Rads Mapping Appointment Today

Hi Bonnie!
Hi Bonnie! Here is some advice from my experience..

Start using your creams from day one and use a lot of them. I had a prescription for Biafine for any burn that I might get and I used Aquaphor to keep my skin moist and soft. Jeanne D on here told us to use one of our hubby's old tshirts or buy some new cheap ones to wear over the creams, especially the Aquaphor. It is very greasy and will stain. I washed mine in hot water, but, then just threw them away when I finished. And, don't have any creams on 4 to 6 hours prior to your treatment. Your skin must be clean. I'd clean up in the morning, have my zapping rad treatment, and, then when I got home put the Biafine on and GOBS of Aquaphor. I felt like a greased pig sometimes. lol But, you need to do it.

Do not use any aluminum based deodorant. It was suggested to me to use Tom's of Maine deodorant. Rads will kill your, or mine did, sweat glands, so, you won't be sweating under that arm getting rads and you will lose your hair there too.

Be gentle with your skin, no rubbing and no underwire bras. I used just plain white Dove soap, but, never used a wash cloth in that area. I normally wore camisoles or just went braless.

Get lots of rest! Rads will wear you out!

I also wore long pants, usually jeans, and socks when I got zapped. My room was freezing, and, I think most are because the machine has to have a certain temp in the room and it is sort of cold. They also gave me a blanket to put over me.

My tattoos didn't hurt. It just felt like a tiny prick, and, they are slowly disappearing entirely now.

Your first day or two getting rads will take longer, as, they are trying to align you with the computer measurements. But after that, it will take longer for you to undress than to have the treatment. lol

I had boosters after my regular rads to just the tumor site. So, when I got those, the rest of the area started to heal, which was great.

I hope these help you. Oh, make sure your rads oncologist checks your skin at least once or twice a week. And, let him know of any problems you might have. Do NOT be shy.

If I think of anything else, I will add to this post. Good luck to you and let me know how you do.

Sue

Ritzy said:

Hi Bonnie!
Hi Bonnie! Here is some advice from my experience..

Start using your creams from day one and use a lot of them. I had a prescription for Biafine for any burn that I might get and I used Aquaphor to keep my skin moist and soft. Jeanne D on here told us to use one of our hubby's old tshirts or buy some new cheap ones to wear over the creams, especially the Aquaphor. It is very greasy and will stain. I washed mine in hot water, but, then just threw them away when I finished. And, don't have any creams on 4 to 6 hours prior to your treatment. Your skin must be clean. I'd clean up in the morning, have my zapping rad treatment, and, then when I got home put the Biafine on and GOBS of Aquaphor. I felt like a greased pig sometimes. lol But, you need to do it.

Do not use any aluminum based deodorant. It was suggested to me to use Tom's of Maine deodorant. Rads will kill your, or mine did, sweat glands, so, you won't be sweating under that arm getting rads and you will lose your hair there too.

Be gentle with your skin, no rubbing and no underwire bras. I used just plain white Dove soap, but, never used a wash cloth in that area. I normally wore camisoles or just went braless.

Get lots of rest! Rads will wear you out!

I also wore long pants, usually jeans, and socks when I got zapped. My room was freezing, and, I think most are because the machine has to have a certain temp in the room and it is sort of cold. They also gave me a blanket to put over me.

My tattoos didn't hurt. It just felt like a tiny prick, and, they are slowly disappearing entirely now.

Your first day or two getting rads will take longer, as, they are trying to align you with the computer measurements. But after that, it will take longer for you to undress than to have the treatment. lol

I had boosters after my regular rads to just the tumor site. So, when I got those, the rest of the area started to heal, which was great.

I hope these help you. Oh, make sure your rads oncologist checks your skin at least once or twice a week. And, let him know of any problems you might have. Do NOT be shy.

If I think of anything else, I will add to this post. Good luck to you and let me know how you do.

Sue

Lots of good advice
You've already gotten lots of good advice from Sue. I turned my t-shirts inside out so the seams didn't rub. They didn't give me creams right away but did give me a deodorant sample that was aluminum free and told me where I could buy it. The nurses are your best friends! Make sure to talk to them as well as the RO. We all had a doctor day once a week just so they could check the skin and see how you were doing. It included a weight check! After getting weighed every chemo treatment and then every week with rads I know more about myself than I ever wanted to. My tatoos haven't faded but they are smaller than the head of a pin so aren't really noticable unless you know what to look for.

Wishing you the best! Time will fly and you'll soon be a rad grad!

disneyfan2008 said:

well ON you way to the next step
@Bonnie: I assume mapping is what mine was called DRY RUN...they fit me in form to lay in each time to make sure I lay exactly the same each time. Then of course the tattoos...(my freckles are still there after close to 3 yrs (june 28, 08 was my last treatment)

I had 8 wks daily and did mine on my lunch hour...I was very fortunate I DID not burn at all..NO SIDE effects....HAPPY to say..I HOPE YOU follow in my footsteps.I'll be checking back in to see if any updates..

Journal helped me alot...now in hind sight I see it did..then I thought kind of silly...

good luck..hope all goes well

Denise W

Looks like everyone else
Looks like everyone else wrote everything I would and then some. So good luck and keep us updated.


Hugs, Jan

skipper54 said:

Get used to it!
You'll be seeing those docs a lot and it doesn't stop when your treatments stop.

Sounds like everything went well and you'll be underway soon. We're praying for the best for you.

I don't live in northern VA but am just north in south-central PA. My aunt & uncle, however, live in Vienna. That's about 2 hours from us with the traffic. (They're really close to Tysons Corner.)

Thanks Ladies...
My Rads mapping appointment is scheduled for May 9th. I've picked up lots of good hints and questions to ask my RO.

Lorrie