shirts - what is most comfortable to wear for neck irritation from radiation?

susan0803
susan0803 Member Posts: 90
edited March 2014 in Head and Neck Cancer #1
Hi,
My husband is starting his second week of treatment (1 chemo down, 28 rads to go).

For his neck, he already started using the aquaphor (or axle grease as he likes to call it) religously. I also bought him calendula and aloe if that starts to work better.

However, the collars on his shirts, and even his t-shirts are irritating.

Does anyone have a suggestion for what men's shirts have worked for anyone here? I was thinking maybe to get him some hospital shirts like the nurses and doctors wear? Not sure where you would get them, or if something else (like with a softer material) would work better?

Thanks in advance.
Suzanne
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Comments

  • MarineE5
    MarineE5 Member Posts: 1,030 Member
    #2
    Shirts
    I agree with John ( Skiffin ) . I wore a undershirt and a pullover sweatshirt on top of that. I have some that have a larger neck opening then some of the other ones I have. Wore only the ones with the larger openings. As your husband is already doing, I used a lot of lotion on my neck as well.

    My Best to Both of You and Everyone Here
  • zinniemay
    zinniemay Member Posts: 522
    #3
    T-shirt
    We bought the V neck T-shirts worked great for my husband he could wear what ever he wanted over them.
  • DJG1
    DJG1 Member Posts: 121
    #4
    Shirt
    Suzzanne, The rad techs told me to wear a shirt that was a little lower cut. Since the room was chilly, I took an old long sleeve t-shirt and cut the neck in the middle down about 3 inches. I wear it everyday. Seems to work well.
    Debbie
  • susan0803
    susan0803 Member Posts: 90
    #5
    DJG1 said:

    Shirt
    Suzzanne, The rad techs told me to wear a shirt that was a little lower cut. Since the room was chilly, I took an old long sleeve t-shirt and cut the neck in the middle down about 3 inches. I wear it everyday. Seems to work well.
    Debbie

    good ideas
    thanks for the ideas. I wasn't sure if as treatments progress, it would be hard for him to put somthing over his head but it sounds like he should be able to do this. And I wasn't sure if even a loose colloar from a t-shirt would bother him - but that also sounds bearable from what I see posted in the replies. The v-neck t-shirts and loose neck'ed t-shirts also good ideas. It is getting colder in NJ here, so maybe I'll take some old sweatshirts and cut the neck to make the neck opening larger.

    thanks again for the quick replies - as always very apprecicated!
    s.
  • Dazey
    Dazey Member Posts: 91
    #6
    shirts
    My doctor told me nothing on the neck - oversize shirts with v necks etc. The other big help was I used satin pillow cases at night and it really helped - I finished radiation (IMRT 30 tx) last October 26 and am doing great. Dazey
  • Skiffin16
    Skiffin16 Member Posts: 8,305 Member
    #7
    Tank Tops
    For me I chose to wear loose tank tops, or similar to what he has on in the photo...100% cotton.
  • dennis318
    dennis318 Member Posts: 349 Member
    #8
    Dazey said:

    shirts
    My doctor told me nothing on the neck - oversize shirts with v necks etc. The other big help was I used satin pillow cases at night and it really helped - I finished radiation (IMRT 30 tx) last October 26 and am doing great. Dazey

    Good Cover Up
    I had the neck irritation and then had the trach I Coverd, I had a friend cut hankerchiefs in half diagnally, she sewed around the edges and I tied them at the back, they stuffed in my t shirts and button shirts as well and tucked in front, if you have noticed you stain alot of your clothing, red, camo is a big hit and it hid that trach, and the redness plus any discharge, yes i ruined alot of shirts, and it cut down attention to my neck problems. Hope this helps..Dennis
  • Kent Cass
    Kent Cass Member Posts: 1,898 Member
    #9
    dennis318 said:

    Good Cover Up
    I had the neck irritation and then had the trach I Coverd, I had a friend cut hankerchiefs in half diagnally, she sewed around the edges and I tied them at the back, they stuffed in my t shirts and button shirts as well and tucked in front, if you have noticed you stain alot of your clothing, red, camo is a big hit and it hid that trach, and the redness plus any discharge, yes i ruined alot of shirts, and it cut down attention to my neck problems. Hope this helps..Dennis

    Collarless
    I cut the collars off a couple expendable shirts to eliminate any cloth contact with the rad areas.

    kcass
  • JUDYV5
    JUDYV5 Member Posts: 392
    #10
    Tank Tops
    I wore tank tops through the radiation treatment.
  • Pam M
    Pam M Member Posts: 2,196
    #11
    Careful with Collars
    I got chilly during treatments, so I usually wore one of two pullover shirts (men's) that were like a cross between a thermal shirt and a Henley. this is over the tank top - I wore a tank top day and night. I just had to make sure (rad tech's instructions) that I didn't have a collar on the shirt I wore since I didn't have a collar on the day I did the fitting.
  • Hondo
    Hondo Member Posts: 6,636 Member
    #12
    T ot Tank


    For me I used Tank Top or t shirts
  • matthewcplourde
    matthewcplourde Member Posts: 32
    #13
    Skiffin16 said:

    Tank Tops
    For me I chose to wear loose tank tops, or similar to what he has on in the photo...100% cotton.

