Radiotherapy - did anyone not use creams?

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Jennt28
Jennt28 Member Posts: 2,021

My RO doesn't seem to think that using creams/moisturisers makes any difference to how the skin will react. She is OK with people using them though if they want. I'm going to be working full-time during rads and won't have time (or the facilities) to be stripping off and creaming up. Even at home - I have kids aged 20, 19 and 17yrs living at home so won't be able to walk around "airing" myself.



So did anyone else NOT do all this serious moisturising that I read about everyone doing? The most I can envisage happening here is a quick slap of stuff in the morning after my shower and maybe some just before bed...



Jenn

Comments

  • reesie
    reesie Member Posts: 2,078
    edited May 2012

    I only used aquafor and hardly ever remembered :)



    I did use it before bed' after bath regularly but other than that it was sporadic. I had a lot of skin involvement so did bolus every other day so had a lot of "skin" radiation. My RO really wanted me to do the aquafor more regularly because of this but I did okay until the very end (boosts).



    My boosts were all to skin (scar, etc) and had to move to silvadene then, but that was out of the ordinary (I had a large boost area).

  • Goodie
    Goodie Member Posts: 244
    edited May 2012

    I started using Miaderm.  My nurse told me it is also sold online.  I got it at the pharmacy.  I just put it on right after treatment and put on my shirt.  I don't think it would stain anything.  I also put it on at night before I go to bed. My nurse also said I could use calendum cream (California Baby makes this) and she said it can be found at Target.  I don't think you have Targets in Australia but they have a website too.  She said it is the calendula that helps skin.  So, I bought both but I haven't tried the calendula cream yet. 

  • Leah_S
    Leah_S Member Posts: 8,458
    edited May 2012

    Jenn, I used aloe vera gel, which isn't greasy and doesn't stain. I would put it on immediately after my treatment, plus a few other times in the day. I never went around "airing myself out" not did I stain any clothing.

    If you use it, then it should be 97-99% aloe vera, not just the main ingredient. I thing it helped me a lot.

    Leah

  • Cindyl
    Cindyl Member Posts: 1,194
    edited May 2012

    I liked the Fruit of the Earth aloe (available from walmart and amazon) it doesn't have coloring or alcohol added.  I used the cream the ro recommended after treatment, at bedtime, and again in the am (my treatment was at 4:45 PM)  Also slathered some cream on if I woke in the middle of the night (happened a lot)  My skin held up really well until we got to the boosts.  Trust me, you don't want your skin breaking down early on,  treatment on oozing sores is not fun. 

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