What Do You Think Of Offering Rad Tips For Those That Are Just Starting Treatment Now Or Soon?

245

Comments

  • MellieMc
    MellieMc Member Posts: 35
    ladyg said:

    Another cream to try.
    I used Aquaphor at night and a light application early in the morning. When I was getting dressed after my treatment I used Calendula Gel. It worked well and is not greasy so it does not stain your clothes. Another deoderant that is acceptable is Herbal Clear Sport. It also does not contain aluminum. Good wishes for all who are just starting rads.

    Hugs,
    Georgia

    Great tips
    I will be have rads later. These are great tips. I bought some post op camis from women's worlds they were much cheaper than others I had seen. I'm hoping these wlll work for rad treatment. I bought them big!
  • Kylez
    Kylez Member Posts: 3,761 Member
    camul said:

    Great idea
    I never heard of Aqua Phor or anything else. I was not told anything, it was a friend, Gagee who told me to come on this site and what to do when I told her my skin was cracking after about 10 days.

    So I agree with all of the above, use the creams from day one. Use Dove unscented or another soap with no perfumes, and get rest when you need it.

    Fantastic advice! Just
    Fantastic advice! Just wanted to remind those starting that you shouldn't put anything on your skin, creams etc., at least 4 hours prior to your treatment.
  • Lighthouse_7
    Lighthouse_7 Member Posts: 1,566 Member
    Kylez said:

    Fantastic advice! Just
    Fantastic advice! Just wanted to remind those starting that you shouldn't put anything on your skin, creams etc., at least 4 hours prior to your treatment.

    Great advice! Everything
    Great advice! Everything pretty much covered here. I was told by my rad doc not to use deodorant at all on that side so I didn't. I didn't sweat there either during rads at all. She also said only Dove non scented soap and no bra. Since I am too large chested to go w/out a bra for the other side, I wore them but got irritation under the radiated breast so I used white men's hankies folded up in between my skin and the bra.
    The most important thing was to cream always! I put it on after rads in the dressing room and again at night before bed. They gave me three kinds, aloe at first, aquaphor and something called Wound Care when I started to burn on my upper color bone.
  • Angie2U
    Angie2U Member Posts: 2,991
    Ritzy said:

    Good tip Sylvan! I hadn't
    Good tip Sylvan! I hadn't heard of that one, so, thanks.


    Aquaphor was my best friend I think Carkris! I was a greasy mess, but, I know it helped my skin.

    I also used Aquaphor at
    I also used Aquaphor at night and even for a few months after I graduated from rads. You are right, it does stain, so I used an old tshirt also.


    Thanks Ritzy!
  • BetsyJane
    BetsyJane Member Posts: 127
    Thank you for the tips
    I just finished my 7th treatment.

    Today my radiation doctor told me not to take Vitamin "E" or any other antioxidants during my radiation treatments. I told her I was taking liquid Resvinatrol which is loaded with antioxidents. I was told to stop taking this until my treatments were finished.

    I am following many of your helpful tips....thank you pink sisters.

    Twenty-six days and counting. Can't wait till I become a rad-grad :-)
  • Tux
    Tux Member Posts: 544
    just starting rads
    I completed rads more than 2 years ago & here is what I learned:

    1. As other posters have said, follow the instructions of your rad onc & his staff.
    Ask questions if you need to.

    2. I was a teacher (now retired), so I had to wear a bra every day. The nurse told me
    to buy cotton bras in a larger size, so I bought the "Just My Size" cotton bras at my local discount store. I was able to wear a bra every day.

    3. Near the end the burns were pretty bad, and the nurse had me use "Domeboro Soaks"
    from my local drugstore. I did not have to stop rads, but the burns were pretty bad.
    The soaks helped.

    4. I was absolutely determined to get through it. I felt "yucky" near the end, but kept myself going with cool drinks, mints, & Vicks salve.

    You can get through it, too! Keep us posted.
  • Corinna11
    Corinna11 Member Posts: 75
    Tux said:

    just starting rads
    I completed rads more than 2 years ago & here is what I learned:

    1. As other posters have said, follow the instructions of your rad onc & his staff.
    Ask questions if you need to.

    2. I was a teacher (now retired), so I had to wear a bra every day. The nurse told me
    to buy cotton bras in a larger size, so I bought the "Just My Size" cotton bras at my local discount store. I was able to wear a bra every day.

