Cancer Survivors Network

I just finished radiation a week and a half ago. I used eucerin mostly, they have different kinds ranging from thick heavy cream to smooth lotions but they are all fragrance free. I also found out an aloe plant worked better for me than the bottled aloe. My skin became very itchy and blistered a little. The nurse told me to mix 4-6 cups of water to 1-2 tablespooons baking soda and 1 teaspoon of salt, soak a cloth in it and lay it on my chest. This really worked well!! They also gave me a prescription for silvadene that works great if you get blisters or raw places. I can't imagine putting corn starch on it...
I would put the lotion, aloe or cream on right after treatment and then really slather it on at night before you go to bed. My skin is fair and I did have break down under my arm and on my collar bone. Thankfully I am still numb under my arm and couldn't feel the pain, the skin on my collar bone hurt A LOT although it was a small area.

My rads oncologist gave me Biafine and Aquaphor. I used both of them from day one. That is important! And, I used them even after I finished rads. That is important too! As soon as I got home, I put the Biafine on. I normally only used the Aquaphor at night as it is so greasy, but, I know many put their lotions on immediately after their treatment at the cancer center. Only use what your rads oncologist tells you to use. Many differ on what they think is ok. And, I was told to not take any vitamins too, as you don't want your cells being healthy.

Thank you, all, for your advice and input.

Especially you, SG -- I don't know how you manage to type so well with just your beak! Seriously, CONGRATULATIONS on finishing rads -- I can't wait till I join you!

Nurse Junnie said most of her patients use the Udderly Smooth during the day, since it's a lotion that soaks in pretty well, and the Aquaphor at night, since it's so greasy and gloppy. So I've been experimenting today -- yes, I've basically spent the day rubbing my own breasts, which isn't nearly as sexy as it sounds....:-o

I used the Udderly Smooth this morning after my shower, let it soak in for a few minutes, then dusted myself with cornstarch before putting on my bra -- that worked well. Now I'm sitting here marinating in Aquaphor, and discovering that it soaks through a t-shirt. Whoever said cancer treatment wasn't sexy? :-)

BTW, SG, the Udderly Smooth was a little disconcerting at first -- no joke, the FIRST words on the back of the tube are "Developed for use on dairy cows." Again -- sexy, no?

Traci

Udderly Smooth was a lotion my daughter used to keep her skin soft. Then when she had her son she used for his diaper rash "Butt Paste". Yes, that's the name. I thought she was making a joke the first time I was there and she was changing JJ and asked me to go into her room and get the Butt Paste off his dresser. Imagine if you were using both Udderly Smooth and Butt Paste. Or traveling and packed them both and then had them go through your luggage.
Continue enjoying your sexy Saturday night, Traci. You are very funny.
Stef

Speaking of Udderly Smooth...there is a heavy petroleum jelly type thing called Bag Balm (again made for use on cows). I'm not saying Bag Balm should be used for radiation, BUT it IS good if you have really dry hands or feet in the winter. I buy mine at Walgreens in the lotion isle. It is in a square, green tin.

It doesn't smell the greatest, but it really does a good job softening dry skin. I put it on my feet before bed and then put big cotton socks on to sleep in. By the morning my feet aren't dry - just be careful in the shower - slippery. This can also be put on your hands before bed and then put socks on your hands to sleep in (usually requires help from someone else).

OH Geez, my Radiologist said something about Bag Balm! I've just been using the clear aloe so far, I haven't burned as of yet. Just one more thing to be agravating to me. I've had this nausea in afternoon and evening, I feel like crap. It kinda started after 4 or 5 RADs treatments, my Radiologist says no, my RADs shouldn't cause nausea, BUT my surgeon who did my hernia surgery said yes, it IS possible in some people. I'm known to be a strange one medically. I called him yesterday and his answering service paged him, he called me back. So far my weekend has been horrible, just a yucky feeling all way round and runny diahrea, so he wants me to get a abdominal X-Ray and stool sample (how with no stool)lol. He prescribed compazine for my nausea, and that has helped, but also Flaygl! I think he is thinking I may have C-diff! It is fairly common to get infections from a Hospital stay or 2 or more days, did you know that Ladies? I know i got my UTI from being catherized, and so that antibiotic CIPRO could be doing this number on me! ARRGH! My husband is acting like he is sulking or something because his wife can't do things with him. I'm so sick of this!

