questions about radiation

icey

Hi Ladies, How many radiation treatments do u have to have before your skin starts to burn?  I have only had two so far but I see no difference in my skin yet. I also put lotion on after each treatment. Also what is the best lotion to use?

Alcie1

Icey

I never did burn.  I was told to keep my skin nice and dry, no grease, before a treatment and use only pure aloe, no alcohol, afterward.  I put the aloe on while getting dressed each treatment.

AlohaGirl

I burned some, but it was manageable and not until a couple of weeks in.  I think it varies from person to person though.  Good luck!

chinablue

I have had 22 out of 28 treatments.  I have burning, but it comes and goes.  It feels like sunburn.  I use biofene twice a day and it helps a lot.  Radiation is soooo much easier than chemo, at least for me.  The most bothersome thing about it is that it is daily.

hrf

I was told to use Glaxol cream following rads but to come to treatment with dry skin. It worked fine for me.

June2268

I have had only 4 treatments so far and I was told to use aloe vera and I put it on in the morning right after my shower and before bed......I may ask to see if I should be doing this 3 times instead of 2.....but I have heard good results from Aloe.....good luck!

MaineCoonKitty

I did not have much burning until about treatment 21, then it was a like a bad sunburn.  I just finished #33 (last 5 were boosts) this week and this week has been the worst.  I have some blisters and skin peeling, even though I've used aloe and Bag Balm religiously throughout the whole thing.  It's not horrible - just like a very bad sunburn - very ouchy and the blisters weep, then burst.  Today is the 3rd day without a treatment and the skin is heeling up nicely now.  I keep it slathered in Bag Balm and that seems to really speed the healing.

Have faith...you CAN do it.

GoldenEyes

I have a question...I just fnished radiation to my cervical spine. ON scale of 1 to 10 BEFORE rads.. I was close to an 8.. After I finished with rads.. There is so much improvement with pain level.. I was 2-3.. Its been two weeks.. and I m starting to feel little uncomfortable again..Does radiation keep the pain away. or is it just for little while..? I dont even know if I am asking the right question or if I am asking it the right way...I was giving radiation first....mostly because.. I was in so much pain..If I am having pain again.. does that mean.. the radiatio ndid not kill the cancer?.. I DO work full time and I work in day care.. I lift kids all day.. Maybe its just from that? ANy informatio nwould be helpful

Thank you

pj12

I had a total of 36 radiation treatments. After the first 5-7 TX it was as if I had a mild sunburn but no blistering. At about TX #25 I began to blister, mainly in the fold under my breast. By TX #30 the blisters were kind of open oozing sores and I was very tender in my underarm. So I had about 10 pretty uncomfortable days. The skin began to heal really quickly as soon as rads ended and things had healed within a couple weeks. I stayed somewhat swollen for 3 months, with less swelling as time went by. My treated breast is still a little fuller than the other side and was not before at all. I am 9 months post radiation.

Wishing you good luck,

pam 

msmpatty

I've done 22 of 28 rads and my skin in doing just fine.   So far it looks just a little tanned.  I've been using Miaderm (a cream developed for radiation patients) and Emu Oil.  I don't put anything on in the morning before my TX, but put Miaderm on after the TX and again in the afternoon and use the Emu Oil at night.

Patty

SusieMTN

Hello Icy:  I like Pam above was somewhere around 25ish.  I have very fair skin, and normally very sensitive.  My redness patterned was WEIRD. I had a MRM with some muscle removed so I have a concave area, in the area that in concave was where the most damage to the skin occurred, my incision opened up and I had a heck of a time getting it to close, mind you chemo for me was first, surgery second and radiation last.  I am almost 1 year post radiation and I have skin still in the concave area that it splotchy red.  Everything did eventually heal but my skin still is sensitive and I will get a red mark if there is any pressure like from an under-wire bra (which I don't wear often).  Make sure you use the cream your Radiation Oncologist tells you to us, mine recommended Udderly smooth and AquaPhor.

Good luck to you and wishing you wonderful skin!  

