Post radiation skin care

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I finished my radiation therapy about 3 weeks ago and had follow up with both my surgeon and radiation oncologist last week.  They both were amazed at how good my skin looked. (During radiation I did have burns and open areas).  I told them I was using Burts Bees Mama Bee oil nightly on my breast.  The radiation oncologist said she was going to start recommending it for her patients.  It may have been coincidental, but I figured I would pass it on since it seemed to do wonders for me.

Comments

  • amberyba
    amberyba Member Posts: 608
    edited August 2008

    Hey wonder if it will help out with the swelling stretch marks I accumulated post surgery and radiation...though i still am getting stretch marks from intermittent swelling. I'lll have t remember this oil. thanks!

  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited August 2008

    Glad it helped you Missy - thanks for sharing the name

    Where did you purchase it?

  • Missy1960
    Missy1960 Member Posts: 26
    edited August 2008

    Burts Bees products are available on-line, health food stores, and they even carry it at Walgreens and Walmart has an aisle for natural products now. Good luck, let me know if it works for you guys.

  • Katiejane
    Katiejane Member Posts: 789
    edited August 2008

    I finished Rads,last November and used Pure Emu Oil -not only on my blisters and cracked skin from Rads but also on my bilateral Mastectomy incisions.  My surgeon and Rad. oncologist couldn't believe the results!  I bought the oil online at uniquely emu products - I continue to use it on my incision scars and the areas that had been fried with radiation.  The burns scars have disappeared completely and my incisions have healed beautifully!!!  I highly recommend this product!!!

  • Dragonfly92127
    Dragonfly92127 Member Posts: 106
    edited August 2008

    Emu oil is amazing.  It soothes and healed the burns.  I am 3 months out from RADS, still using emu oil and my skin looks and feels great.  I was pretty scared because I was burnt and blistered pretty badly.

    Funny...the deep lines on my chest from sleeping on my side are completely gone and my hands look younger too.  At $8 an ounce you have GOT to try it!

  • Katiejane
    Katiejane Member Posts: 789
    edited August 2008

    Dragonfly,     I think I will always continue to use the Emu Oil.  As you said, it made the deep lines disappear on your chest.  I also use it on my face and neck.  I love it because it absorbs into the skin and doesn't leave you feeling greasy and shiny!!!  I have read the reason it works so well is that it's absorbed 3 cell layers deep thus great healing from the inside out.!  Katiejane

  • Wintermoon623
    Wintermoon623 Member Posts: 119
    edited August 2008

    I read about Jeans Cream on these discussion boards and purchased it before I started rads.  I'm down to my last few treatments and my skin has held up extremely well.  The rad techs have commented on how good my skin looks.  I guess I should continue using it or something else after treatment for a while?  Will try the Burt's Bees first, I think.

  • Lucy47
    Lucy47 Member Posts: 183
    edited August 2008

    Hi Ladies,

    I finished rads on June 3rd '08 and other than a bit of swelling and sun burn...I didn't have any breaking of the skin. But now I've noticed that my areola and nipple is still peeling and I do have a bit of breakages around the nipple. Do you have any suggestions on what I can use to hopefully help heal these areas.

  • Katiejane
    Katiejane Member Posts: 789
    edited August 2008

      As a post partum nurse we give Lanolin for new breast feeding mom's who have sore, cracked nipples. As a post rads. pt., I recommend Pure Emu Oil applied atleast 2-3 times a day to the affected area.

  • AccidentalTourist
    AccidentalTourist Member Posts: 365
    edited August 2008

    A study was done in Italy on approximately 250 bc sufferers comparing calendula cream and aqueous creams which are normally recommended in the UK and fewer people using calendula cream had burns.  Yesterday was my first radio therapy treatment and the radiographer told me to stop using calendula cream and stick to the petrol based aqueous cream they have given me.  As you say in USA 'go figure'.

  • Lucy47
    Lucy47 Member Posts: 183
    edited August 2008

    Katie,

     Thanks for the suggestion , I would certainly try it, but where would I get Pure Emu oil??? I'm in Ontario Canada.

  • NancyD
    NancyD Member Posts: 3,562
    edited August 2008

    Nena, I did some research on the calendula cream, as I was given a calendula ointment to use. In looking at the active and inactive ingredients, the Calendula ointment only has white petrolatum (Vaseline) in it, while the Calendula cream has Purified water, pegoxol-7 stearate, lauroyl macrogolglycerides, glycerin, cetyl palmitate, sorbic acid, carbomer, sodium hydroxide, methylparaben, propylparaben.

    While the cream is less greasy and absorbed quicker, I would have some second thoughts about some of the other ingredients like the parabens.

    Boiron (www.boironusa.com) has several calendula products, and that's where I got the ingredients listing. 

  • Katiejane
    Katiejane Member Posts: 789
    edited August 2008

       Lucy, I buy the emu oil online from "Emu Essence Naturals".  Their website is uniquelyemu.com.  They have a toll free # which is 1-888-383-9513.  I'm not sure how the toll free # would work from Canada though.  Please let me know if you have any problems!!  Good luck!

  • AccidentalTourist
    AccidentalTourist Member Posts: 365
    edited August 2008

    Nancy D, 

    I have since discovered this great cream.  It is called The Organic Pharmacy Miracle Nipple Cream and it contains Chamomile, Calendula, St John's Wort and Propolis.  It is aimed at breastfeeding mothers but it has a very nice texture and the company which makes it has a very good reputation in the UK for purity of their ingredients.  It is early days for me and I have had some complications from rads but not with my skin.  If you cannot find it in the USA I can send you a jar via a friend of mine who lives in Long Island and is coming to visit UK at the end of September.  When are you starting your rads?

  • easyquilts
    easyquilts Member Posts: 876
    edited September 2008

    You can buy them at Kroger's, too. 

    I've been using Eucerin Calming Lotion and Vitamin E cream on the area under my breast, and on m  incision scar....

    Sandy

  • lotodgs
    lotodgs Member Posts: 66
    edited September 2008

    I am 2 weeks post radiation and my area is itchy and red, looks like a rash, I went last week and the nurse named it, whatever, she said to continue to use the Aloe Vista they gave me, and keep well moisturized, which I have. Think I will change to the Burt's Bees Mama bee. ANyONE ELSE   having this problem. Thanks!!!!!

  • BrandonMom
    BrandonMom Member Posts: 412
    edited September 2008

    Animal lover here.  How many emu's does it take to make this oil?

  • Katiejane
    Katiejane Member Posts: 789
    edited October 2008

      Animal lover here too.  Maybe you should contact PETA--I'm sure they could give you some kind of B.S. answer just like the rest of the garbage that they spew!!!!!!!!!!!

  • vhqh
    vhqh Member Posts: 535
    edited October 2008

    I know St. Johns Wort supplements can be a problem with some of our meds, not sure if that also applies to a cream or ointment.  I'd want to look into it before using.

  • NATSGSG
    NATSGSG Member Posts: 231
    edited March 2015

    Thank you for sharing this information as I am seeing my Dr. tomorrow morning to get the full results of my Stage 2 Grade 3 Cancer. If possible, I'd like to request radiation instead of chemo therapy.....it's good to know all these feedback from al you ladies here...knowing these helps to reduce the stresses inside...

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