Radiation therapy worries

Hi Tanne, welcome to Breastcancer.org and thanks for posting!

You're sure to receive some very helpful and practical advice from the ever-helpful members here shortly. In the meantime, you may want to check out the main Breastcancer.org site's page in the section on radiation called Managing Skin Side Effects -- some great tips there! Also, our Community has a thread where you can join others going through radiation the same time you are: Winter Rads 2014-2015

We hope this helps! Please let us know how you're doing!

--The Mods

I did rads during the heat of summer and I remember going in during the first week and getting a scolding for wearing a bra! I'm a 38 C and finding loose clothing to conceal the jiggling was not easy! I found patterned tent style tops the best.

Make sure that you read your calendula creams ingredients because some contain alcohol (drying) and paraffin. I used emu oil and although I'm fair with blue eyes, I did not burn and only ended up with one tiny blister at the end of boosts. My techs kept asking me what I was using because my skin was so good-but I must warn you my mo only wanted me using specific ointments and I went against his recommendation because the emu was working.

There are a lot of women who used emu if you use the search button.

I too am very fair and can get sunburn easily, BUT had no absolutely no problems with rads. I used Aquaphor religiously, as directed by rad onc, throughout, and nothing else except Dove unscented soap as she recommended.

Rad onc said to wear a bra (cotton only) only as needed, if possible--much easier for an AA than for a 36D!--and to roll up a cotton sock (or man's cotton handkerchief), dust it with pure cornstarch or cornstarch-only baby powder (NO TALC), and insert it in the fold under the breast to avoid skin-on-skin contact.

She also advised keeping the armpit area open at all times by putting hands on hips or in belt loops when standing, walking, etc., and to always sit with the arm on the treated side over the back of a neighboring chair.

Good luck--with attention to details, you'll do fine!

My RO told me that being fair skinned has nothing to do with tendency to burn. It's more to do with the amount of skin being radiated. That turned out true for me. I am extremely fair and didn't burn. I got a teeny bit pink by the end but not burned. However, do use the creams they recommend. I think that's important.

Hi tanne, I could not wear any bras - starting from a few days into the treatment. I had implants so it didn't really matter. I worked during treatment and used to wear cotton camisoles under cotton button-down shirts and added colorful scarves by the end of treatment to hide inevitable spots from ointments and burns on the neck from radiation to supraclavicular.

Speaking of cotton bras I have a pair from Macy's. I think you might find them on Nordstrom's website too.

I'm also very fair and had no unexpected issues. I wore a super-soft white T shirt under everything, including my bra (on the few occasions when I wore one--winter layers can be a huge benefit). I used emu oil mornings (four hours before treatment), and a couple of times during the afternoon and evening. Immediately after each treatment, I used the tube of Jeans Cream the facility handed out (tube way more tidy and portable than a jar of oil). The Tshirt protected my clothing and nightgowns against the oil and cream and also against the sharpie marks the techs made over my tattoos. I really, really liked the thought that only nice, soft, clean, white cotton touched my delicate skin.