Bag Balm vs / Aloe/creams

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RegulJ
RegulJ Member Posts: 244
edited June 2014 in Radiation Therapy - Before, During, and After

I will be getting rads around April 2010 and was wondering if anyone uses BagBalm instead of aloe/other creams to help the skin stay healthy durin rads.

It is a heavy (stinky) lanolin cream.

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  • Texas357
    Texas357 Member Posts: 1,552
    edited March 2010

    The lotion that worked the best for me during rads was Aquaphor. I used bag balm during chemo because my skin got so dry that it split open. Bag balm was the only thing that helped then!

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  • Raili
    Raili Member Posts: 435
    edited March 2010

    I'm starting rads in a couple weeks, and I, too, have been wondering what to put on my skin.  I've heard so many different suggestions - aloe, calendula, coconut oil, Badger Balm, and creams that I don't remember the names of, and I don't know which to use!  I want to try something natural first...

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  • hrf
    hrf Member Posts: 3,225
    edited March 2010

    Best to check with rad onc as some creams are contraindicated. Mine recommended Glaxol Base and it was fine.

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  • NatureGrrl
    NatureGrrl Member Posts: 1,367
    edited March 2010

    Ask your radiologist/technicians for their opinion.  There are lots of things that work well. 

    I was specifically told to avoid:

    -- anything with alcohol in it (I was surprised to see how many "moisturizing" lotions list alcohol high up in the ingredient list) because it may dry skin. 

    -- putting anything on for 3? 5? hours before rad. (sorry, I can't remember whether it was 3 or 5) because that can exacerbate the effects of rad.

    My radiation oncologist recommended aloe vera, straight from the plant (great for those of you in the Southwest -- she suggested just breaking off pieces and keeping them in a baggy in the freezer, then smearing the goo on daily) or 98% or more aloe vera gel, plus anything that would help seal moisture in -- Aquaphor, shea butter, even vasoline.  So I used aloe vera, let it dry, then put on shea butter (most of the time) or Aquaphor.

    For what it's worth, I had no blistering or peeling, but whether that was because of what I used or just my luck, I can't say.

    I didn't find radiation to be bad at all.  Good luck!

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  • Claire_in_Seattle
    Claire_in_Seattle Member Posts: 4,570
    edited March 2010

    I asked about Bag Balm when I did the initial meeting with my radiation oncologist last week, and was told yes.

    I have also used it for its initial purpose which is to soothe chapped udders and sore teats on dairy cows.  This is when I was growing up and did a lot of the milking.  You wouldn't believe how happy some were when I put it on because it brought instant relief.  You could just see them calm down and the strain go our of their face.  (Yes, cows can be expressive that way too.)

    Just need to completely clean off prior to showing up for radiation.

    I do find it funny that this would be the product I trust, but chapped, sunburned skin is not that different on cows vs people. (Cows have lots of hair on their bodies, but minimal on their udders, and none on their teats so sunburn is a problem when they are let outside in the spring.)  I do remember recommending Bag Balm to a friend who was chapped and sore from nude sunbathing and her being just appalled at the suggestion Smile

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  • Jules123
    Jules123 Member Posts: 35
    edited March 2010

    I have been using Biafine and it has worked really well for me.  I was told not to put cream on 4 hours prior to Radiotherapy.

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  • Raili
    Raili Member Posts: 435
    edited March 2010

    I'm baking sweet potatoes for dinner, and I do this by scooping some coconut oil out of a jar with my hands then rubbing it all over the sweet potatoes before putting them in the oven.  Then I'm left with lots of coconut oil on my hands... so I just rubbed the extra all over my radiated breast!!!  Is this a bad idea?? :)  I do have a bottle of 98% aloe vera that I was planning on using... Today was my first day of rads.

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  • June2268
    June2268 Member Posts: 1,202
    edited March 2010

    OMG Raili I am not sure about that one, however I think I am going to have to try that recipe as it sounds delicious.....

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  • 3monstmama
    3monstmama Member Posts: 1,447
    edited March 2010

    I was told any oil---coconut, calendula, whatever--was a no-no.  Traces of it might intensify the impact of the radiation.

    This last meeting with the nurse, I asked if I could use heavier stuff--like shea butter or whathave you---when I wasn't getting treatment like on the weekends.  She said it was okay to do it Friday and Saturday night but not Sunday nights.  Again the concern is that some things can intensify the impact of rads but with a shower on Sunday and Monday, they felt I would be okay.

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  • Raili
    Raili Member Posts: 435
    edited April 2010

    June, someone else told me just what 3monstmama said - that putting oil of any kind on a radiated breast is a bad idea, so I've stopped... but YES, sweet potatoes baked with coconut oil are amazing!! :)

    Does anyone know what exactly is in Biafine cream?  That's what my nurse and rad onc are trying to get me to use, but I asked if I could just keep trying with my aloe a while longer, because I prefer to use natural ingredients as much as possible.  Rad Onc was like, "Oh, well, there's avocado oil in Biafine!"  Great, but what else?  He didn't know what else is in it.  I asked, "I'm presuming it's medicated?"  He said he "doesn't think so," but it's only available by prescription, so maybe, then he again hyped up the avocado oil.  I did a cursory Google search and found a bunch of sites saying that the ingredients of Biafine are unknown.  I am wary.  And it's definitely a drug, according to Google.

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  • 3monstmama
    3monstmama Member Posts: 1,447
    edited April 2010

    I'm on a four day rads holiday ---going off for a 3 day weekend which was pre-cleared by my ZapDoctor before we set the start date for my zapping.  Anyrate, in keeping with what the ZapNurse said on Monday, I used Calendula Oil first [which is olive oil with calendula in it] and Calendula creme on top.  I will do the same thing tomorrow [Friday] but go back to normal routine --calendula creme only--on Saturday.

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