Did anyone make it through radiation with their skin okay?

Breezed thru treatment... Three years later..still doing well..

I am a week out of 30 rads plus 5 boosts. I have very fair and very sensitive skin (my mother insists I'm missing a layer of skin everyone else has), and I made it through just fine. I was scared, and I had dreams of my skin just rolling off of me. They kept a very close eye on me (as they do everyone), and I did just fine. I, too, am having nipple sensitivity, but I can certainly live with it. I am much redder in the boost area, but it's still not horrifyingly red. 

I did get a bit of sloughing (their word) under my breast the last couple of days that increased after I was done, but I just kept up with the aloe and the emu oil. The nurses were impressed with my skin, and I said it was just the religious application of emu oil and the application of a green jelly from Lindi Skin (www.lindiskin.com). That was in a roll, and I'd cut a piece off and put it on if I was feeling hot or itchy.

Don't be scared. I wasted too much energy on obsessing over it. Make sure you ask questions right away when something concerns you. Feel free to drop me a note, too, and I'll be happy to chat with you about it. It's much easier when you don't feel so alone, and you certainly won't feel that way here!

Lynn

I had 33 rounds in June 2009, and it was, by far, the easiest part of the treatment plan for me.  I have light olive skin that burns a bit then tans well, and I can say that by the very end, the skin was super tender, kind of burned looking but it wasn't bad.  I used copious amounts of aquafor immediately after getting home, and moisturized like crazy.  I also took ibuprofen afterwards.  I worked every day through treatment, though by the end of the rounds, I was feeling fatigue.  Did notice a lot of heat in the radiated area for a long time, and it stayed burned looking and tender for a long time.  Treat the skin very kindly, and don't overdo, because it does take a lot out of you towards the end.  I was careful to stay out of the sun (was still growing in the hair from chemo anyway, so wanted to keep from burning in the South Florida sun) for a long time, and kept the skin covered.  Now, 4 years later, I have my little dot tattoos and not much else.  I did get myofacial release treatment from my massage therapist earlier this year, it really helped break up any scar tissue that was tightening up and causing pain - but you must be sure to be completely healed for this treatment as it involves a bit of pressure directly onto the scarred areas.  Good luck! 

I had 16 treatments and used Boiron Calendula Lotion. This worked well -- I had only a sunburn-looking area by the end of the three weeks. (It also helped that it was only three weeks, not 6 or 7 -- I used the Canadian protocol.) It did take a long time to fade -- about a year -- but did entirely fade and everything now looks normal.

Saw this website on Cancer, hope it can help you

http://aboutcancercure.com/

God Bless!!! get well soon ya

You'll do fine, and it is only a few weeks out of the rest of your life.

sciencegal-it will="" probably="" go="" a="" whole="" lot="" better="" than="" you="" think.="" i="" over-prepared.="" bought="" several="" types="" of="" cream="" and="" aloe="" cheap="" sports="" bras="" fan,="" etc.="" really="" used="" miaderm="" aloe.="" worked="" every="" day.="" wore="" my="" usual="" bras.="" burn="" quickly="" time="" am="" in="" the="" sun="" to="" wicked="" bad="" sunburn.="" radiated="" side="" is="" very="" pink="" but="" not="" hot.="" some="" blistering="" peeling.="" im="" pleased="" at="" how="" easy="" this="" was="" compared="" fears.="" had="" 25="" doses="" 5="" boosts.="" itching="" cleavage="" area="" which="" resolved="" immediately="" with="" tiny="" dose="" benedryl.="" took="" daily="" few="" days.="" no="" pain.="" ="">

You've received lots of reassurance which is great but I want to let you know that everyone's experience is different.  I burned very badly despite use of approved moisturizers and under my breast and under my arm my skin even broke open/was raw.  This was very painful and I didn't sleep well due to pain for the last three weeks of 35 sessions. I am now 9 months post and am just now gettignt he very very dark burned skin to fade.  I want to convey that even if you are among those that don't have a positive experience that you will get through it.

Take care.

Just wanted to give you some more encouragement! I am one who gets a "sun rash" every time I am in the sun. I was terrified of rads. I had 28 rounds, with every other using a bolus (meant to intensify the rads to the skin). Scared me to death!



Throughout, I drank plenty of water, applied aloe vera gel immediately after rads in the dressing room, used aloe vera and lubriderm for sensitive skin throughout the rest of the day, and did not wear a bra whenever possible. I went out and bought men's white Hanes tshirts in a size too big (loose) and wore those at home.



I ended rads with red skin and a touch of peeling around the edges. You can do this! Take care of yourself and your skin better than you ever have before. Good luck!

Hi ladies...I just completed 28 whole breast RADS and am so glad to get a break before doing Boost. My skin is dark in some areas and pink/peeling in other areas. Been using a combination of aloe, emu oil, and glucan pro 3000 which is super pricey! Just wondering to ladies who are done did your skin get worse after rads??

Thanks ladies! Yes I start Boosts Monday...