Matricaria recutita tea compress versus Brassica oleracea ointment for prevention of radiodermatitis in women with breast cancer

Objectives: To compare the effect of Brassica oleracea extract ointment (cabbage ointment) and Matricaria recutita (chamomile) tea compresses for the prevention of radiodermatitis in women with breast cancer. Design: Randomized controlled trial. Setting: Radiotherapy Department of the Hospital Araújo Jorge (Goiania, Brazil). Subjects: The sample consisted of women initiating adjuvant radiotherapy for breast cancer. Interventions: Participants were randomized into two groups. Group 1 (n=23) received chamomile tea bags to be applied as compresses twice a day at room temperature. Group 2 (n=20) received a 100g tube with cabbage ointment (Debridan®), and instructions to apply the ointment twice a day. Both groups also received a brief educational intervention on general skin care during radiotherapy treatment. Outcome measures: Skin was assessed weekly during radiation treatment, using the Radiation Therapy Oncology Group (RTOG) scale. Results: All women developed dermatitis during radiotherapy with increasing cases mainly from the 15th session. Erythema was the first sign of radiodermatitis observed in both groups. No difference in the incidence and severity of radiodermatitis between the two treatment groups was observed. Conclusions: The effect of Chamomile tea compresses and Brassica oleracea ointment were similar in the prevention of acute radiodermatitis in patients with breast cancer.