Preventing Radiation Skin Effects?

DCS

Hi All

I am just starting radiation treatment and can't seem to find any information about whether starting to use creams such as calendula early in the course of treatment can minimize the skin effects. Can anyone provide any information?

Thanks!! 

ScienceGirl

I just finished 6 weeks of radiation, post-mastectomy to the skin.  My center recommended "Lansinoh" (pure Lanolin).  I've read some posts and it seems that each center has it's favorite cream.  I used it as they directed without fail, twice a day(starting immediately with first tx), no rubbing just pat, no deordorant, no soap, no direct water.  I just had some minimal redness that developed in the last week with slight itching.  Note that people vary in their response to the radiation, some people have much more reaction then I did.  Also, I was very lucky to get no fatigue at all.  I was very worried about that b/c I was already wiped from chemo.  All in all radiation was a very easy experience for me, I hope for you as well!!!

sharalou

From recommendations, I purchased Jean's cream, and so far, so good. Have only had 8 treatments.  Google it.  Quite a few people recommended this. Good luck!

Shari 

unlimited

I swear by the product SWEEN CREAM.  I did Radiation back in summer 2007, and used this SWEEN CREAM daily.  And I was just a tad pink by the end of my 33 treatments.  My Rad techs couldn't believe how well I did.  You can go to WalMart Pharmacy and have them order this product for you.  Its OTC - yet they don't carry it on the shelves - but will order it for you - I went through 1 - 1/2 jars of it.  Jar size approx 16 oz for about $17.00.  I can look at the jar later tomorrow with the actual size - but I do know it was under $20.  This was better for me to use SWEEN CREAM vs the greasy AQU-PHOR stuff......

Kathy044

Glaxal Base was the moisturizer recommended at my centre. I'm still using it. 

http://www.glaxalbase.com/history.html

Though this is a Canadian product (check Shopper's Drug Market) I believe that it is also sold in the US.

Leah_S

DCS, I used pure Aloe Vera gel - the type with no other ingredients except for the gelling agents (97% aloe vera). I used it 3-4 times a day. I also used baby soap and didn't let the shower water hit directly on the radiated area.

After about 5 days I noticed a pink area that felt like sunburn on the side of my neck. I asked the techs and they said yes, that area was also in the field being radiated. So I started using the aloe vera gel there, too, and the pinkness faded. I had almost no burning and what I did have was on my back (the top, actually theback of my shoulder area) where I had an "exit burn" in another area I didn't realize was affected by the radiation. So ask about what areas are being radiated, including exit areas if any.

Best of luck.

Leah

peggy_j

My RO's office said to use 100% Aloe Gel immediately to prevent problems. Apply it right after treatment to cool the skin, and then morning and night for a total of 3x/day (3x/day on weekends). FWIW, it does take awhile for aloe gel to dry, so plan on hanging around topless for a few mins. (I used the time to do my arm exercises). I had a hard time finding the 100% Aloe Gel. In the rads room they had the brand Fruit of the Earth which required a special trip to WalMart (I never shop there. In my WalMart store it was on the aisle with other aloe lotions but in a special spot. I had to ask) I tried to find 100% aloe gel at the health food stores but had no luck. A friend finally found one for me that's organic. The brand is Aloe Life and the label says "Skin Gel Ultimate Skin Treatment 99% organic whole leaf vera plus Vit A, C, E and Herbs." I asked my RO nurse and she said it was better. (arg! why don't they research these things and recommend the good stuff?)

FWIW, I learned the hard way that it's better if your skin is completely clean and dry before treatment. If possible, put nothing on it after taking a shower.  At the beginning, I would shower and apply aloe gel about 1.5-2 hours before treatment. It's better if your skin is completely clean w/o aloe applied so soon. (a four hour break is better than 2) When I stopped doing that, my skin was better.

NewatThis

I'm using Fruit of the Earth Aloe Vera Gel too.  This will sound wierd, but I massage it in a little, and it also seems to have helped soften up my breast and my scar a little.  I tried something else the first couple of days (7 Cream), but I seemed to have a little reaction to it.  Day 5, so far so good. I take it a day at a time. 

Peggy, what arm exercises are you doing? Anything that's helping?

