Fall Rads 2014

The greasy sticky aquaphor ointment brings up a question. Thus far I haven't had skin damage, but expect some. RO says put it on 2 hours after treatment and wash it off before next treatment. Isn't that painful if your skin feels burned?

Coyote - I've been using Aquaphor every night without washing it off in the morning. The tech never complained about the greasiness but when try to put on new tape, it wont stick. My breast is really burned now with some skin coming off quite deep. I had 24 full breast and so far 9 boosts with3 more to go.

I didn't join the really burned group. Thank heavens. Maybe because I tan rather than burn. I think I also got slightly lower doses of radiation than previously were the norm. The standards have changed. I was tan and my nipple really really dark but all is fading now. I never had tape used during my rads, just my tattoos,

Heal well!

oh for those who can't go bra less. I wore old tablets then a spandex bra over, they say cotton but cotton hurt like hell and just hurt more if u pulled it away from sore. The spandex could be placed half way under breast away from sores and would stay there. Also I know they say use aquaphor all the time but when really sore I found cornstarch worked, aquaphor just got under the breast two hot and melty and rubbing more so I used cornstarch at night and aquaphor afterwork when I could just wear a shirt around house

Wal-Mart has fruit of the loom front closure bras for around $7.00.  white, gray, and black.  all sizes.  they are very confortable.

I didn't like the front closure bras either. I had a hard time fastening them. The last few weeks of radiation I have been wearing "sleep bras" which are sort of like the Genie bras. They are not much support but just enough without being squishing (for lack of a better word). Right now with the creams, I'm wearing a white t-shirt under them. It makes for such an attractive look. I cannot wait to wear regular bras and use real deodorant again!

Just down to my 5 boosts. I'll get 3 this week and then the final 2 next week. YEAH!

Here is a pic of my radiation dermatitis. I now have a Rx steroid cream, triamcinolone, which helps the itching, but it seems to only be getting worse. The machine was broken down 3 days last week, but I'm kinda glad for the break. I'm about half done, 17 done out of 35 total.

I tried the calendula ointment I've been putting on my breast, and OTC cortisone cream, but they didn't touch it. Only made it tickly, which was worse! I cringe every treatment knowing this is only getting worse... But I do want to plow on through and get this done before Christmas, so just grit my teeth & get through it. It will heal, eventually. I hope..

To StrongEnough13,

This/that is not acceptable!

I just started radiation so cannot contribute too much, but I am curious why the rash has spread to your Left side, near the mid line area? Does that area get radiation?

Why is there such a straight line on the top of the right side, coming down from your neck area?

I am wondering if something else is going on here, like an allergic reaction to something? (besides the radiation treatment!!)

Is there something that was put on your skin, like a towel, that perhaps you are sensitive to? Sometimes new detergent, new soap can create irritation.

I went back and looked at your previous post about reflected radiation - do you know what that is? If related to previous sunburn, why is that area in the mid line so irritated?

Perhaps you need to see a dermatologist?

I feel bad for you and anyone else that has any issues related to any of this.

Peggy - thanks for posting your pic. It helps to see something not so bad. I am starting to get nervous about radiation effects on my skin. Tomorrow I go for dry run. Monday is the real thing.

KKay, sorry, I didn't mean to freak anyone out. Peggy is right, everyone is different. You may not have any SE from this. Also, it looks worse than it feels. It doesnt hurt at all, just itches like the dickens. The steroid cream helps a lot with the itching, but each sucssive treatment seems to make it a little worse. I had #18 today, and it's even redder now, and warm, but still doesn't hurt.

Yikes1, I do have sensitive skin, and have had allergic dermatitis from fabric softener, hair conditioner, lotions, etc. We have been using unscented detergent and soap, natural, non-allergenic shampoo & lotions for the past 3 years or so, and I haven't had a reaction to anything I'm using now. I know that can change, but also, other sensitive areas that break out at the same time as my chest are clear now, so it has to be the radiation. Also, the doc said it was the radiation when it first started. I wonder about that sharp line also, but when my arms are up in the position the are in during treatments, the line is not so apparent.

I have 2 more treatments this week, then the 4 day weekend to recover a little, I hope. No one has said anything about stopping or taking time off or anything. I see the RO again tomorrow.I just want to get this over with before Christmas!

Hi StrongEnough13 - that's why I was wondering if something put on your skin at the radiation place, that was washed/laundered with different soap could be causing this.

I was thinking that something put just on the radiated area was causing this because it is not on your other body parts.

I don't know enough about the radiation yet, but that sharp line really strikes me as odd - unless the radiation beam is that perfect, and can create that exact of a margin.

Itching can be just as bad as pain. I hope a few days off will help you, give your skin a break.

To Peggy - thank you for posting your photo. It really helps to "see" what is being discussed.

to KKay5525 - it does seem many people have no issues with their radiation tx.

yikes- yes my radiation line is straight like that. Actually all my borders are exact! The radiation beams were that precise for me too Wow Peggy! Your skin stayed amazing! I am happy to report that I am 5 days out and skin improved today already They said it would get worse for 2 weeks, but I must be lucky! Everything peeled off like a bad sunburn yesterday. So far so good

StrongEnough - I had the exact same thing you did in the same area. It appears to be areas where I have been sunburned in the past. It came out about end of week 3/beginning of week 4 of treatment. It seemed to get to a point and then not really get any worse through the rest of radiation. I am almost done with only 4 more boosts to go. It itches like the devil and I found benedryl cream and also aloe with lidocaine helped relieve that. I was told this is very common.

I also have some pretty straight lines. They are pretty exact with the treatment area.

Everyone's side effects are different. Some people like Peggy just get a little red/pink others get worse. I had a pretty bad burn under my breasts that caused them to give me a small break and then spread out my remaining treatments a bit. Now it really isn't that bad. My skin is red/black/purple and the black skin is peeling away to reveal healthy new pink skin. Other than a small still weepy spot under my breast and sore ribs, it doesn't even really hurt anymore. It really does look a lot worse than it actually feels.

All of us can get through this. We just need to take it one day at a time and try to remember that this is killing the cancer. I am beginning to see the light at the end of the tunnel and boy is it beautiful!

My nipple, areola and under my arm got the most dark. All three areas are peeling now but don't really hurt, although my nipple is very sensitive. That has been ever since surgery though.

Thanks everyone. Feeling better and I love that PontiacPeggy is so positive all the time!! You seem to have the ability to turn anything negative into a positive!

They canceled my appointment today - machine broke! So tomorrow for dry run. Hope that thing doesn't' break and give me the wrong amount of rads!! yikes. I'm sure that can't happen, I hope.

Happy Day!