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Katski
Katski Member Posts: 55
edited June 2014 in Radiation Therapy - Before, During, and After

I have no breast and am wondering how they can do radiation.  My two areas are concaved now and am worried about my skin reaction and how they can get it right.  I am a red-head and have not been out in the sun for 40 years now.  I am so afraid of the side effects.  Aloe is not a healing agent for me.  Help me please.

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  • momof3boys
    momof3boys Member Posts: 896
    edited January 2013

    Hi! I'm sorry you're here and so worried. I had concerns about radiation and being a blonde with blue eyes. I swear I can get sunburn walking from my car into the grocery store in January in freezing weather- if the sun is out. I used the ointment my RO supplied and did not have any issues with burning and blistering. I did have pinkness and that has now faded away. Hang in there.

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  • gillyone
    gillyone Member Posts: 1,727
    edited January 2013

    A redhead here too. I had radiation and the worst was a tiny area of redness and used aquafor (sp?) and it was fine. I have read there is no correllation between burning easily from the sun and how your skin reacts to radiation.

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  • Katski
    Katski Member Posts: 55
    edited January 2013

    So, having no breast mounds, radiation is the same as having breasts sticking out.  I am scared because of having a flat chest and I can't find any information on this.  Cancer sure does suck along with the no information on my worries.  I do not have tissue expanders on my chest so it is concaved and how will the radiation beams affect those areas.  Aloe is not my friend, never has been.

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  • momof3boys
    momof3boys Member Posts: 896
    edited January 2013

    There are a few threads here for women that have not had reconstruction. I'm sure some of them have done radiation. I hope they come along and post for you. You can also do a search in the search box. Have you met with a radiation oncologist? They can explain how they intend to deliver the radiation to your chest. They don't just have to have the radiation come "down" into your chest, the whole machine can move at different angles around you, while you do not move.

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  • momof3boys
    momof3boys Member Posts: 896
    edited January 2013

    I did not use aloe, either. I used what they provided, which was Aquaphor.

    Also, they will do a stimulation (like practice) with you before the actual radiation treatment. This was reassuring. Everyone at my center was extremely caring and patient. Maybe go, meet with the RO and take a tour?

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  • redsox
    redsox Member Posts: 523
    edited January 2013

    Radiation therapy is often delivered to areas other than the breast where the cancer has or may have spread, including the chest wall and nodal areas.  These areas can still be treated even after a mastectomy.  They do treatment planning specifically for your body and can make adjustments for the shape of your breast area.  

    Most of the material on the web does show whole breast irradiation rather than the nodal areas but this site might help:

    http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/pdq/treatment/breast/Patient/page6

    When you meet with the radiation oncologist, ask for a detailed explanation of what areas would be treated and why.  

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  • Katski
    Katski Member Posts: 55
    edited January 2013

    Thank you for all of your supportive comments.  Fortunately, my center let me meet with the radiation nurse to go over all of my questions.  I had my last of 6 chemos today and went to Radiology.  I said I had some concerns and it was like johnny-on-the-spot!!  That was a first not to have to make an appointment and come back.  SAD and my bi-polar was addressed too.  So, happy dance today!!!

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  • coraleliz
    coraleliz Member Posts: 1,523
    edited January 2013

    I had bilateral radiation to my flat (post-BMX chest). Also to the axilla(armpit area). I did get red. Sometimes it's just trial & error in finding something that helps. Aloe didn't due much for me. I used the plant growing in my yard(so it was pure & not any additives). I've spent years in the sun despite being fair skinned, so I did get red. I ultimately ended up using "gelsheets". Start with what your center recomends & if that doesn't work there are probably other products they can suggest.

    My fear going into RADs was that it would be twice as bad because I was getting both sides radiated. My energy was good throughout. I stopped on the way home each day & went for a run. My only real problem was red skin. Congrats on finishing chemo & hoping you have as good as RADs experience as I did.

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  • liefie
    liefie Member Posts: 2,440
    edited January 2013

    Akrazykat, as I understand it, the people who tan regularly have much more to fear from rads than those who don't. That was proved to me when the only spot that became red, sore and itchy during rads, was the spot above my breast where my skin would normally be exposed to the sun. The breast and underarm area which had never been in the sun became pink, but not sore. I also slathered on the cream and aloe vera gel as instructed, and had 25 rads. You will be okay. Best wishes to you!

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