Whole breast radiotherapy, an indispensable method in breast conservative treatment, may produce radiation-irritated skin. We defined radiation-irritated skin as "Post-radiotherapy pruritic dry skin easily irritated by external stimulation, such as sun, wind, cold, or topical lotions" This study sought to explore the incidence of radiationirritated skin, its causative factors, and its impact on breast cancer survivors. Materials/Methods: An anonymous questionnaire was given to 120 breast cancer survivors with whole breast radiotherapy. Content of the questionnaire included a three-point scale on the degree of skin dryness, local temperature change, pruritus, color deposition, psychological impact and quality of life after radiotherapy. Onset time and duration of the lesions was also recorded. The results were analyzed by descriptive statistics and Chi-Square test. Results: Compliance rate was 100 percent for these 120 breast cancer survivors. Ninety-nine patients were under fifty years of age, and 93 patients received radiotherapy within two years. 101 (84.2%) patients reported post-RT skin lesions, 19 (15.8%) patients had no complaint. All 101 patients reported dryness of skin, dryness combined with pruritus was reported in 58 patients (48.3%), 24 patient had eczema or contact dermatitis reported by dermatologist. Dryness of skin occurred most in the younger patients (< 50 years V.S > 50 years, pZ0.001). The incidence of radiation-irritated skin is 48.3%, and the unpleasant sensation, sense of inferiority or sadness, mounted to 41.3% of these patients. Both skin dryness and skin color deposition would cause sense of inferiority or sadness (pZ 0.018 and 0.008 separately). Conclusion: Radiation-irritated skin is easily observed in breast survivors with whole breast radiotherapy. It also really affects the quality of life and the psychological status of breast survivors.
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