    Skiffin is wise
    Tank tops all the way!
  • susan0803
    susan0803 Member Posts: 90
    #14
    Hondo said:

    T ot Tank


    For me I used Tank Top or t shirts

    think we are set
    We went to Kohls today that was having 30%-50% off sale so we were in luck. I got a bunch of cheap long sleeve Ts, tank tops, and sweatshearts that his mom (who happens to be a seamstress) can alter the collars for us. I tried mostly to get dark colors (reds, blacks, dark greens) as suggested. Also bought some hoodies that might work too. As far as during treatments, they make Joe put on a hospital gown.

    I also bought some sateen pillow cases - we are going to try those instead of satin (i find satin very annoying since it's so slippery).

    Thanks again for all of the suggestions.

    Suzanne
  • Skiffin16
    Skiffin16 Member Posts: 8,305 Member
    #15
    susan0803 said:

    think we are set
    We went to Kohls today that was having 30%-50% off sale so we were in luck. I got a bunch of cheap long sleeve Ts, tank tops, and sweatshearts that his mom (who happens to be a seamstress) can alter the collars for us. I tried mostly to get dark colors (reds, blacks, dark greens) as suggested. Also bought some hoodies that might work too. As far as during treatments, they make Joe put on a hospital gown.

    I also bought some sateen pillow cases - we are going to try those instead of satin (i find satin very annoying since it's so slippery).

    Thanks again for all of the suggestions.

    Suzanne

    Hospital Gown
    That's interesting....

    When I had mine, they always had me take me shirt off. But they did always offer a warm blanket. I usually declined, but on some days I'd use the blanket.

    Best,
    John
  • Fire34
    Fire34 Member Posts: 365
    #16
    Skiffin16 said:

    Hospital Gown
    That's interesting....

    When I had mine, they always had me take me shirt off. But they did always offer a warm blanket. I usually declined, but on some days I'd use the blanket.

    Best,
    John

    Just Like John
    Suzanne
    The techs made me take my shirt off also. I didn't have a gown though they let me where most anything that was comfortable for me. I was inpatient for radiation weeks though.
    The techs always had plenty of blankets if needed, and since my thermometer was messed up they were needed LOL
    Wishes & Prayers
    Dave
  • denise417
    denise417 Member Posts: 32
    #17
    sweat shirt
    I use a sweatshirt, with the neck cut into a v in the front, makes its easier, plus its cold here and that helps keep me warm. You can get the shirts the nurses and drs wear now at walmart, meijers, just about anywhere, and they would work. Can use a low neck sweater with it. They told me just to wear the same weight of shirt every time if I could. Today I used a low neck t-shirt and they had to change the shoulder settings for the first time. Hard to wear the same type thing everyday. Geez, I will go back to the sweatshirt tomorrow. Its not bad looking, I can still stop somewhere and its not a problem.
  • denise417
    denise417 Member Posts: 32
    #18
    Fire34 said:

    Just Like John
    Suzanne
    The techs made me take my shirt off also. I didn't have a gown though they let me where most anything that was comfortable for me. I was inpatient for radiation weeks though.
    The techs always had plenty of blankets if needed, and since my thermometer was messed up they were needed LOL
    Wishes & Prayers
    Dave

    shirts
    That's interesting. Must be where the cancer is at that makes a difference. Each of us kind of has our own thing. They always tell me to put a gown on at the front desk, but back in rad they don't need it. They are going after the voice box, so maybe that is why.
  • rmdgy
    rmdgy Member Posts: 22
    #19
    Shirts during and soon after finishing radiation
    I wore a combination of old t-shirts (that I had cut so that they did not rub against my neck) or tank tops around the house. If I went out (to doctor, treatments etc..) I usually wore a polo/golf shirt with a soft collar or a loose fitting shirt. No button downs though, the collars rode too high and I could not stand anything touching my neck until several weeks after treatments concluded.

    G
  • sweetblood22
    sweetblood22 Member Posts: 3,228
    #20
    rmdgy said:

    Shirts during and soon after finishing radiation
    I wore a combination of old t-shirts (that I had cut so that they did not rub against my neck) or tank tops around the house. If I went out (to doctor, treatments etc..) I usually wore a polo/golf shirt with a soft collar or a loose fitting shirt. No button downs though, the collars rode too high and I could not stand anything touching my neck until several weeks after treatments concluded.

    G

    Shirts with collars.
    I finally packed up almost all of my shirts with collars because I still cannot stand it rubbing on my neck dissection scar. I kept two because if I can sing, I have to wear one for concert. I had a turtle neck on for my motor cycle ride and it drove me nuts. But it is sort of a catch 22. If my neck gets cold it hurts, but when something is on it, it is very bothersome. The cold on it is worse though.
  • susan0803
    susan0803 Member Posts: 90
    #21
    sweetblood22 said:

    Shirts with collars.
    I finally packed up almost all of my shirts with collars because I still cannot stand it rubbing on my neck dissection scar. I kept two because if I can sing, I have to wear one for concert. I had a turtle neck on for my motor cycle ride and it drove me nuts. But it is sort of a catch 22. If my neck gets cold it hurts, but when something is on it, it is very bothersome. The cold on it is worse though.

    would a silk or satin scarf help?
    Sweet,
    Wondering if a silk or satin scarf wrapped loosely around your neck would help? Someone posted earlier here that she uses satin pillow cases, so maybe that type of material used as a scarf would not hurt and would look very stylish at the same time? Good luck in your singing. I really hope you can sing in your concert - I'm sure you sing beautifully!

    Thanks everyone for their suggestions and their experiences - I'll continue to keep them in mind. So far Joe likes the loose neck long sleeve t-shirts and the hoodie as his choice of attire.

    S.

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