Did anyone make it through radiation with their skin okay?

Ruth, good move on the shingles shot!  I was delaying mine and planned on having it after my b day....bad idea, bad idea. Shingles ain't fun and I got them while on a sailing vacation....off the coast of Maine.......yuke but the passenger list did included a couple of nurses who told me nothing bad would happen if I waited till I got home to see the docs.

they are no fun, get the shot folks if you can!

I had 28 regular "zaps" and 7 boosts and my skin held up very well.  My RO gave me Radiagel to use after treatment and before bedtime.  When I got to the boosts, my skin started to peel and itch....just like after a sunburn.  But I kept using the Radigel and my skin held up fine.  The itching was the worst thing.  I told my RO that once my skin healed completely, I was gonna scratch even if I didn't itch, rofl.

The blessing after rads is that I don't have any hair under my left arm or sweat glands, so my deoderant lasts 50% longer since I only need it under my right arm, lol.

My fav was that after about treatment #20, I couldn't wear a bra....so the girls were happy with a "wife beater" t shirt under a regular shirt. 

You'll do fine, just follow all the instructions from your RO.  I'm coming up on my 2 year cancerversary and I've "graduated" from visiting my MO and RO every 3 months to every 6 months!  What a feeling to hear NED from the doctors at each and every visit.

God bless you,

LaDonna

i had no skin problems. only used miaderm. and i am blonde with fair skin. had TE.

For those of you who are nervous, I finished up a week ago and had no skin breakdown and very little discomfort. I used the creams supplied by my RO - Medline Remedy Skin Repair Cream during most of treatment and Aquafor at the end and now at night. The rad techs were wonderful and I had lots of opportunity to talk with women waiting for their rad appointments. You can do this!

My radiologist had no issue with me wearing a bra during treatment  Never even had so much as a "sunburn.  Had 33 rads and 8 boosts.  Was glad to get rid of the bra tho because it ended up with stains from the markers!

Used lots of aloe and a cream called Miaderm.

A few days ago, when I was awake and stressed in the middle of the night, I posted a query about exreme anxiety related to beginning radiation soon. When I received no more than one reply, I thought that my faers and my questions were stupid. Shortly thereafter, I saw this discussion thread generated by someone expressing the same anxiety over radiation skin issues. Her post has generated more than 130 responses. I no longer feel stupid but I do wonder about the seemingly arbitrary nature of discussion in this online community. In any case, I appreciate the chance to benefit from this thread as it addresses the very question I asked in an earlier post.



My worry about skin issues isn't limited to compromised or lost skin all by itself. I'm concerned about how the tightening of burned skin may affect mobility in that area. I'll navigate this site a bit to see if mobility issues are addressed in relation to the burning effects of radiation. And I'll share my concerns with my radiation oncologist.

I'm having a cycle of 30 breast radiations. Just finished no. 23.  After having no. 17 I started having some irritation on my breast and armpit, but it's not very bad. From the very beginning I started using an Aloe Vera gel (without alcohol) and later on I alternated this with a prescription gel containing Aloe Vera and hyaluronic acid. You can ask your radiotherapist to prescribe it. Hope everything goes well with you!

I am scared too. I saw my plastic surgeon today because when I met my RO, he said my skin was tight and no more fills. Plastic surgeon agreed. I am at a full B right now so I'm a little disappointed because I was hoping for a nice C. Oh well.

My PS also warned me that the radiated breast may not be able to handle the transfer and we may need to switch to using skin from my tummy or back. We are hoping for the best.

My question is did your PS warn you of this. Should I be worried that things are not looking good for me? Up until now everyone has been exclaiming over how well I've healed but now I am getting nervous. My simulation is in two weeks.

I guess I better order some emu oil. Poor emus.

Thanks for the support. Truly.

Hi ladies,

My mom is set to start radiation next week. We just have to make a decision on which doctor to go with!

That's where I need your help or at least input! She had ILC, estrogen positive, 3 surgeries to remove the mass, completed 3 rounds of TC, and is now set for radiation. 1 of 4 sentinal nodes contained cancer. 2 of the four doctors want to use some radiation on 5% of her lung and the other 2 say there's no reason to. It's a 50/50 chance! I know radiation will damage her 5% of her lung if we do it in that area. What would you do?

Have any insight on this?

Thank you!!

I too am fair haired and light skinned. I took treatment to both breasts for five weeks plus one week of boosts to left breast. Redness and hive-like itchiness during and for two weeks following treatment, but skin is perfect one year post treatment. Only four tiny tattoo dots are reminders. Nipples are softer and tend to crease in a bit causing smelly belly button syndrome... For lack of better description. Nipples took the worst of it, but I can live with the residual affects. I keep them clean and apply cream as needed.