    3. Near the end the burns were pretty bad, and the nurse had me use "Domeboro Soaks"
    from my local drugstore. I did not have to stop rads, but the burns were pretty bad.
    The soaks helped.

    4. I was absolutely determined to get through it. I felt "yucky" near the end, but kept myself going with cool drinks, mints, & Vicks salve.

    You can get through it, too! Keep us posted.

    Cabbage leaves on the
    Cabbage leaves on the treated area right after treatment works well for me. Creams on every night and a veggie juice once a day. Have about 10 treatments to go and I am very pink almost red. Getting tired so I try to take a nap when I can and when I am itchy there I use 'Keys Redi-Care spray' totally natural and organic and feels good. Hope that helps! :)
    Cory :D
  • jnl
    jnl Member Posts: 3,869 Member
    MellieMc said:

    Great tips
    I will be have rads later. These are great tips. I bought some post op camis from women's worlds they were much cheaper than others I had seen. I'm hoping these wlll work for rad treatment. I bought them big!

    I think what you bought
    I think what you bought MellieMc will work great for you. I went braless and wore big, oversized tops. My skin got really tender and I didn't want anything too snug on it.

    Leeza
  • madsters1
    madsters1 Member Posts: 120
    Rad tips
    THANK YOU ALL for the tips! I wrote them all down.I'm still in chemo (1st treatment). I start rads in Jan or Feb. Sure glad I got these tips from you all,as usual my oncologist has minimized radiation. She said people don't get burned from it. That was "back in the day" Now I'm freaking out!! I JUST get used to this horrible phase (chemo and a week from losing my hair) and find out that what I thought and was told was a "piece of cake" really isn't. Burning, cellulitis, braless (well all things aren't bad:), creams, do's and dont's etc etc. She told me waaay more than I needed to know about every aspect of cancer and barely mentioned the processes I'd be going through!
    Sorry guys I'm ticked. It seems there's something around every corner. Question: Is there EVER a time when you are truly done? No more "unexpecteds" ( barring of course recurrence). That, you can't keep looking over your shoulder and around every corner for.
    Any testimonies out there to say "there IS an ending to the invasions,the endless procedures and the unknowns or untolds about them"?
  • madsters1
    madsters1 Member Posts: 120
    Rad tips
    THANK YOU ALL for the tips! I wrote them all down.I'm still in chemo (1st treatment). I start rads in Jan or Feb. Sure glad I got these tips from you all,as usual my oncologist has minimized radiation. She said people don't get burned from it. That was "back in the day" Now I'm freaking out!! I JUST get used to this horrible phase (chemo and a week from losing my hair) and find out that what I thought and was told was a "piece of cake" really isn't. Burning, cellulitis, braless (well all things aren't bad:), creams, do's and dont's etc etc. She told me waaay more than I needed to know about every aspect of cancer and barely mentioned the processes I'd be going through!
    Sorry guys I'm ticked. It seems there's something around every corner. Question: Is there EVER a time when you are truly done? No more "unexpecteds" ( barring of course recurrence). That, you can't keep looking over your shoulder and around every corner for.
    Any testimonies out there to say "there IS an ending to the invasions,the endless procedures and the unknowns or untolds about them"?
  • madsters1
    madsters1 Member Posts: 120
    carkris said:

    I failed chemo hahaha but
    I failed chemo hahaha but did great in rads. I started using aquaphor prior to starting rads. then I used it 3 times a day faithfully. didnt wear it prior to radiation treatment but then applied it in the dressing room. Traci suggested wearing a man's tee shirt at night as the aquaphor stains. It worked great.

    failed chemo
    Did you have to stop chemo? Is that what you mean by failing chemo or were you just kidding??
  • survivorbc09
    survivorbc09 Member Posts: 4,374 Member

    Great advice! Everything
    Great advice! Everything pretty much covered here. I was told by my rad doc not to use deodorant at all on that side so I didn't. I didn't sweat there either during rads at all. She also said only Dove non scented soap and no bra. Since I am too large chested to go w/out a bra for the other side, I wore them but got irritation under the radiated breast so I used white men's hankies folded up in between my skin and the bra.
    The most important thing was to cream always! I put it on after rads in the dressing room and again at night before bed. They gave me three kinds, aloe at first, aquaphor and something called Wound Care when I started to burn on my upper color bone.

