Anyone told to use coconut oil on skin during radiation?

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

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

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!  

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 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. 

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. 

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.