What helped you during radiation?

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Comments

  • jnl
    jnl Member Posts: 3,869 Member
    Rague said:

    Domeboro Soaks

    Domeboro Soaks are what finally healed me!  I didn't burn during rads but at the end/after.  Thankfully the deepest were in areas where there was nerve damage so didn't feel the worst of the pain.  I used all sorts of creams the Dr wanted me to but nothing helped (I even canabalized my huge aloe plant to no good).  I did not develope any infections which was good as I'm allergic to sulfa so Sulfadene/Silvadene was not and option.  I was scheduled to be sent to a burn unit but we tried Domeboro as a 'last ditch' and it worked great.

    Never had any nausea at all on radsd - none on chemo either even when I quit taking the anti nausea meds (I've been told that if you had bad 'morning sickness' you were more likely to have nausea issues with chemo - I had no 'morning sickness' with either son).  I was completely and utterly exhausted from 12 weekly Taxol but felt better every day when I started rads a week later.

    We are each so unique.

    Winyan- The Power Within

    Wuwan

    I was also told to not wear

    I was also told to not wear wire push up bras.  I didn't wear a bra as I didn't really want to irritate my skin with anything.  Just wore a lot of loose tops.

  • SK12
    SK12 Member Posts: 13
    SK12 said:

    Thanks for all of your posts.

    Thanks for all of your posts.  I wanted to get through this as prepared as I could. I have been receiving 2 boosts per week, since the beginning. The last 2 weeks (6 wk TX) will be with the boost everyday.  Monitoring changes as they happen. 

    I planned a reward/birthday/end of radiation trip to Miami a week and a half after my last TX.  Can't miss any appointments and have to be a "good patient".  Received approval from my onco rad this morning and spoke with the surgeon just now and we are good to go.  

    List for travel: Approval of all doctors and necessary precautions. Pharmaceutical needs. No compression sleeve needed for me. Sunscreen. Bug spray. USB medic alert bracelet. Paper copy of medical info in wallet. Number to the nearest hospital. (Since this is Miami, Mt. Sinai).  Swim shirt (have SPF 40+ built in). Very feminine dresses (sick of comfy clothes), flip flops, floppy hat, sunglasses, and a BIG FAT SMILE.

     

    SN...my onco rad recommends either Aquaphor or aloe. RN told me, every doc in Hosp recommends different things and shrugged her shoulders. Again, different doctor, different plan.  Just had my Vit E intake reduced from 800 to 400 IU. They have not gotten back to me about soy, whole milk, ginger, mint, and mangoes. Still controversial. I have had a different diet plan for pre-chemo, chemo, surgery, and now radiation. So far, so good. Thanks everyone. It is wonderful to have the resources for different options. 

    DID YOU KNOW...TSA will allow you to expedite your check in. They have a section that you should read, regarding BC survivors. 


    Happy travels everyone. 
    Sorry, I wrote boost, when I

    Sorry, I wrote boost, when I should have wrote bolus.  Boosts only at the end. This autocorrect is killing me LOL. TY AGAIN AND GOD BLESS!!!

  • DianeBC
    DianeBC Member Posts: 3,881 Member
    SK12 said:

    Sorry, I wrote boost, when I

    Sorry, I wrote boost, when I should have wrote bolus.  Boosts only at the end. This autocorrect is killing me LOL. TY AGAIN AND GOD BLESS!!!

    How are you doing with rads? 

    How are you doing with rads?  Doing ok?

  • Ritzy
    Ritzy Member Posts: 4,381 Member
    SK12 said:

    Thanks for all of your posts.

    Thanks for all of your posts.  I wanted to get through this as prepared as I could. I have been receiving 2 boosts per week, since the beginning. The last 2 weeks (6 wk TX) will be with the boost everyday.  Monitoring changes as they happen. 

    I planned a reward/birthday/end of radiation trip to Miami a week and a half after my last TX.  Can't miss any appointments and have to be a "good patient".  Received approval from my onco rad this morning and spoke with the surgeon just now and we are good to go.  