    I agree that getting plenty
    I agree that getting plenty of rest and keeping your creams on is the most important.

    I used Aquaphor, Biafine and Aloe Vera gel.


    Hugs, Jan
  • Corinna11
    Corinna11 Member Posts: 75
    madsters1 said:

    Rad tips
    THANK YOU ALL for the tips! I wrote them all down.I'm still in chemo (1st treatment). I start rads in Jan or Feb. Sure glad I got these tips from you all,as usual my oncologist has minimized radiation. She said people don't get burned from it. That was "back in the day" Now I'm freaking out!! I JUST get used to this horrible phase (chemo and a week from losing my hair) and find out that what I thought and was told was a "piece of cake" really isn't. Burning, cellulitis, braless (well all things aren't bad:), creams, do's and dont's etc etc. She told me waaay more than I needed to know about every aspect of cancer and barely mentioned the processes I'd be going through!
    Sorry guys I'm ticked. It seems there's something around every corner. Question: Is there EVER a time when you are truly done? No more "unexpecteds" ( barring of course recurrence). That, you can't keep looking over your shoulder and around every corner for.
    Any testimonies out there to say "there IS an ending to the invasions,the endless procedures and the unknowns or untolds about them"?

    I'll say this, I had 3
    I'll say this, I had 3 different onc's and they ALL sucked!! My surgeons were wonderful! The oncologists minimize everything and then if you have a symptom or side effect they didnt tell you about, they act all amazed like you are the only one who has ever had that side effect and you must be weird so you just stop mentioning them and suffer in silence.

    I have gotten so much help from everyone here! Just nod your head at the dr and post here to get the real info that will help you. We have been through it so we wont make light of your concerns. Best wishes, you will make it too!!!

    Cory :D
  • Rague
    Rague Member Posts: 3,653 Member
    madsters1 said:

    Rad tips
    THANK YOU ALL for the tips! I wrote them all down.I'm still in chemo (1st treatment). I start rads in Jan or Feb. Sure glad I got these tips from you all,as usual my oncologist has minimized radiation. She said people don't get burned from it. That was "back in the day" Now I'm freaking out!! I JUST get used to this horrible phase (chemo and a week from losing my hair) and find out that what I thought and was told was a "piece of cake" really isn't. Burning, cellulitis, braless (well all things aren't bad:), creams, do's and dont's etc etc. She told me waaay more than I needed to know about every aspect of cancer and barely mentioned the processes I'd be going through!
    Sorry guys I'm ticked. It seems there's something around every corner. Question: Is there EVER a time when you are truly done? No more "unexpecteds" ( barring of course recurrence). That, you can't keep looking over your shoulder and around every corner for.
    Any testimonies out there to say "there IS an ending to the invasions,the endless procedures and the unknowns or untolds about them"?

    Cataracts
    Last Thursday I found out that cataracts can be a SE of rads. Went to my eye dr for annual check up and I thought I'd probably get a new pair of glasses but no - I got an appt. with the eye surgeon. He's certain that fads are the reason as my last rads were early March 2010 and no family history of them.

    Susan
  • butterflylvr
    butterflylvr Member Posts: 944
    Corinna11 said:

    I'll say this, I had 3
    I'll say this, I had 3 different onc's and they ALL sucked!! My surgeons were wonderful! The oncologists minimize everything and then if you have a symptom or side effect they didnt tell you about, they act all amazed like you are the only one who has ever had that side effect and you must be weird so you just stop mentioning them and suffer in silence.

    I have gotten so much help from everyone here! Just nod your head at the dr and post here to get the real info that will help you. We have been through it so we wont make light of your concerns. Best wishes, you will make it too!!!

