What helped you during radiation?

Rague said:

Domeboro Soaks

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 was also told to not wear wire push up bras.  I didn't wear a bra as I didn't really want to irritate my skin with anything.  Just wore a lot of loose tops.

SK12 said:

Sorry, I wrote boost, when I

Sorry, I wrote boost, when I should have wrote bolus.  Boosts only at the end. This autocorrect is killing me LOL. TY AGAIN AND GOD BLESS!!!

How are you doing with rads?  Doing ok?

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!

I never burnt as some did, but, got as close as you can probably get to it.  I was glad when the boosters started as the rest started to feel and look better quickly.  I used so much Aquaphor that my hubby joked that I should have bought stock in it.  lol

My rads onco saw me at least twice a week to check my skin.  I know sometimes they have to stop rads if you are burning too badly and give your skin a break, but, I don't know if it happens frequently. 

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!

Cotton bras are great to wear.  Also, did you ask your rads onco about taking vitamins?  Mine didn't want me too, so, I stopped them during rads.

How you doing now?

Jan

Alexis F said:

You certainly deserve a trip

You certainly deserve a trip after rads!  My husband took me away too for a wonderful week at a cabin in the woods.  He wanted to take me to the beach, but, I didn't want to be in the sun.  lol

Hope you're doing well and that your skin is good.  Keep posting!

 

Lex

Looking for an update from you.  How are you?

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

I had the fatigue too, a few weeks in and after I was finished.  Besides having the rads, just going everyday for weeks was wearing enough.  I did find that exercise helped me.  My husband and I would take walks together and I found it energized me a lot.

Good luck,

Rose