Heggie, S., Bryant, G. P., Tripcony, L., Keller, J., Rose, P., Glendenning, M., & Heath, J. (2002). A phase III study on the efficacy of topical aloe vera gel on irradiated breast tissue. Cancer Nursing, 25, 442–451.
To see if topical aloe vera gel would be beneficial in reducing the skin side effects of radiation therapy (RT).
Participants were stratified according to bra cup size, history of lymphocele drainage, and smoking. Participants were randomized to use of aloe vera or an aqueous cream for control.
Mater Centre, Australia, and the Royal Brisbane Hospital Centre, Australia
The study was a randomized, controlled, double-blind trial.
Aqueous cream was significantly better than aloe vera gel in reducing the incidence of dry desquamation and moderate or higher pain (p < 0.001). Participants with cup size D or more in either treatment arm experienced a significantly greater incidence of moderate or higher erythema compared with smaller-breasted women (p < 0.02). For non-chemotherapy participants, the aloe vera arm experienced a significantly reduced incidence of moderate or higher erythema (p = 0.02). The control group arm experienced a significantly reduced incidence of moderate or higher pain (p = 0.03). The most important predictors of development of skin reaction were radiation dose, breast size, patient smoking, and damage to the lymphatic system manifested by one or more lymphocele drainage. Cumulative dose was greater than 2,700 cGy, and there was a delay to onset of erythema (p = 0.013).
Aqueous cream is superior to aloe vera in reducing the acute RT skin reactions of dry desquamation and pain.