Radiation Woes

inkblot
inkblot Member Posts: 698 Member
edited March 2014 in Breast Cancer #1
Am halfway through radiation and have developed a "breakout" on my skin. Little itchy bumps. Radiation Oncologist suggested that I apply a cortisone cream. It helped for a few days but it's back to itching again and spreading. At my treatment on Friday, they gave me an ointment called Aquaphor...a petrolatum based cream that's supposed to speed healing, etc. It made it all worse!!! I showered it all off within three hours. Needless to say, I won't be trying that again! I applied the cortisone
cream again and it's not quite as red this
a.m. but still itchy. Anyone else had this kind of reaction? What helped?

Hope everyone is doing o:k: and hanging in!

Love, light and laughter,
Inkblot

Comments

  • 24242
    24242 Member Posts: 1,398 Member
    #2
    I find this very interesting INK. Here in Vancouver,BC we were told not to use any oil based creams at all. If we had to use something it had to be water based. Nothing on the skin except mild soap while doing radiation,it could irritate everything around the site. I went out on a water base cream hunt and couldn't find anything like it. My mother new a pharmacist in her area and he made up a batch for her while I was visiting. It helped, I don't know the name of it though. All I know is it was water based.
    I had the same bumps but did nothing about until after treatments were done.
    Hope the last half of treatments treat you a little better along the way. Some of us just seems to be more sensative than others is all.
    Be good to yourself,
    24242Tara
  • Unknown
    Unknown
    #3
    This comment has been removed by the Moderator
  • inkblot
    inkblot Member Posts: 698 Member
    #4
    unknown said:

    This comment has been removed by the Moderator

    Hi All:

    24242 and Auntie: Thanks for the advice. I am a bit more comfortable today. I can't imagine why the nurse gave me that horrible
    Aquaphor for the bumps and itching! To this
    point, I've used only the Oil of Olay shower
    product on my skin. Nothing else at all during treatment. I've a friend whose Dr. told her to dust her skin with cornstarch...
    the kind one uses in the kitchen only. Haven't tried that yet. Plan to give it a few days and see how it goes using no creams at all. Water based moisturizers are very difficult to find, indeed.

    Again, thanks for ideas and well wishes.
    Hope you're all doing well and that the present insults of treatment are few and mild!

    Love, light and laughter,
    Inkblot
  • nancys
    nancys Member Posts: 323
    #5
    Hi Inkblot, I used a product called Natural Care Gel, water- based with aloe. I only used it in the morning and again in the evening after my shower. (Still use it because of some peeling) It is manufactured by BARD, Covington GA. 30014, 1-800-526-4455. My radiation Oncologist had the pharmacy in her bldg. order it and keep it in stock for her patients. I think Wallmart carries it, too. Costs about $8.00 for 4 ounces. I never had any breaking out or itching while using this. "You are 1/2 way finished." Isn't that a beautiful sentence? Wish you well, Love to you, Nancy
  • barbara49
    barbara49 Member Posts: 19
    #6
    inkblot said:

    Hi All:

    24242 and Auntie: Thanks for the advice. I am a bit more comfortable today. I can't imagine why the nurse gave me that horrible
    Aquaphor for the bumps and itching! To this
    point, I've used only the Oil of Olay shower
    product on my skin. Nothing else at all during treatment. I've a friend whose Dr. told her to dust her skin with cornstarch...
    the kind one uses in the kitchen only. Haven't tried that yet. Plan to give it a few days and see how it goes using no creams at all. Water based moisturizers are very difficult to find, indeed.

    Again, thanks for ideas and well wishes.
    Hope you're all doing well and that the present insults of treatment are few and mild!

    Love, light and laughter,
    Inkblot

    Hi Inkblot. I just started my radiation today but my oncologist also told me to use cornstarch. She says it keeps the area dry as they don't want me to sweat. Not sure why but i;ll try it. Good luck with whatever you use. Barb
  • sunnyone8181
    sunnyone8181 Member Posts: 4
    #7
    HI,
    I too had the same problem and I saw on another board that wearing a COTTON t-shirt( hubby's) helped absorb the moisture of the "weeping"sores. No creams worked as they "floated"on the moisture . Roll it up under your breasts like your're wearing a midriff top and tie a knot. You'll have to change it often during the day. I wore one to work and brought another to change into, as I wear a lab coat that's waterproof and holds in body heat. This saved my life totally !! I thought I would go insane from the itching and pain..combined with a hot summer. Once the rads are over..it will begin to heal quickly and then you can use cornstarch and the creams. Please let me know if this helps..Good luck and hang in there !!
    Sunny

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