5 weeks of radiation - burns

Paigelise is correct.  No lotions prior to radiation. 

My rad nurse recommended that I put on a very greasy cream, like Aquaphor, several times a day. I did not have any severe burning until the last week of treatment, although I have been told that the worse effects will occur the first 2 weeks after the last treatment.

Are you seeing your rad onc once a week?

Oops. Now I'm confused. How much longer will you being doing rads?

I was also told nothing before Zapping and never anything oily because it intensified the zapping. 

Also I was told to avoid All extra ANTIOXIDENTS and that includes vitamin A.  So no ACE--A, C or E.  The reason is that while it helps your skin, it also helps the cancer cells as well.  After you are done with treatment, you can start with extra ACE but during treatment No. 

My approach was to lotion up good the night before, take shower in the morning and then nothing until after treatment.  I used calendula creme all the way through with a bit of aloe gel.  When it started getting uncomfortable---probably late 4th or 5th week, I would do lotion in the morning when I woke up and then after an hour, take a shower like usual.  It made me late for work but it felt a lot better. 

The week before boost I got my first blister which stung like the dickens.  The blister bled at one point but now, 1 week out, is pretty well healed. 

One thing I did that i think really helped was to ditch my bra when zaps started.  I got a bunch of mens undershirts and just wore those under my clothes.  i told my office it was my new punk look!  At home I only wore my white ts---nothign else. And in the 6th week, I ditched top shirts---just wore the men's t-shirt.  I would put a fleece cardigan style or sweater on when I went to work but leave the front open and when I sat in my office I kept it off unless I got cold.  I think the circulating air really helped.

Now I am really peeling and can see some cracking next to the nipple but its not totally awful if that makes sense.  it hurts but what do you expect from a burn?  I am taking OTC painkillers and doing fine.