Advance Prepration for Radiation

mnjclark

Hi everyone.   I'm in the midst of chemo now, but I'm looking out beyond past that and wondering if there is anything that I should be doing NOW to help me prepare better for radiation.  Those of you that have already started or even have already finished - if there was something you could have done better beforehand what would it be?  My RO said to moisturize 2x day with Gold Bond.  The PT said make sure to keep the muscles loose and good range of motion.  PT also advised using Palmers Cocoa Butter on the scar tissues.

Any more words of wisdom from all you out there that have been through it?

I'll have my last chemo Jan 12th.  They said I'd get a month off and then start RADS 5x week for 6 weeks.  I'm estimating I'll be doing RADS about Valentines Day to April Fool's Day

Harplu13

bumping to hopefully get some advice.

apple

this is a good question!  i would think range of motion exercises and moisterizer would prestretch the skin so it will be nice and supple and able to withstand assault.

Personally, i had very few problems.. no burning.. just a bit of red.  aquaphor works great.. but seriously i really had little need for creams. 

financegirl

Just out of radiation as of January 31.  I had a total of either 35 or 36 sessions.  Here's what they had us do to help manage stage of rad treatment,.  Begin by using Aquaphor after every treatment.  Then when the redness progressed a lot they gave me a prescription for Silvadene.  At about session number 29, the redness was more like a "weeping magenta" color due to the moisture that now accompanied the area.  Once at that state, they switched me to Domeboro paks. 

Domeboro is something you can get in CVS (in the aisle with stuff for poison ivy).  It is an astringent that draws the soreness out and also helps dry the moisture and once I hit this stage was told no more creams or lotions.  Domeboro paks are small envelopes of powder you activate by adding water and stirring/shaking.  It was applied to the area with clean sterile gauze pads soaked in it.    You only use about 3 to 4 minutes a time for 3 or 4 times in a sitting and we did that 3 times a day.  About an hour after the Domeboro and once you are sure the skin is dry I was told to shake some Zeasorb A/F powder over the site.  The A/F is antifungal powder and again found in either CVS or Rite Aid.  It's for athlete's feet but they wanted it used to prevent any bacteria/infection.  

BTW, the doctor told us at our center that if you are fair, you begin to see/feel SE at about 3.5 weeks; those not as fair complected, about a week later.  That estimation was about right on.  Myself and two other ladies didn't really experience a lot of pain or problem till the multi-angle rads were just about completed at about session 28 or 29 but then we each had 5 or 6 "boosts" left.  Boost rads are where they shoot directly to the area where the tumor was found.  You may or may not get boost.  The last week and the one following were the painful ones but manageable.  About the time I wondered if it'd ever go away, it was gone.  HTH