    List for travel: Approval of all doctors and necessary precautions. Pharmaceutical needs. No compression sleeve needed for me. Sunscreen. Bug spray. USB medic alert bracelet. Paper copy of medical info in wallet. Number to the nearest hospital. (Since this is Miami, Mt. Sinai).  Swim shirt (have SPF 40+ built in). Very feminine dresses (sick of comfy clothes), flip flops, floppy hat, sunglasses, and a BIG FAT SMILE.

     

    SN...my onco rad recommends either Aquaphor or aloe. RN told me, every doc in Hosp recommends different things and shrugged her shoulders. Again, different doctor, different plan.  Just had my Vit E intake reduced from 800 to 400 IU. They have not gotten back to me about soy, whole milk, ginger, mint, and mangoes. Still controversial. I have had a different diet plan for pre-chemo, chemo, surgery, and now radiation. So far, so good. Thanks everyone. It is wonderful to have the resources for different options. 

    DID YOU KNOW...TSA will allow you to expedite your check in. They have a section that you should read, regarding BC survivors. 


    Happy travels everyone. 
    Wondering how you are doing

    Wondering how you are doing with rads too...

    Sue :)

  • Kristin N
    Kristin N Member Posts: 1,968 Member
    Tux said:

    The rads nurse gave me cream to use after every treatment.  I was a middle school teacher

    at the time (now retired) and am rather "busty", so I had to wear a bra every day.  I went to

    the local discount store & got a couple of "Just My Size "bras in cotton in a size or 2 bigger.

    I wore them the whole time.  I got blisters & burned near the end & the nurse recommended

    Domboro Soaks--I bought plain white flannel at the fabric store, cut it into big squares & laid them on the affected area.  I also lined my bra with them at the very end.  I was absolutely determined to get through it!

    Also, I felt a bit nauseated toward the end--mints & a Vick's nasal inhaler helped me.  All I did was work & go to rads during that time, but I never felt fatigue--kept waiting for it, but it never happened!   Good luck with the rads--just take it a day at a time & it will be over before you know it!

    I never burnt as some did,

    I never burnt as some did, but, got as close as you can probably get to it.  I was glad when the boosters started as the rest started to feel and look better quickly.  I used so much Aquaphor that my hubby joked that I should have bought stock in it.  lol

    My rads onco saw me at least twice a week to check my skin.  I know sometimes they have to stop rads if you are burning too badly and give your skin a break, but, I don't know if it happens frequently. 

    Good luck!

  • Megan M
    Megan M Member Posts: 3,000
    Tux said:

    The rads nurse gave me cream to use after every treatment.  I was a middle school teacher

    at the time (now retired) and am rather "busty", so I had to wear a bra every day.  I went to

    the local discount store & got a couple of "Just My Size "bras in cotton in a size or 2 bigger.

    I wore them the whole time.  I got blisters & burned near the end & the nurse recommended

    Domboro Soaks--I bought plain white flannel at the fabric store, cut it into big squares & laid them on the affected area.  I also lined my bra with them at the very end.  I was absolutely determined to get through it!

    Also, I felt a bit nauseated toward the end--mints & a Vick's nasal inhaler helped me.  All I did was work & go to rads during that time, but I never felt fatigue--kept waiting for it, but it never happened!   Good luck with the rads--just take it a day at a time & it will be over before you know it!

    If you find you can't wear a

    If you find you can't wear a bra, but, need something, check out a camisole.  Some even have a built in bra in them.  They are much more comfortable and are soft next to your skin.

    How is rads going for you?

  • survivorbc09
    survivorbc09 Member Posts: 4,374 Member
    Tux said:

    The rads nurse gave me cream to use after every treatment.  I was a middle school teacher

    at the time (now retired) and am rather "busty", so I had to wear a bra every day.  I went to

    the local discount store & got a couple of "Just My Size "bras in cotton in a size or 2 bigger.

    I wore them the whole time.  I got blisters & burned near the end & the nurse recommended

    Domboro Soaks--I bought plain white flannel at the fabric store, cut it into big squares & laid them on the affected area.  I also lined my bra with them at the very end.  I was absolutely determined to get through it!

    Also, I felt a bit nauseated toward the end--mints & a Vick's nasal inhaler helped me.  All I did was work & go to rads during that time, but I never felt fatigue--kept waiting for it, but it never happened!   Good luck with the rads--just take it a day at a time & it will be over before you know it!

