What helped you during radiation?

ladyg said:

What helped me

when I was having rads was Aquaphor and Calendula Gel. I used the Aquaphor at night(thick coating) and a light coating in the early morning. My rads were at 3:30 pm so by then it was gone. I used the Calendula Gel right after my treatment, when I was getting dressed. It is not greasy like Aquaphor so it did not get on my clothes. I also used different bras as my treatments progressed. I used a sports bra with a zip front and then went to a barely there bra - very light weight. At home I went without. I did get red but never blistered.

The one thing I did have was extreme fatigue. I ended up having to take 2 weeks off from work at the end of my rads. And then started back at 4hrs per day and increased hrs biweekly.

I hope this helps you some. Good luck and keep strong. You will  make it through!

Hugs,

Georgia

My radiation oncologist gave me some big, clear, silicon like pads to put on my chest that really helped. They gave me a layer of protection from my clothes rubbing against my skin. I wish that I knew what they were called, but ask your Dr, I am sure that they have them.

I used 100% Pure Aloe Gel, 3 times a day. It worked for me. I did not burn at all.

Hugs

Donna

They nurses at the office actually gave me a cream to slather on after each treatment. At first, it was okay but as I got the daily treatments, the skin resembles a really bad sunburn. My biggest challenge was trying to be comfortable wearing a bra on the side that the breast was removed and was now being radiated. I just wore a really loose blouse and cut up a 100% cotton t-shirt and positioned it across my radiated side and wore a very loose bra. It worked. Just keep up with the cream. I'm sure they'll give you suggestions on what cream to use.

It'll be over before you know it.

Hugs!

disneyfan2008 said:

I had lumpectomy and

I had lumpectomy and radiation-but NO side effects at all. NOT tired, fatigue or burning or dry skin. I am still surprised since very fair skinned. I only had square light tan on radiated  breast. I am on tamoxifin now four and half years. The only thing i used were samples from Cancer center-sadly I do not remember the brand name.

Sending good thoughts your way...

 

Denise

Every cosmetic counter, infomercial, or ladies magazine article that I ever came across has always promoted the application of moisturizer on moist skin to 'lock-in' moisture.  I would head home after radiation, jump into the shower, and then liberally apply Aquaphor to the extended area...throat, armpit, abdomen, the whole remaining kit and kaboodle, while I was still wet.  I tossed on an oversized sweatshirt and that was my wardrobe and nightwear for the remainder of the evening.

Too, I followed instructions about the consumption of antioxidants and only used Tom's deodorant as I was warned that other products might have a aluminum chlorohydrate which could interfer with the administration of the radiation.

I can honestly say that my fair, almost bluish complexion, did not burn and my radiated skin is as supple as the non-radiated.   

The rads nurse gave me cream to use after every treatment.  I was a middle school teacher

at the time (now retired) and am rather "busty", so I had to wear a bra every day.  I went to

the local discount store & got a couple of "Just My Size "bras in cotton in a size or 2 bigger.

I wore them the whole time.  I got blisters & burned near the end & the nurse recommended

Domboro Soaks--I bought plain white flannel at the fabric store, cut it into big squares & laid them on the affected area.  I also lined my bra with them at the very end.  I was absolutely determined to get through it!

Also, I felt a bit nauseated toward the end--mints & a Vick's nasal inhaler helped me.  All I did was work & go to rads during that time, but I never felt fatigue--kept waiting for it, but it never happened!   Good luck with the rads--just take it a day at a time & it will be over before you know it!

sea60 said:

Hi!

They nurses at the office actually gave me a cream to slather on after each treatment. At first, it was okay but as I got the daily treatments, the skin resembles a really bad sunburn. My biggest challenge was trying to be comfortable wearing a bra on the side that the breast was removed and was now being radiated. I just wore a really loose blouse and cut up a 100% cotton t-shirt and positioned it across my radiated side and wore a very loose bra. It worked. Just keep up with the cream. I'm sure they'll give you suggestions on what cream to use.

It'll be over before you know it.

Hugs!

 

If you use the aquaphor, use something like your husband's old tshirt or something you don't care about.  That stuff can stain and then you can just throw the tshirt away.

There's a great post on here, an older one, about rad tips.  I will see if I can bump it up for you.

Good luck!

Tux said:

The rads nurse gave me cream to use after every treatment.  I was a middle school teacher

at the time (now retired) and am rather "busty", so I had to wear a bra every day.  I went to

the local discount store & got a couple of "Just My Size "bras in cotton in a size or 2 bigger.

I wore them the whole time.  I got blisters & burned near the end & the nurse recommended

Domboro Soaks--I bought plain white flannel at the fabric store, cut it into big squares & laid them on the affected area.  I also lined my bra with them at the very end.  I was absolutely determined to get through it!

Also, I felt a bit nauseated toward the end--mints & a Vick's nasal inhaler helped me.  All I did was work & go to rads during that time, but I never felt fatigue--kept waiting for it, but it never happened!   Good luck with the rads--just take it a day at a time & it will be over before you know it!

