Aquaphor Question

missrenee
missrenee Member Posts: 2,136 Member
edited March 2014 in Breast Cancer #1
I've just completed my first week of radiation and thanks to this marvelous forum, found out I should be using aquaphor on my skin. I bought some yesterday and even bought some cheap tanks because it's so messy, greasy. Does anyone know if there is a cream Aquaphor instead of the greasy ointment? I didn't see any at my drugstore. It is so hard to wash off and it will stain clothes, I think.

Thanks, girls. Renee

Comments

  • Katz77
    Katz77 Member Posts: 598
    #2
    Hi missrenee
    I just bought white " wife beatters". That's so wrong! Just toss them after. I also mixed sunburn gel with the lidocaine in it with the aquaphor. I als worked so I put some of my special mix in those little containers, and kept it in my locker. My skin would get tight and it sure helped. Don't forget to massage all aroud ur skin. I hardly have any tightening at all. Congrats on ur first week. How many "hits" do you get? If I remember (duh) we have the same cancer. Will be thinking of you. Katz
  • Katz77
    Katz77 Member Posts: 598
    #3
    Duh
    Just saw ur other post. 35 hits. The other delayed thought I had is you're not suppose to put anything on your skin before rads. Can't remember the time frame. Couple hours? Maybe someone will answer this better than me.
  • MGNS
    MGNS Member Posts: 197 Member
    #4
    The radiology dept. at the
    The radiology dept. at the cancer center where I was treated gave me Aquaphor and it was a cream. Have you asked your radiologist if they have some? I completed my radiation six weeks ago and still use the Aquaphor cream. They told me to come by whenever I run out and they will give me more. And so far they have been true to their word. I guess it depends on the area you live, but it wouldn't hurt to ask your radiologist. If they can't give you any they might know where to purchase the cream formula.
    Old T shirts and loose tanks were my wardrobe tops during my treatments.
    Hang in there... your're getting close to the end. Stay strong!
  • Rague
    Rague Member Posts: 3,653 Member
    #5
    I never had problems with it staining.
    I was given 3 different sets of samples of creams when I started Rads and whe I asked for more. Until after the last one, the 2 'mildest' ones worker. I got very bad burns at the very end of/after the end of Rads. Because of allergy to sulfa, Silverdene/Sulfadene could not be used. The only 'stuff' I could use was Domebro soaks and Aquaphor. I had to really slather it on as the entire area was open burns and had to wear white t-shirts as bandages would not stay on (went through many a day). Washing the T-shirts got all the Aquaphor out of them with no stains.
  • ladyg
    ladyg Member Posts: 1,577
    #6
    I have been using
    I have been using Clendula Gel. It was recommended along with the Aquaphor by the nurses at the onc office. It is not as greasy and gets abosrbed quickly. I have been using it right after my treatments and saving the aquaphor for at night and early mornings. Hope this helps.

    Hugs
  • greyhoundluvr
    greyhoundluvr Member Posts: 402
    #7
    My radiation oncologist said that I could use aquaphor but didn't think I would like it because it was greasy. She recommended ALRA products which are made specifically for radiation patients. The facility I use has it i their gift shop. I haven't tried it yet but will bebuying it when I go for my CT planning on Monday....
  • Megan M
    Megan M Member Posts: 3,000
    #8
    greyhoundluvr said:

    My radiation oncologist said that I could use aquaphor but didn't think I would like it because it was greasy. She recommended ALRA products which are made specifically for radiation patients. The facility I use has it i their gift shop. I haven't tried it yet but will bebuying it when I go for my CT planning on Monday....

    I used Aquaphor at night and
    I used Aquaphor at night and Biafine during the day and at night too. The Biafine is for any burn and the Aquaphor is mainly to keep your skin moist and in good condition. And, it works! My skin looks great! The Aquaphor is very greasy, but, it should be to moisten your skin. I wore my husband's old tshirt and washed it in hot water to get the stains out. Don't apply anything to your skin 4 hours prior to your rad treatment!

