Randomized Intra-patient Controlled Trial of Mepilex Lite Dressings versus Aqueous Cream in Managing Radiation-Induced Skin Reactions Postmastectomy

Radiation-induced skin reactions occur in 80-90% of breast cancer patients by completion of treatment [1]. To date, there is no standard treatment for radiation-induced skin reactions. In a recent survey, Kumar, et al. [2] found that 50% of responding departments in Australia and New Zealand based their skin care policy on anecdotal evidence. This situation is not limited to Australasia; skin care practices vary both between and within institutions worldwide [3-5]. A good example of this is the widespread use of aqueous cream in many radiation therapy departments around the world, even though a large randomized controlled clinical trial (RCT) (n=357) showed that aqueous cream does not prevent nor decrease the severity of skin reactions [6].