Moderators

Hi All,

Some helpful tips on managing skin care during and after radiation therapy can be found on the BCO site. 

 http://www.breastcancer.org/treatment/radiation/skin/care.jsp

Hope this helps

Debbie and the BCO team 

edwards750

My Rad ONC told me to use ONLY Aloe Vera gel with no alcohol content. So far, and I am 12/33, area around nipple a little browner but not much but feeling a bit of the fatigue. My dr didnt tell me not to use soap though. They recommended shower instead of bath if I soak in the tub and to stay out of the sun for prolonged periods of time...avoid a lot of sweating. Hard to do when you live in the deep South..diane

peggy_j

NewAtThis, my RO nurse gave me a handout of about 10 arm exercises for mobility. (how to describe? walk-walking; arm wings; reaching over my shoulder and touching my other hand on my back, etc) I started rads about a month after my lumpectomy+SNB. All my docs work closely together, so I assumed these were  simply my post-surgery exercises. But a month into rads I asked if I could stop the exercises and she said to do them all during rads, since the tissues/muscles are be impacted by rads.  (and if I stopped, I'd really notice it in about a week) If you google around you'll see exercises. Maybe ask your nurse?  (FWIW, the handout said to do each exercises 5 times, and do them all 3x/day. After a week that got old, so I did sets of 10 2x/day. My BS said that's fine).

dlb823

I started out with pure aloe vera gel, but the best thing I found mid-way through rads was emu oil, which I learned is sometimes recommended by rad oncs for those with very fair skin.  It worked great on my olive tone skin, too.  You can find it in any natural foods market.  Just be sure it's extra refined, so that it's not the least bit gritty.   Deanna

NewatThis

Thanks Peggy.  I'll google.  I am "tightening up" a little...I could really use a stretch/yoga class, but with all this running to work and to rads, I don't have much day in my day!

barbaraanne

hi... i finished my radiation a week ago.  i used biafine (prescription) cream three times a day.  i would say to use whatever cream your oncolog. radiologist tells you to get.  it can only help with the effects of the procedure.  i have to say that my skin stayed in pretty good shape... after the boost (my last 5 days of treatment) the area became rather sore...and since it still is, i continue to use the cream 3 times a day.  sometimes i use aquaphor (over the counter) at night instead of the biafine.  i have also found that using a small fan, can bring some comfort esp if my skin feels itchy. hope this helps a little and best of luck, of course.

bluewillowskys

on the take home sheets i was given it said i could use Aveeno lotion and bodywash. I opted for the baby versions of each thinking they would be even better for sensitive skin. I also picked up the aloe vera and the aquafor, but i am going to avoid the aquafor if i can...the thought of trying to sleep at night in the heat all slathered in that aquafor stuff seems kinda gross to me. In the summer i tend to sleep in just a sport bra but if i cant wear that due to irritation i would need to wear a shirt to keep the aquafor from getting all over my sheets...and i really dont wanna wear a shirt in this 90 degree heat.

DesignerMom

My brilliant Onc only allowed Aquaphor cream.  It was so sticky and yucky I broke his rules (didn't tell him) and used homeopathic Calendula Cream by Boiron (Whole Foods) alternating with real plant aloe vera gel (squeezed from leaf).  I barely turned pink.  He was so impressed and claimed it was Aquaphor.  When I confessed, he had to admit he had never seen healing as quick.  Best of luck.  The every day committment was the worst part, but it really does all fly by rapidly.

peggy_j

DesignerMom, good for you!  Yeah, I was unhappy with the yucking non-active ingredients in the creams they recommended but I struck out at the health food store. Wish I'd know about that calendula cream.

NewAtThis, at first doing the exercises was a bit time consuming but if you do them 2-3/day, you get good at them (your body adjusts quickly and you can remember them too, rather than reading the sheet every time). I sometimes did them in "dead time," like waiting for my hubby when we were going somewhere. He joked that my surgery upper-arm was going to be stronger than my other arm, like some kind of reverse Popeye.  

redsoxfan

The rad onc recommended aquafor.  Read the package and found that it contained lanolin which is an allergen for me.

As a proud alumna of the June 2010 Radiation group, I followed up on the recommendation of Barbara A and used emu oil for moisture.  (Noticed Deanna used it too.)  Also pure aloe for the coolness on the long summer ride home.  Radiation around 11 AM.  Immediately after, aloe and emu and more emu at home 4-5 times and again after my bedtime shower. In the morning, nothing till after the treatment.  The team was quite impressed that I didn't burn.  As many here have done, I revealed my secret weapon:  emu oil.

Though very fair-skinned, I had no problems until the boost.  The treatment was focused on the deep area behind my nipple.  About 5 days later, the skin on my nipple was gone.  Not painful, but oozing and sticking to my Walmart cotton hook-up-the-front bra(s).  Did some research: wet desquamation.  Went to hospital and my diagnosis was confirmed.

The resident said I should use Aquafor....Right.  She meant well....So I went home, gently cleaned my nipple every morning with mild, unscented soap, dried the area, globbed with zinc oxide and covered with a non stick telfa pad.  No pain.  Resolved in less than 2 weeks.

Good luck.  Drink LOTS of water and eat healthy protein.  Remember, you're treating a burn.

God bless us all.  

whippetmom

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pejkug3

How much protein is "a lot" during rads?  Does it depend upon body weight?

I got in about 125 grams today...

pejkug3

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