    Cory :D

    Cory, it's funny you
    Cory, it's funny you mentioned that because every I have a doctors appointment I seldom have questions to ask because this board filled me in on everything, every step of the way.

    I would like to add, that I wore sports bras throughout my radiation. After each treatment I would lather up with my creams and put on my sports bra. It acted as a great barrier between the greasy creams and my outer clothing. I'd recommend buying them slightly larger then your current size so they aren't tight against your radiated site... Not to scare anybody, but near my incision site I bled a little bit near the end of my treatments, the bras also helped me keep gauze in the right places to prevent staining my clothes. Walmart has them like 3 for $10.

    Good luck Rad students... graduation will be here before you know it.

    Lorrie
  • jnl
    jnl Member Posts: 3,869 Member
    BetsyJane said:

    Thank you for the tips
    I just finished my 7th treatment.

    Today my radiation doctor told me not to take Vitamin "E" or any other antioxidants during my radiation treatments. I told her I was taking liquid Resvinatrol which is loaded with antioxidents. I was told to stop taking this until my treatments were finished.

    I am following many of your helpful tips....thank you pink sisters.

    Twenty-six days and counting. Can't wait till I become a rad-grad :-)

    I was told to not take any
    I was told to not take any vitamins during rads as you don't want your good or bad cells getting any nourishment to stay healthy. You want the cancer cells weak so the rads will kill them.

    Leeza
  • Megan M
    Megan M Member Posts: 3,000
    Corinna11 said:

    Cabbage leaves on the
    Cabbage leaves on the treated area right after treatment works well for me. Creams on every night and a veggie juice once a day. Have about 10 treatments to go and I am very pink almost red. Getting tired so I try to take a nap when I can and when I am itchy there I use 'Keys Redi-Care spray' totally natural and organic and feels good. Hope that helps! :)
    Cory :D

    Wow, I've never heard of
    Wow, I've never heard of cabbage leaves. I will ask my rads oncologist about that when I see him next, to see if he has heard of it.

    And, good luck to all you with rads! Keep us updated!


    Thanks Cory!
  • sylvan
    sylvan Member Posts: 66

    Cory, it's funny you
    Cory, it's funny you mentioned that because every I have a doctors appointment I seldom have questions to ask because this board filled me in on everything, every step of the way.

    I would like to add, that I wore sports bras throughout my radiation. After each treatment I would lather up with my creams and put on my sports bra. It acted as a great barrier between the greasy creams and my outer clothing. I'd recommend buying them slightly larger then your current size so they aren't tight against your radiated site... Not to scare anybody, but near my incision site I bled a little bit near the end of my treatments, the bras also helped me keep gauze in the right places to prevent staining my clothes. Walmart has them like 3 for $10.

    Good luck Rad students... graduation will be here before you know it.

    Lorrie

    bleeding and itching
    I bled a lot yesterday. It was my day to see the doctor so I hadn't put my bra back on. Good thing. I bled all over the place and had no idea. The nurse got it stopped.

    The last few days I've been itching like crazy. Even lite scratching hurts. Today they told me to get some cortisone cream to rub on the itchy areas. It works great. I'm supposed to use it before my Recovery cream so that it has plenty of time to soak in.
  • bgail84
    bgail84 Member Posts: 2
    Rague said:

    Cataracts
    Last Thursday I found out that cataracts can be a SE of rads. Went to my eye dr for annual check up and I thought I'd probably get a new pair of glasses but no - I got an appt. with the eye surgeon. He's certain that fads are the reason as my last rads were early March 2010 and no family history of them.

    Susan

    New to rads
    I am new on this site. I will start rads in two weeks. I was told to use nothing on area. Can I still use a cream or not? Am so confused by it all at times. Thanks for any advise.
  • Rague
    Rague Member Posts: 3,653 Member
    bgail84 said:

    New to rads
    I am new on this site. I will start rads in two weeks. I was told to use nothing on area. Can I still use a cream or not? Am so confused by it all at times. Thanks for any advise.

    I was kept supplied with
    I was kept supplied with cream samples by the Rad RN. I was told no cream/lotion put on for 4 hrs before rad. Keeping the area moisturized was definately highly encouraged.

    Susan