First radiation treatment today

fauxma said:

I wore my bra the whole
I wore my bra the whole time. Maybe the difference is if you have had a lumpectomy vs mastectomy. It was a soft cotton with no underwire or boning. It was a little irritating at the end and a week or two after but not impossible to wear. I started using the gel and creams from day one. I learned from my pelvic radiation not to wait for signs of redness. Maybe that is why I had minimal discomfort. My armpit was worse than my breast. Go figure. One would think that the breasts and nipple would be the worst. They got red and they did peel, as did my pit. In fact, one day about 3 weeks after I was changing my bra and I thought what is all this brown flaky stuff in the bra. Then I realized it was the peeling skin. It was like brown snow flakes for days and days. I am still brown under my armpit and around the aerola.
Concerning the techs. Definitely talk to radiation doctor. I had different tech each time but they were all good and did the set up right each time. I heard them saying the numbers etc. each time and I watched where the machine was being placed. The only problem I had was the 1st treatment after I was set up, the program crashed. They asked if I could just stay in position while they rebooted. Told me if I did need to move just to do it and they would re-position me. It took a little while to reboot about as long as the simulation so I was fine. I understand why you had two setups but wouldn't they have discarded the one you aren't using to avoid that very problem or are they going to use it later.
I think like all treatments they are done a little differently at each place. I did not have a form made to lay in, just the table and a thing my head rested in. My arm was positioned over my head, holding a bar and then the treatment. The room was cold so after I was positioned they would put a towel on my breast. When I did pelvic, I was never told not to empty my bladder before treatment but many woman have said they were. I didn't have to have a cath for the simulation or use an enema. My high doses were done once a day for three days. Some do once a week. So there is a lot of variants to treatment, just like chemo. But there should never be screw ups and that is what you need to discuss now when treatment is just starting. The effects are commulative so now is the time to make sure it is done right every time. And start using the creams now, every day right after treatment.
Just my two cents. Well, this was long so maybe two dimes.
Stef

Just chiming in a little...
As Stef has so clearly stated regarding variants in all forms of treatment...

I always chime in about the "slathering of creams & lotions"... I was told upfront, even before rads began, to NOT use ANYTHING on my skin waist up/right side (treatment area). No colognes, not even deodorant (because right armpit was radiated), nothing. Throughout entire treatment. Reason: possible irritants that could make the side effects even worse. And, some OTC products include ingredients that can reduce the effectiveness of treatment. I was given samples of Aquaphor products (cream, lotion, gel) with instructions not to use these, either, until my rad onc instructed me do so. I had 35 treatments - didn't use the Aquaphor 'til about the last 2 weeks.

And, yes, definitely. The radiation equipment itself varies, also. Another reason for different instructions patient by patient - depends on what's being used.

So, please - always, always ask first if you haven't been told upfront.

Kind regards, Susan

EveningStar2 said:

datapoint
Aquaphor from day 1 per instructions, wore a bra everyday (no underwire).

Maureen

No BRA! Yeaaaaaaaaaaaa lol
Hey,


My radiation oncologist said no bra. I admit that I could have worn one for the first few weeks, but, I wanted to do what he said. He was trying to protect my skin and make sure that nothing irritated it. I used Aquafor at night because it is like petroleum jelly but it almost ruins everything you wear. I am surprised that the women that wore bras didn't have to throw their bras away afterwords. Or maybe, I just used a lot more. lol I really put it on me. When I got pink after a few weeks, I used Biafine which worked great for me. I never really burnt except in one place next to my collarbone. I am now on booster's and my boob is getting a lil red..ouch lol But, the Biafine is taking care of it. And, inre to wearing no bra...I don't mind bouncing around..lol I am proud of them..why not flaunt them? lol