Things that helped me during radiation

eileenr56

Well, August 19th of last year was my last day of radiation.  I look on the board every once in a while to see what people are saying.  I write things on occasion.  I wanted to let you know what helped me during radiation.  We are from all over the world, so who knows if we are told the same things.

First, It doesn't hurt.  They told me not to put on any cream within 4 hours of radiation.  They told me what soap to use in the shower and for my cloths (dove for sensitive skin and detergent that has no scent (spelling??). 

My appointment was around 10, so I got up, took a shower and didn't put any cream on until after radiation.  My boob would get a little warm, so on the way home i would point the airconditioner at my boob.  I waited a while before putting cream on.  No one told me to do that, it's just what I did.  I didn't want to put cream on until everything was cooled down.  I used aquaphor at night and udderly smooth (love that name) during the day, multiple times a day.

I don't know why one person burns and another doesn't.  I am a red head with very fair, dry skin.  I got pink to dark pink at the end.  I never peeled, I never itched.  I don't know why.  I did stay in airconditioning.  I figured if I sweat I might itch, but I don't like being hot anyway.  I never wore a bra.  I'm not small (one side is a D the other is probably a B or C now).  But I would rather not have a bra on anyway.

One thing that I felt was the most helpful and the reason I am writing is this.  My sister in law had a double mastectomy.  she told me to go topless as much as possible.  that's what I did.  I don't know if its because things are rubbing against it, or if it's because the air helps them, but I have to tell you that going topless is wonderful during radiation.  Even if you have a shirt that buttons and you unbutton it and air those puppies out.

My sister in law would lock her office door at work, close the blinds and go topless at work. Everyone knew it, but respected what she was doing.  No one ever saw anything.  If they wanted her to work, that's what she was going to do.   

I hope this  is helpful to someone.  The time passes quickly during radiation. First you count the days, then you realize your half way through and then your done.  It's amazing how quickly it passes. 

Good luck everyone.

FireKracker

i sure hope you are doing well after the rads.I started a thread after RADS.Come and visit.You just might be able to help some of the new sistas....When I first started the thread I too was just thinking soaps,deoderant etc....BUT there are lots more then that after RADS.Wishing you pain free days.huggggggs K

kittymama

Eileen, thank you. This was very helpful. I've done 20/25 and although i haven't done the full monty yet, i have definitely noticed that the looser the clothes, the better i feel.

MaryNY

Eileen: I think your post will be very helpful to those now starting out with rads. I agree with you that going braless is probably the main factor in avoiding chafing. Like you I'm fair-skinned but I never burned. My breast just got a bit pinkish towards the end. I also dislike the heat so tried to stay as cool as possible, to minimize sweating.

I know that not everyone can go braless depending on their living or work situation, but I think your sister-in-law's solution was brilliant. Good for her. 

coraleliz

19/28 today & I found that if I work out, really work up a good sweat, the itching stops. Don't know if it's the endorphins or the sweat. I have had to sleep topless because anything touching my skin caused the itching to start. I just don't have any other topless opportunities.

eileenr56

Hopefully everyone is doing well with rads.

kittymama

I discovered that tops made from linen were the most comfortable.  Linen breathes much more than cotton and doesn't stick to your skin.

eileenr56

Just thought I would bring this to to top of the board for people who are just starting rads.

Reality

Dear Eileen, 

Thank you so very much for your advice. I will be starting rads in November.

Sher 

eileenr56

You're welcome Shirleta.  My cousin went through radiation and called me up every week to see how I was doing and told me what to expect.  She had a calm voice and was correct.  It doesn't hurt, just do what they tell you.

each treatment is only about 15 seconds.  not long.  it takes longer to get you setup.  good luck.

truebff

Thank you for this thread. I am so scared.

eileenr56

Please don't be scared.  You will be surprised how easy it is.  Just do what they say. 

Did you have a lumpectomy?  That's what I had.

Don't worry.  It really will be ok.

stephN

I was really scared too.  It helped when I finally fessed up to my techs.  They were very reassuring and caring.  

It also helped the first couple of weeks to have music on my iPod that helped me not think about the radiation.  After the first few weeks, I didn't need it any more.

Good luck!  It really does go by fast.

Steph 

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truebff

woops - wrong thread -sorry

pupmom

Thank you for this thread! I will be starting rads sometime in December. It is all very scary, especially the potential side effects. The going braless info was particularly helpful. Being retired, I can probably manage that most days at home. And since I will be going through this in winter, being braless in public, covered up by layers of sweaters and coats, probably won't be an issue.

AthabascanWarriorPrincess

Eileen, thank you so much sitting here in puddles of tears. I am so scared. I've done chemo, done the mastectomy and now THIS. Of everything, Rads scare me the most. I'll be doing rads locally (verses an hour flight for chemo/ Herceptin). I'm unsure why, I'm just so scared! I've postponed this three times already. Again, thank you so much for your reassurance, it's helping so much. I will bring my ipod and maybe a little Beibs will get me through (I'll think of my babies and smile).

msphil

Hello, I myself would go braless but not topless,and the time does go quickly, I did 45 min., for 5 days a week and for 7 weeks, I finished my chemo and then was allowed to get married to my wonderful husband, then I finished the rads and then went on our honeymoon, during rads I was told no cream either under arm, so God Bless and keep Hope and Positive thinking, so that you can join me in long term Survival. I,m 17 yrs cancer free(Praise God).  msphil  (idc, stage 2, 3 nodes, chemo and rads, L mast and 5 yrs on Tamoxifen.

Natters

Warrior princess, I dreaded rads, too and put it off for 2 months. But it's fine, for the most part. Definitely bring your iPod!!! I hate holding still but the music really helps. Another tip I would give you is to start putting lotion on daily now, and put it on 3-4 times a day as soon as you start your tx. Don't wait for your skin to turn pink or whatever, just moisturize now! Much easier to prevent skin damage than treat it. Then try to take it easy during the next couple months.

If you are petite and perky, go braless. I'm not perky myself, but I stopped wearing a bra everyday, and only wear larger and looser sports bras. For work now, I wear a cotton cami under my sweaters. I try not to wear even a cami at home or if I go out casually - it's a great time of year for this, because we can layer up under sweaters and baggy sweat shirts, etc. Also, rads can make your chest feel a little hot and itchy, but just think how much worse it would be in summer. This is really the best season to do rads! You already got through the worst if you did chemotherapy and you CAN do this now! It is going to be fine, and next year it will all be over.

Mandalala

I have done 19 radiations out of 33 and it is getting uncomfortable. As my breast are heavy, I don't like walking around without a bra – not even without radiation, and with one breast tense and swollen, it hurts. Loose clothes moving against the nipple isn't very nice either. But if I wear a silk scarf under my bra it's OK! Of course, the silk scarf is ruined by the liters of creams I apply every day, but it works. I think silk is the only material soft enough.