    Always check with your own rads oncologist before you use anything to make sure he ok's it. Use what he says to use, not just what you might read here or somewhere else. Our rad treatments are so different, even the machines they use.

    Good luck!
  • MNLynn
    MNLynn Member Posts: 224
    #9
    greasy . . .
    I also used Aquaphor - esp in the evenings when I was having treatments, and almost constantly for at least a couple of weeks after treatments. I agree - it's very greasy - my husband did give me some of his old shirts to wear - and I just threw them out after I stopped using the Aquaphor. For that time that I was using it all day (after tx's), I bought some pretty big "sterile pads" that I put over that area, then wore a pretty soft bra/prosthesis over that to keep it in place - and that worked well for me.
  • survivorbc09
    survivorbc09 Member Posts: 4,374 Member
    #10
    Katz77 said:

    Hi missrenee
    I just bought white " wife beatters". That's so wrong! Just toss them after. I also mixed sunburn gel with the lidocaine in it with the aquaphor. I als worked so I put some of my special mix in those little containers, and kept it in my locker. My skin would get tight and it sure helped. Don't forget to massage all aroud ur skin. I hardly have any tightening at all. Congrats on ur first week. How many "hits" do you get? If I remember (duh) we have the same cancer. Will be thinking of you. Katz

    I don't know if it comes in
    I don't know if it comes in a cream or not. I wanted the greasy kind to lubricate my skin as best as it could. Good luck with your rads!


    Hugs, Jan
  • Mama G
    Mama G Member Posts: 762
    #11
    MNLynn said:

    greasy . . .
    I also used Aquaphor - esp in the evenings when I was having treatments, and almost constantly for at least a couple of weeks after treatments. I agree - it's very greasy - my husband did give me some of his old shirts to wear - and I just threw them out after I stopped using the Aquaphor. For that time that I was using it all day (after tx's), I bought some pretty big "sterile pads" that I put over that area, then wore a pretty soft bra/prosthesis over that to keep it in place - and that worked well for me.

    I used the Aquaphor AFTER each treatment and put on a t shirt
    that I could care less about. Then reapplied it after my shower right before bed. After about 3 weeks of that greasy stuff they gave me a new cream to use, I think it was silvadene. AND also used refigerated aloe lotion. I healed SO fast! Don't use anything after 2 weeks I was back to normal.
  • GayleMc
    GayleMc Member Posts: 311 Member
    #12
    Mama G said:

    I used the Aquaphor AFTER each treatment and put on a t shirt
    that I could care less about. Then reapplied it after my shower right before bed. After about 3 weeks of that greasy stuff they gave me a new cream to use, I think it was silvadene. AND also used refigerated aloe lotion. I healed SO fast! Don't use anything after 2 weeks I was back to normal.

    ooh, refrigerated aloe.
    ooh, refrigerated aloe. Sounds great I'm putting mine right in there. Thanks MamaG, great idea.
  • KayNYC
    KayNYC Member Posts: 495 Member
    #13
    no staining
    I finished my rads on 6/11. I used the Aquaphor but it was provided in a container supplied by the Rad depart and labeled as Hydrophor. I also used the 100% Aloe gel during the day on the red areas.
    The gel and ointment never stained the camisoles that I used.I washed them after after everyday use with a gentle wool wash solution and hot water. I air dried them rather than use a dryer as it is likely they would have yellowed with the heat. The camisoles still look like new and my skin is baby soft too.None of my "office clothes" were stained either.
    Hope this helps.
    Hugs, K
  • DianeBC
    DianeBC Member Posts: 3,881 Member
    #14
    MNLynn said:

    greasy . . .
    I also used Aquaphor - esp in the evenings when I was having treatments, and almost constantly for at least a couple of weeks after treatments. I agree - it's very greasy - my husband did give me some of his old shirts to wear - and I just threw them out after I stopped using the Aquaphor. For that time that I was using it all day (after tx's), I bought some pretty big "sterile pads" that I put over that area, then wore a pretty soft bra/prosthesis over that to keep it in place - and that worked well for me.