Domeboro Soaks are what finally healed me!  I didn't burn during rads but at the end/after.  Thankfully the deepest were in areas where there was nerve damage so didn't feel the worst of the pain.  I used all sorts of creams the Dr wanted me to but nothing helped (I even canabalized my huge aloe plant to no good).  I did not develope any infections which was good as I'm allergic to sulfa so Sulfadene/Silvadene was not and option.  I was scheduled to be sent to a burn unit but we tried Domeboro as a 'last ditch' and it worked great.

Never had any nausea at all on radsd - none on chemo either even when I quit taking the anti nausea meds (I've been told that if you had bad 'morning sickness' you were more likely to have nausea issues with chemo - I had no 'morning sickness' with either son).  I was completely and utterly exhausted from 12 weekly Taxol but felt better every day when I started rads a week later.

We are each so unique.

Winyan- The Power Within

Wuwan

I finished radiation the end of last September.

All involved in the process were vigilant about my skin.  I started using Miaderm from Day 1.  Now that I look back at it, I probably could have used it more liberally.

I ran into some burn problems near the end. They were not such that they kept me from finishing on time.  I was at the point of shifting to the boost, and so the first area was no longer going to be hit with rays.  The nurse/doctor had me do this to treat the burns:  pat the area lightly with very diluted hydrogen peroxide.  (I forget the proportions.)  Then I covered the area with silvadene and gauze and left it for about 4 hours.  Then I took that off, cleaned the area again (with the diluted peroxide).  I left it uncovered for about 4 or so hours.  Then I would do the cleaning and silvadene again.  It worked out that I did not wear the silvadene/gauze through the night.

When I would go for the five final boosts, I had to be sure not to have the silvadene and gauze on.  I'd get to the radiation oncologist's office and the nurse would check it (as did the ones doing the radiation) before I had the boost to be sure there were no signs of infection AND that the area was not where the rays were being targeted.  After therapy a nurse would clean the burned area and carefully clean away the dead skin.

I knew when the same thing was happening because of the boosts; and so I automatically began the same care as for the other area, which healed quickly.  I had a few follow-up appointments just to be sure no infection was developing.  The dead skin was removed as well.  That area healed quickly as well.

I do recall that there were some who had to postpone radiation therapy for a bit because of their burns.  I have no idea what they may or may not have done to prevent or minimize the problem.

SK12 said:

Thanks for all of your posts.

Thanks for all of your posts.  I wanted to get through this as prepared as I could. I have been receiving 2 boosts per week, since the beginning. The last 2 weeks (6 wk TX) will be with the boost everyday.  Monitoring changes as they happen. 

I planned a reward/birthday/end of radiation trip to Miami a week and a half after my last TX.  Can't miss any appointments and have to be a "good patient".  Received approval from my onco rad this morning and spoke with the surgeon just now and we are good to go.  

List for travel: Approval of all doctors and necessary precautions. Pharmaceutical needs. No compression sleeve needed for me. Sunscreen. Bug spray. USB medic alert bracelet. Paper copy of medical info in wallet. Number to the nearest hospital. (Since this is Miami, Mt. Sinai).  Swim shirt (have SPF 40+ built in). Very feminine dresses (sick of comfy clothes), flip flops, floppy hat, sunglasses, and a BIG FAT SMILE.

 

SN...my onco rad recommends either Aquaphor or aloe. RN told me, every doc in Hosp recommends different things and shrugged her shoulders. Again, different doctor, different plan.  Just had my Vit E intake reduced from 800 to 400 IU. They have not gotten back to me about soy, whole milk, ginger, mint, and mangoes. Still controversial. I have had a different diet plan for pre-chemo, chemo, surgery, and now radiation. So far, so good. Thanks everyone. It is wonderful to have the resources for different options. 

DID YOU KNOW...TSA will allow you to expedite your check in. They have a section that you should read, regarding BC survivors. 

http://www.tsa.gov/traveler-information/what-expect-if-you-are-breast-cancer-survivor

Happy travels everyone. 

Your reward trip to Miami sounds great and you sure deserve it!  Different rads oncologist's do recommend different prescriptions.  That's why it is always best to go with what yours says and approves of.  Always ask them before you try anything new.

From what I know, you can carry a card saying you are a bc survivor and wear a prosthesis.  That is supposed to help you.  Thanks for bringing that up.

Good luck!

DianeBC said:

Your reward trip to Miami

Your reward trip to Miami sounds great and you sure deserve it!  Different rads oncologist's do recommend different prescriptions.  That's why it is always best to go with what yours says and approves of.  Always ask them before you try anything new.

From what I know, you can carry a card saying you are a bc survivor and wear a prosthesis.  That is supposed to help you.  Thanks for bringing that up.

Good luck!

I also used Dove white soap and it was very gentle on my skin.  Ofcourse, I use it anyway.  Keep the area covered and out of the sun and use a sunblock if you have to be in the sun. 

Your trip sounds wonderful!