 women (45.6%) who received standard care had a grade 2 or grade 3 skin reaction
This difference was statistically significant, which means it was likely due to the difference in skin care and not just because of chance.
Versus women who received standard care, women who had Mepitel Film applied to the treated area also had less:
tenderness
pain
burning sensations
skin redness
skin weeping and peeling
Women who had Mepitel Film applied to the treated area also were less like to need topical antibiotics.
“The film was remarkably effective and helped protect patients from potentially debilitating side effects,” Corey Speers, MD, PhD, said in a statement. Dr. Speers is assistant professor of radiation oncology at the University of Michigan Medical School and an ASCO expert in breast cancer. “More modern radiation treatment planning and using shorter courses of radiation are also key factors that prevent the development of acute skin reactions after radiation therapy, and these factors should be carefully considered when treating patients at high risk of developing a skin reaction.”
What this means for you
If you’re going to receive radiation therapy to treat breast cancer, the results of this study are extremely promising. You may want to ask your radiation oncologist if Mepitel Film is a good option to help reduce your risk of skin reactions, especially if you have larger breasts or other conditions that affect skin healing.
Learn more about how to manage the skin side effects of radiation.
— Last updated on January 19, 2023 at 6:12 PM