Anyone told to use coconut oil on skin during radiation?

TraciInLA
TraciInLA Member Posts: 1,994 Member

A friend of mine is about to start radiation following her lumpectomy, and her radiation oncologist let her know that she starts her patients out using coconut oil on their skin.

I've never heard of that before -- I know aloe vera gel and Aquaphor are very common, sometimes Biafine or other lotions, but have never heard of coconut oil.  Just curious if anyone else has been told to use coconut oil by your doctor or nurse, and how it worked for you?

Traci

Comments

  • Elaine_wi
    Elaine_wi Member Posts: 124 Member
    Yes

    My radiation therapist and my physical therapist recomended coconut oil. I will be starting radiation in a week. The radiation department also gave me a tube of lotion called Miaderm. I have also heard that vitamin E oil and aloe are helpfull.

  • TraciInLA
    TraciInLA Member Posts: 1,994 Member
    edited July 2017 #3
    Elaine_wi said:

    Yes

    My radiation therapist and my physical therapist recomended coconut oil. I will be starting radiation in a week. The radiation department also gave me a tube of lotion called Miaderm. I have also heard that vitamin E oil and aloe are helpfull.

    Interesting, thank you!

    I did radiation in 2009, and I know things do change, so thanks very much, Elaine, for sharing that!

    My friend mentioned that her radiation oncologist said she "starts out" her patients on coconut oil, which implies she may switch them to something else later on in treatment.  Please keep us posted on how it goes for you, and what you use.

    Traci

  • meschellejensen
    meschellejensen Member Posts: 117
    Calendula

    I used Calendula Cream throughout, and thought that it was great!  One advantage of using Calendula Cream is that it soaks in and is easy to remove before radiation treatments.  Patroleum (sorry sp?) products such as Aquaphor are harder to remove before treatments.  My radiation team had me remove all skin care products four hours before treatment.  Residues left on skin can cause the skin to burn. 

     

    Best of luck to your friend as she goes through radiation!

    Meschelle

  • Elaine_wi
    Elaine_wi Member Posts: 124 Member
    edited July 2017 #5
    TraciInLA said:

    Interesting, thank you!

    I did radiation in 2009, and I know things do change, so thanks very much, Elaine, for sharing that!

    My friend mentioned that her radiation oncologist said she "starts out" her patients on coconut oil, which implies she may switch them to something else later on in treatment.  Please keep us posted on how it goes for you, and what you use.

    Traci

    I start treatments in a week

    I start radiation treatments in a week. I am a bit nervous but it is only six weeks and I know I can get through it.

  • camul
    camul Member Posts: 2,537
    edited July 2017 #6
    I was told after. Like a year now

    traci I love how my forehead and neck feel with it.  But now I found more tumors on neck and arm today but skin is soft:))

    Hope you are doing well.

    dont get on too often.

    Carol

  • 1surfermom
    1surfermom Member Posts: 396 Member
    coconut oil

    Hi Carol .I like it because it smells like I'm on vacation on a tropical island. But I haven't really used it .Do you use the virgin or the  regular coconut oil?

    Love Surf

  • HapB
    HapB Member Posts: 527
    edited July 2017 #8
    Green tea?

    I start radiation this week. I have had radiation before and had no problems because I never used any oils or creams on my skin. These leave residues and cause problems. I have heard of using green tea bags, but not sure how or when they are used. Has anyone heard of this?

  • atjn
    atjn Member Posts: 3
    Cocoa Butter and Aloe

    I completed my radiation one year ago.  My radiation oncologist suggested Aquaphor or cocoa butter - he did not mention not coconut oil.   He indicated that the important point was not as much the product, but massaging it in.  I tried both and found the cocoa butter to be better of the two, in terms of the smell, texture, and impact. (I used palmer's cocoa butter solid, - not a cream that has cocoa butter as an ingredient.  The texture is a bit like soft lip balm vs the petroleum jelly feeling of aquaphor. )    I also found that in the later part of my treatment (maybe week 4?) that aloe was incredibly helpful in healing the irritated, scaly skin I began to develop in some of the treatment area.    I found that I could purchase it in the produce section of a local grocery that caters to the latino community.  I found I needed to put it on at night because to me it has a bit of a "body odor" smell, but my skin healed incredibly quickly once I started using it and my doctors marveled at how good it looks!   I used it daily until I was fully healed.

    Hope this helps!  

  • camul
    camul Member Posts: 2,537

    coconut oil

    Hi Carol .I like it because it smells like I'm on vacation on a tropical island. But I haven't really used it .Do you use the virgin or the  regular coconut oil?

    Love Surf

    Funny

    it reminded me of the beach.....  always good memories

    wish I would have moved home after the divorce. Will always love your weather, less the smog,but even that was better my last trips to Mission Viejo and Fallbrook.  I could see Mt Baldy from the 15 and the Matterhorn!  Important landmarks to me.  

  • JoAnne D
    JoAnne D Member Posts: 1
    edited August 2017 #11
    Aloe vera

    I had my lumpectomy on May 23 and started radition 2 weeks later at which time I was told to use aloe vera twice daily. After 7 treatments I was dx with a seroma and treatment was suspended for nearly 3 wks for drainage and healing, I have just started back last Monday and my breast is on fire until I apply the aloe vera. I do use it every morning about 3 hrs before radiation is this wrong?

  • LouisaP
    LouisaP Member Posts: 62
    I used it combined with other cream

    I used it combined with other cream. I alternated every few hours day & night. I use it all over my body. You need to keep radiated skin very lubricated. 

  • HapB
    HapB Member Posts: 527
    edited September 2017 #13
    LouisaP said:

    I used it combined with other cream

    I used it combined with other cream. I alternated every few hours day & night. I use it all over my body. You need to keep radiated skin very lubricated. 

    Treating skin

    Actually, the medical advice at my cancer hospital is NOT to use anything at all on radiated skin. I have had radiation many times now, and have followed that advice andmnever had any issues at all.  The creams,lotions, and salves that people put on the skin react with the radiation and cause problems. I know not everyone gets the same advice, but apparently there is evidence that the best treatment is to leave the skin alone and let it heal n its own, unless there is a break in the skin. 

  • kmbal
    kmbal Member Posts: 1
    edited August 2020 #14
    Coconut oil and Vit E on radiated skin

    i have always been a big user of coconut oil on my skin,

    especially for healing of scars, cuts and burns. It has antioxidant and anti inflammatory properties.

    I had a lumpectomy in mid May and have had Intraoperative Radiation

    at the time of the lumpecomy and now have just completed 1 week of external radiation. After consulting my Radiation Dr and nurse, I started rubbing organic unrefined coconut oil on my area 2 to 3  times a day Starting the first day of the external radiation.  I also cut open a Vit. E capsule or 2 and rub that in with the coconut oil. So far my skin has been absolutely fine. I also have fresh aloe plants in my home (always)'to rub in if needed. But so far the coconut oil and vitamin E mixture have been all I use  Right after treatmnet when I get home and then again before bed. oh, and I swim about 3/4 of a mile almost everyday in our low chlorine pool. No skin problems at all so far. Thank God.

  • Mavish
    Mavish Member Posts: 82 Member
    edited November 2020 #15
    I have used coconut oil. It

    I have used coconut oil. It worked well. I applied it after thhe radiotherapy sessions. My radiotherapy team was very particular abot npt usin anything before the treatment sessions.