    Cotton bras are great to

    Cotton bras are great to wear.  Also, did you ask your rads onco about taking vitamins?  Mine didn't want me too, so, I stopped them during rads.

    How you doing now?

     

    Jan

  • Alexis F
    Alexis F Member Posts: 3,598
    Ritzy said:

    Wondering how you are doing

    Wondering how you are doing with rads too...

    Sue :)

    You certainly deserve a trip

    You certainly deserve a trip after rads!  My husband took me away too for a wonderful week at a cabin in the woods.  He wanted to take me to the beach, but, I didn't want to be in the sun.  lol

    Hope you're doing well and that your skin is good.  Keep posting!

     

    Lex

  • DebbyM
    DebbyM Member Posts: 3,289 Member
    Alexis F said:

    You certainly deserve a trip

    You certainly deserve a trip after rads!  My husband took me away too for a wonderful week at a cabin in the woods.  He wanted to take me to the beach, but, I didn't want to be in the sun.  lol

    Hope you're doing well and that your skin is good.  Keep posting!

     

    Lex

    Looking for an update from

    Looking for an update from you.  How are you?

  • Megan M
    Megan M Member Posts: 3,000
    DebbyM said:

    Looking for an update from

    Looking for an update from you.  How are you?

    A trip after you graduate

    A trip after you graduate rads?  That is going to be so good for you!  Just be sure and get lots of rest as rads will wear you down and you need rest.  Looked for an update too on how you are and didn't see one.  Hoping everything is ok with you.

     

     

  • Pink Rose
    Pink Rose Member Posts: 493
    ladyg said:

    What helped me

    when I was having rads was Aquaphor and Calendula Gel. I used the Aquaphor at night(thick coating) and a light coating in the early morning. My rads were at 3:30 pm so by then it was gone. I used the Calendula Gel right after my treatment, when I was getting dressed. It is not greasy like Aquaphor so it did not get on my clothes. I also used different bras as my treatments progressed. I used a sports bra with a zip front and then went to a barely there bra - very light weight. At home I went without. I did get red but never blistered.

    The one thing I did have was extreme fatigue. I ended up having to take 2 weeks off from work at the end of my rads. And then started back at 4hrs per day and increased hrs biweekly.

    I hope this helps you some. Good luck and keep strong. You will  make it through!

    Hugs,

    Georgia

    I had the fatigue too, a few

    I had the fatigue too, a few weeks in and after I was finished.  Besides having the rads, just going everyday for weeks was wearing enough.  I did find that exercise helped me.  My husband and I would take walks together and I found it energized me a lot.

    Good luck,

    Rose

  • SIROD
    SIROD Member Posts: 2,194 Member
    For Those Who Will Be Doing Radiation!

    The best part was being finished with radiation or any treatment.  Of all the treatments I have had for breast cancer, for me, radiation was the easiest.   My oncologist forgot to order rads when I was diagnose.  With my first recurrence with a tumor in the axilla, I did have radiation.  It also went up the chain of lymph nodes from the axilla up to the jaw line.

    I did suffer burns in my neck but they did have a solution.  A year later, having the saliva gland killed, I did loose the bottom half of my teeth on the side that was radiated.  I needed a bridge.

    Even given that, I would never hesistate to do radiation.  Of course, I wouldn't seek it out either.  I found it easier than surgery, certainly easier than chemo and easier than hormonal therapies I used for 18 years.  If you fear it don't.  It looks scary on your first visit but one gets use to the equipment and how good the techs are.

    It was time consuming I had 36 treatments and given the holidays, and etc. It seem to go on forever.  They were the best organized of any medical group I ever encountered.  I could almost time how long it would be except for thetimes I saw the radiologist..  I did have 1 hour ride one way and another hour back home, those were the big draw back.  I worked throughout radiation, leaving 15 minutes early each day in order to make my appointment.  

    Good wishes to you and may you be among the 70% of people who never have a recurrence Sk12.  I hope you enjoyed your trip to Miami.  Wonderful in March if you come from the northern parts of the US.

    Best,

    Doris