Did anyone make it through radiation with their skin okay?

Not to worry. Most of us do just fine.  Those who post otherwise are in the great minority.  I have very sensitive, very fair skin and had only reddening and the normal itchy stuff.  I used emu oil for a week before rads started, then about twice/day, with an ointment the RO gave me immediately after rads (hard to transport a bottle of oil in my purse).  I made sure to set my alarm so I could have my shower and my emu oil four hours (as recommended) before treatment.  Like you, I overstressed.  To put it mildly, I was terrified and horrified.   It wasn't until I started boosts at the very end that I realized I was getting through just fine.  I did ask my RO to put me on short term disability stating with treatment #1 and for a month afterward.  I really did need this, but, really, my issues were all related to the trauma I caused myself through fear and anxiety. Probably the best thing you can do for yourself is ask, ask, ask your techs, your rads nurse, your RO, daily if that's what gives you peace.  They'll all tell you exactly how your skin is doing and what you can expect as time goes on.

Hi Sciencegal,

In addition to the helpful advice from the other members here, you may be interested in checking out the main Breastcancer.org site's page in the Radiation section on Managing Skin Side Effects, for what to expect and tips to help manage this effect.

We hope this helps!

--The Mods

I had 33 rads with a boost.  Only started to have discomfort in the last half of the treatment.  Very tender axilla area which healed quickly when we switched to the boosts.    A week after finishing  my areola blistered, but didn't pop.  The skin all healed very well and I've had no internal problems.  

My RO only allowed the use of corn starch until after treatment was over. I agree with Brookside that most do not have problems with rads, or only minor ones.  My team was very attentive to any issues during treatment, which as you can see we rather minor.  I'm sure they will work with you also.  

Hope this helps.

I had the same experience as Annie. My bc breast skin looks and feels the same as it did before rads.  Just keep slathering on that lotion and you'll do great. 

I did fine and I am pretty fair skinned or at least never did any topless sunbathing before.

a pal had warned me to watch and yell if it got pink so as soon as I saw a tiny bit of pink I yelled.  Rad doc gave me some free samples of creams, I started to itch~~apparantly that is not uncommon.

I gave up bras and wore a soft old t shirt for the duration and till all was not tender.  For a while, it just looked like I had a sun tanned boobie but that faded like any tan!

I made it through with my skin okay. I would bring a little tube of Aquafor (which is what they told me to use) with me and slatter it on right when I was done in the dressing room and again before I went to bed. (Don't do it again in the morning before the 'zap' as it will intensify the burn). The last week or two my skin got hot and red, like a sunburn from the inside out, but no peeling or anything like that. I got some fans; a big one that blew on me when I was in bed, a little one I could train on the area when I was watching TV etc. I continued to feel 'hot' for about two weeks after my final session. Yes, drink lots of water, rest, but also try to get a little exercise too. Exercise actually helps combat fatigue. I see you did chemo (as did I); radiation was a walk in the park compared to chemo for me. I was thrilled to get to turn right to the radiation section of the cancer center, instead of left to the (shudder) chemo side.

You will be fine!  I worked during rads but since it was fall, I wore big sweaters so no one could see my fee swinging DD boobies in my cotton T

course, I did get spoiled into the no bra thing~~~it is not bad~

yeah, I was tired at the end, but I told folks I worked with to be nice to me, to do everything in writing so I could respond when available and not try to answer phone  stuff

I have fair skin and did 30 rads treatments with the last 5 as boosts to the tumor site.  My skin got pink and my nipple was very tender (the boost site was adjacent) so my RO gave me some numbing lotion to use during the day.  I also used the aquaphor and also calendula oil and lotion which is very soothing.  I found a great bra called "Friday's bra" by Warners that is really soft and no underwire, and I still wear them 9 months later!  For about 6 months I could still see the tan area under my arm, and now it's finally faded to almost nothing.  My breast skin is normal and you could never even tell I had rads, the only difference is that it's a little more perky and firm than the other one!

I was also really nervous about rads, but really the hardest part about it was getting there every day for 6 weeks.

Yeah, I did get tired about the 3rd week, so at times I just left early and went home to nap! I was lucky to have a great boss and they were very supportive to me.  Even picked me up after rads one day when my car was in for service!

the other thing I did (I live alone) was to make big pots of soup so when I came home I would have something healthy and filling to eat.  I fell in love with my Kale soup!

YOu will  make it, start planning the vacation at the end!

I had 30 rads with 7 boosts.  The only change in my skin was a slight "tan" during the last week.  The "boost" area tanned a little darker.  A couple weeks after my final radiation my nipple turned dark brown and peeled, but that was the extent of it.  I fully expected to have difficulty because I burn at the slightest sign of the sun, but I had a very good experience.  I used nothing but Aloe Vera gel, and honestly I didn't even use it every day. 

Sciencegal - you will rock rads. You kept your hair during chemo...you got this.

Rads does not hurt. It is more the daily mental grind of climbing up on that table each day. Discuss your concerns & fears with your RO and ask ask ask! And show your skin if you have any questions.

I'm fair skin and burn easily...my skin did very well. A 28 full breast with 5 boosts protocol. I used aloe then added 1% hydrocortisone ...around 15/33 RO gave RX for 2.5% hydrocortisone and emu oil...and came through with no problems. My Drs were all amazed and I was pleasantly pleased:)

Hydration is key...hydrate, mositurize, eat well, rest, walk, and free boobing. I had kept the girl free to the air...clothing did itch or stick.

Find a way to make the time pass...countdown calendar, fun stickers on body for techs...does radiation make my butt look bigger...just relax...rads does what rads needs to do. Just help your body:)

You will be fine laser tag warrior!

Breezed through.  The area looked sunburned after I got out of the shower.

Good-luck!!

Looks like you had a mastectomy. I did, too. I suspect the skin issues are harder for women who have lumpectomies. You'll see posts on here where they talk about "airing out the underboob." Not an issue for us! Just use lotion, you will probably be fine.

I can honestly say I never had a single problem with rads. Please don't get carried away with fear before anything happens! So, it looked tanned, I stayed out of the sun the next summer, and all that's left are the weensy tatoo dots. I did the Canadian version which i think was 15 or 16 and used no special ointments, lotions, or anything else.