Susie

Sugar77

Icy - I've had five treatments so far and I'm not burned yet (knock on wood).  I'm in Canada and from what I understand from my rads onc, our dosage per treatment is higher and number of treatments is less than in the US so it might be hard to compare "apples to apples." I was told to use Glaxal Base cream twice a day but not to have any on when I go for treatment.  I bring the jar of it with me and put on in the change room right after.  So far that is working out nicely on my skin. Have you been on the March 2010 Rads Group Thread?  Here's a link to it:

http://community.breastcancer.org/forum/70/topic/748461?page=12#idx_356 

Good luck! 

Sherri 

CTMOM1234

just finished 3rd week -- 15 treatments -- and the first redness showed up after 10th treatment, which was a Friday, and was gone by the following Monday. Then all of this week I see a light redness, not a problem, just more color than the other side.

CTMOM1234

forgot to mention that I use Biafine 3x/day (in dressing room after zap, later in day, and directly before bed) -- my center gives it out for free and it's the only thing they want us to use

Trytostaypositive

I'm so sorry to hear you have stage 4 cancer. Do you have mets to teh cervical spine? Is this why they gave you rads to the spine?

I would say ask your oncologist what the exact situation is in your case.  They should be able to explain very clearly.

 All My Best !!!!!!!!!

Trytostaypositive

Ops,  the message above is for Goden_Eyes

Anonymous

I went in today for my rads "dry run." Instead of a simulated radiation tx, they informed me that I will not be getting radiation treatment! I was totally stunned. The radiologist said that because of my anatomy, there is no safe way to treat me with radiation. According to her, this could decrease my survival rate 3-4%. It sure seems like it would be a higher number. I'm a bit nervous, of course, but am also relieved that I don't have to have the treatment.

This happen to anyone else?

LuvRVing

Beth,

 Did you get an explanation for your anatomical problem that makes radiation risky?  I am a bit concerned about cardiac damage from radiation because my tumor is located at 11:00 on my left breast.  I'm a rather petite person so I'm not sure how much room they will have to work with.

Michelle

Anonymous

Icey-

a got a huge, long, complicated explanation. I have to admit, I didn't get all of what the radiologist onc said, but I did get the jist. She determined that I would get too much of my body "cooked" and rads would hurt me more than help me. 

Anonymous

Michelle-

I got a huge, long, complicated explanation. I have to admit, I didn't get all of what the radiologist onc said, but I did get the jist. She determined that I would get too much of my body "cooked" and rads would hurt me more than help me.

LuvRVing

Yikes!  Hmmm....I wonder about Mammosite radiation and if it would be less risky.  I'm going to ask about that today although I'm meeting with my BS, not my rad onco.

 Michelle

PauldingMom

I had 38 treatments. 33 regular and 5 boost. I'm light skinned, but not fair, so I can burn pretty easily. I made the horrible mistake or using 99% Aloe after my treatments instead of 100%. I think this is what lead to some of my burning.My radiation site was as about as big as a piece of notebook paper and under my breast and under my arm is where I had it worse. The doc. perscribed Silverdine (sp). Be sure if you need this to have the pharmacy order the big tub. This is miracle cream! Took away the pain and allowed the burn to heal fast. Mammosite is usually only for smaller turmors. My Rad only does it for 2cm or smaller.  

3monstmama

Beth 3172:

that does seem odd.  Is it that it is unsafe or is it that the place you are going for treatment doesn't have the right equipment? 

Because my zaps were on the left and close to my heart, I got my treatments on a special machine that helped me to hold my breathe which is supposed to pull your heart and lungs away from the front of your chest towards your spine.

If it were me, I would want to make sure that there wasn't another way to do it.

good luck!

Anonymous

3monstmama:

It would be unsafe for me, because of my anatomy, were the words she used. I saw my breast surgeon today and she seemed ok with the decision not to do rads too. I will be checking with my oncologist when I see her on Friday. 

Chicago1018

Hi Beth--

I was in a similiar situation as you.  My radiation oncologist couldn't treat me with the standard radiation plan without delivering too much radiation to my heart (my cancer is on the left side).  He decided to use IMRT (Intensity-Modulated Radiation Therapy) which is typically not used in breast cancer (it is more common in prostate cancer) so that he could still radiate the area.  I had invasive cancer and close to a 5CM mass so it may be that my situation was more aggressive.

 Best of luck to you, whatever you decide!