Starting radiation - Advice???

Hello youngwithbc, I myself have just started rads, 5th session today, and did nothing to prepare. Just went to the appointment where they did the CT-scan and drew all the lines. The also added three dots on my body for positioning purposes. At the moment I am still not using any creams or anything. Skin is still the same. I believe side-effects on the skin won't appear until 2-3 weeks into it. And sometimes you don't get any at all! Good luck with you first radiation!

Hi all!

I am almost done with rads, and I feared a skin reaction so badly that I had nightmares about it. I am pleased to say that with 7 boosts left in a 33 day schedule, my skin is red but uncompromised. I HIGHLY recommend emu oil. I have used it religiously right after treatment and again at night, and my doctor is very pleased with my skin. 

I have also made much use of a product put out by Lindi Skin called Lindi Skin Cooler Roll. It's like a great gel on a roll, and you cut off the size of piece that you want. I would slap some on right after I got home from work, and that seemed to draw out the reddness. I also kept it in the fridge, so it was nice and cool on my hot skin. www.lindiskin.com is the site.

One thing I've had that surprised me was an ache in my breast. It is more uncomfortable than I'd anticipated...not the red skin part but inside. I have fibromyalgia, so perhaps that has something to do with it, but don't be surprised if you get a bit of an ache. It's not horrible, but it was something unexpected. 

Good luck. I have had a positive experience, mainly because I had such a great team in radiology. I was there such a short time every day, but they made me feel very comfortable. Don't hesitate to ask them any questions that you have. I was concerned about what "boost" meant, and they very patiently explained it all to me. I am much less frightened when I have lots of information.

Lynn

I used aloe after every treatment (that I kept in the fridge).  I breezed through.  I'm not saying it was the aloe, I have olive skin, but my breasts had never seen the light of day  By the end, the radiated breast looked slightly red, becoming very red when I showered.  No pain or discomfort though.  Good-luck!

Hi. I didn't do anything to prepare - aside form not putting any lotion on the area. I just went to radiation in the morning and then, off to work.

I was actually told NOT to use anything on the skin during treatment and that if I became itchy, etc.,they would give me something. That never happened. I have a helluva "tan" as I call it but aside for that, my skin was a tad try once when the temps dropped to very chilly here.

I am happy to say that I finished my 28th and final rad yesterday, Thursday. No boost. And today I put on some Aveeno and imagined my skin saying 'ahh'.... Last Friday was the first time I felt sluggish, dragging but not so much that I could not get out of bed. I just did not want to. But for the most part, no fatique per se. I simply got tired earlier at night and could not push through it.

Just be good to yourself, drink lots of water (I wanted to keep my skin hydrated) and when you are tired, don't push it.

Hi Youngwithbc - RO said emu oil, but I apply it 3x a day last being at night...then showered in the morning prior to rads. After rads lubed girl with oil. The precaution is NO oil on skin during rad...like cooking oil...burns...thus the warning on how when to use. Especially do not want oil under or on stickers.

Yes, each RO and center has its preferred standard of care...RO knows best.

Zip zap laser warriors!

FYI, I'm scheduled to start radiation on Tuesday, 6/18 and my radiation oncologist has already given me a cream to start using on day 5. You should question your radiation oncologist. Why haven't they prepared you for the radiation irritation?

Newbie1... I will check the "rash guards" out.... I also read in my radiation booklet about the sun exposure AFTER radiation but I haven't even started yet and when I told my RO that I would be on vacation the week before I start my treatments she told me to have no sun exposure to my whole chest area while on vacation..... I didn't know what problems could occur since I haven't even begun radiation yet????