    I used the greasy aquaphor
    I used the greasy aquaphor at night only during rads and for weeks afterwords. My skin looks like and feels like baby's skin. I really believe the aquaphor helped with that.
  • missrenee
    missrenee Member Posts: 2,136 Member
    #15
    KayNYC said:

    no staining
    I finished my rads on 6/11. I used the Aquaphor but it was provided in a container supplied by the Rad depart and labeled as Hydrophor. I also used the 100% Aloe gel during the day on the red areas.
    The gel and ointment never stained the camisoles that I used.I washed them after after everyday use with a gentle wool wash solution and hot water. I air dried them rather than use a dryer as it is likely they would have yellowed with the heat. The camisoles still look like new and my skin is baby soft too.None of my "office clothes" were stained either.
    Hope this helps.
    Hugs, K

    Thanks, ladies
    I saw my rad. onc. today and they gave me the Aquaphor ointment and Eucerin cream. Since it is only my second week, no skin reaction yet, but I have been slathering on the Aquaphor already as advised by you all here. Can't hurt--right? I've purchased some white inexpensive tank tops, which I put on right next to my skin. Then on top of that, I wear a tight sports bra (recommended by the rad. onc. and surgeon today because I have a fluid accummulation which is hard and sore and was told to keep things tight so the swelling won't increase). Sound sexy girls? Yeah, right!!!

    Thank you all for your great advice. You're the best.

    Renee
  • BlownAway60
    BlownAway60 Member Posts: 851
    #16
    The only lotion I have used
    The only lotion I have used was Fruit of the Earth aloe vera gel. I am fairly large busted and very fair skinned. I have not had much if any reaction to rads. No blisters, No peeling, No itching, No redness. My rad onc, the nurses and the techs are all amazed. I mentioned to my onc yesterday about being told by the nurses that I, because of my fair skin and large breasts, would burn. He told me "Don't believe what you are told. You are all different." He told me yesterday that I could use Aquaphor if I wanted to as my skin was a little dry. I tried it and didn't like it. Way to greasy for me. Just kept on using my aloe vera gel. I have three more boosters to go. I will be done with rads on Friday. Total of 33 treatments.

    Hugs

    Donna
  • KayNYC
    KayNYC Member Posts: 495 Member
    #17
    BlownAway60 said:

    The only lotion I have used
    The only lotion I have used was Fruit of the Earth aloe vera gel. I am fairly large busted and very fair skinned. I have not had much if any reaction to rads. No blisters, No peeling, No itching, No redness. My rad onc, the nurses and the techs are all amazed. I mentioned to my onc yesterday about being told by the nurses that I, because of my fair skin and large breasts, would burn. He told me "Don't believe what you are told. You are all different." He told me yesterday that I could use Aquaphor if I wanted to as my skin was a little dry. I tried it and didn't like it. Way to greasy for me. Just kept on using my aloe vera gel. I have three more boosters to go. I will be done with rads on Friday. Total of 33 treatments.

    Hugs

    Donna

    great news
    You will be a RAd grad soon. Hurray and congratulations BlownAway. Keep up pampering your skin and drinking extra fluids when your treatments stop on Friday. Enjoy the new "free time" and celebrate another milestone in your journey.
    Hugs, K
  • Megan M
    Megan M Member Posts: 3,000
    #18
    BlownAway60 said:

    The only lotion I have used
    The only lotion I have used was Fruit of the Earth aloe vera gel. I am fairly large busted and very fair skinned. I have not had much if any reaction to rads. No blisters, No peeling, No itching, No redness. My rad onc, the nurses and the techs are all amazed. I mentioned to my onc yesterday about being told by the nurses that I, because of my fair skin and large breasts, would burn. He told me "Don't believe what you are told. You are all different." He told me yesterday that I could use Aquaphor if I wanted to as my skin was a little dry. I tried it and didn't like it. Way to greasy for me. Just kept on using my aloe vera gel. I have three more boosters to go. I will be done with rads on Friday. Total of 33 treatments.

    Hugs

    Donna

    Soon you will be a rad grad
    Soon you will be a rad grad too Donna!

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