Traci, I was just about to tell you that the Udderly Smooth was developed for cows Udder's when I read the last post! LOL They make a hand cream I really like too. I couldn't use any of the lotions as they made me itch (no known allergies) so I used 100% Pure Aloe only. But when I was first using the lotions I would slather it on after my shower in the morning, after Rads in the afternoon, and at bedtime. The Udderly Smooth does absorb better than the Aquaphor. Good luck with the experimenting. You do know that by the time you get it just right, rads will be over!! Hugs and smiles...♥Pammy

That was what cracked me up when I read the word udderly smooth, I thought of cows and udders right away, lol, I have milked a few cows in my time. Now I read it is actually for cows how funny is that ?? ROFL
sgamtd

I could only use biafine and aquaphor. I used a lot of both and only got pink. My skin is great now, better than before. It is like a baby's skin. Just keep plenty of it on.

did work for me. it is a very nasty cream, but worked well for me 2 times a day.I applied it first time in the change room after radiation, second time after shower before going to bed. As your radiation treatments progress sweat will be not a problem. Loose clothes will help as well.
good luck

♥

I had 37 rad treatments, 25 regular and 12 boosters. I only got a very, small burn on my collarbone, but, it never even peeled. The rest of the area did get pink, but, never burnt. I also got what they called radiation dermatitis which was awful itchy bumps that were worse than the rads themselves. But, my rads oncologist gave me something for that and it cleared up. All I could use was Biafine and Aquaphor, which I used from day one of my rads and continued for about 1 month afterwords. I used the Biafine mainly during the day, and, the Aquaphor at night as it is so greasy. Anything you wear with it will be almost ruined, so, wear an old tshirt or something that you can wash in HOT or just throw away afterwords. Get lots of rest as rads will zap your energy, even worse than chemo. Take naps if you can and get to bed as early as you can. My skin now is just like a baby's behind. It is great! So, just use your creams, get lots of rest and be gentle with that side of your body. I just used Dove soap and used my hand to go over it. I didn't use a wash cloth. Good luck Traci!

Love, Jeanne ♥

Thank moo (from my soft-as-a-cow's-behind self) for all the great advice! I really do feel better having a little more guidance about how to approach this, what to watch for, etc.

There was a thread here several months ago where many of you recommended products that you used during rads -- again, Overachiever Girl here, I promptly put all your recommendations in my drugstore.com shopping list, bought many of them before I even started rads, and then took them with me when I met with the nurse.

So, Claudia, thanks to you, when she started talking about what soap to use, I actually whipped out your recommended Aveeno, and said, "How about this?" You'll be happy to know that you're Nurse Junnie Approved!

BTW, I should mention that I'm actually having both breasts radiated, as I had lumpectomies on both sides. I guess this is somewhat rare, as the "both breasts" thing has been nothing but trouble, logistically speaking.

My first treatment had to be rescheduled when the scheduler realized she hadn't allotted enough time: "Oh, I assumed it was only one breast." And I have what I'm calling "the demilitarized zone" marked down the center of my chest, so that they don't overlap the radiation. I really hope that keeping my breasts is worth all this....

Traci

They told me that I could use cornstarch, too, but I couldn't figure out how to use it along with the lotion. I used lotion in the morn., after rads in the rad room, & at night.
I thought the cornstarch would make a big mess when used with the lotion& then I would have to scrub (ouch!) to get it off. The cream the nurse gave me was mostly aloe. Good luck with your rads!

Wow Chen great info. I will not start rads till perhaps April of 2010. I'm adding this to favorites. Thank you Traci and all the ladies for their input. Traci now about that cornstarch and gravy, please follow the guidelines, and please dont use the gravy although it could smell better than that new fragrance of udder grease and cornstarch.

I put my clear aloe on at bedtime. If I remember I do it as soon as I get home after RADs, but today was nuts. I needed some blood tests, stool sample, and tomorrow X-Rays of my abdomen. All because of having to take CIPRO for a UTI after my hernia surgery. I have had 16 treatments, my chest above my boob is looking like it does in summer, just a bit of color, not burned. Sooo, I wonder if it will by weeks end, I'll of had 20 then. then only 10 to go!

So I had my weekly visit with the radiation oncologist today, and asked him to get more specific about all this lotion/cornstarch business. Rules dam*it, I need rules, guidelines, direction! Doesn't he know I'm an overachiever?!? :-)

He told me not to use the lotion under my breasts, as that area's too prone to moisture already, and the object is to keep everything dry. I'm supposed to use the lotions everywhere else on/around the breasts, and the cornstarch underneath.

Ooooooooohhhhhhhhhhhh!

I've actually been using the cornstarch all over my underarm/breast area in the morning after letting the Udderly Smooth soak in a little, and it's like a really nice, silky, unscented body powder. And you can use it to thicken gravy, too! Not bad for $1.19! :-)

Traci

I thought your method seemed just fine but it will be easier to lotion everything but under the breasts and to cornstarch them. And in my head I pictured you using the lotion/cornstarch mixture to thicken the gravy. LOL I have got to read these posts more carefully. What a daft sod I am.
Stef