Fair skin will I have more problems?

CAMommy
CAMommy Member Posts: 437
edited July 2015 in Radiation Therapy - Before, During, and After

Hi,

I have very fair skin, I burn in the sun within 15 minutes of being out. Will this cause me to be more sensitive to radiation? I was trying to have brachytherapy but my insurance declined it so now I'm going for hypo fractionated radiation as long as my pathology is favorable.

Any input is appreciated.

Thank you.

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Comments

  • muska
    muska Member Posts: 1,195
    edited July 2015

    I don't think you will have more problems because of your skin color. I have pretty fair skin too and somehow managed to avoid oozing or peeling, I was just very red by the end of it. I think it's the amount of radiation one gets that matters.

    That's an interesting question though, has anybody come across research that would evaluate skin reaction to radiation depending on its color?

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  • octogirl
    octogirl Member Posts: 2,804
    edited July 2015

    I am not familiar with the research if there is any but my RO told me that his experience is the reverse: that fair skinned women actually tend to have less issues than darker skin women.
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  • Cmo65
    Cmo65 Member Posts: 96
    edited July 2015

    I was told darker skin fares worse. I'm very fair and I definitely burned but it's been one month since rads and you'd never know I'd been radiated to look at my skin now. I used My Girls cream three x each day

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  • Tresjoli2
    Tresjoli2 Member Posts: 868
    edited July 2015

    my RO told me the reverse too. Fair skin does better for reasons they can't explain.

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  • CAMommy
    CAMommy Member Posts: 437
    edited July 2015

    that's definitely encouraging!

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  • Midgiemoon
    Midgiemoon Member Posts: 174
    edited July 2015

    I am 13/33 tx down. I am very fair, and I am experiencing the heat rash, itchiness, nipple pain, and pink skin. I think, for me, it's a matter of time before it gets worse.

    I have my treatments in the afternoon, and I get home, take my soft bra off, cover the breast in aquaphor, and put on my. $1.68 camisoles from Walmart. Just this week I have needed to Add neosporin with pain relief to the areas on my chest and under arm where the heat rash is the worst.

    Everyone is unique, As is your treatment. Your milage may vary!


    Wishing you the best!


    ~Midgie

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  • theresa45
    theresa45 Member Posts: 314
    edited July 2015

    I am very fair skinned and was worried about burning from radiation treatment. I did not have skin problems during radiation. I used aloe vera and a prescription ointment towards the end. Best wishes!

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  • ShetlandPony
    ShetlandPony Member Posts: 4,924
    edited July 2015

    I had the same worry, as I sunburn easily. My skin started getting red right away and got very red indeed, but I had no broken skin. I worked hard at getting enough sleep so my body would be able to heal during the night. I used recordings of guided imagery to get to sleep. I made my own pure aloe vera gel from a plant, so there were no other, possibly irritating, ingredients in it. I had standard whole breast radiation, 30 sessions.

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  • lyzzysmom
    lyzzysmom Member Posts: 654
    edited July 2015

    I am fair and freckly and sunburn easily but had no problems with 33 rads. By the time I was starting to feel sore it was over and a week or so after finishing I was fine. I was given Elta Lite and Elta cream by my RO to use and it worked well.

    Wising you all the best CAMommy. It seems like its going to be a long time at the beginning but it becomes so routine the time goes over really quickly.

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  • Holeinone
    Holeinone Member Posts: 2,478
    edited July 2015

    Ditto, fair skin, blue eyes. Radiation was pretty easy. Healing was quick, skin was itchy for a few weeks.

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  • CAMommy
    CAMommy Member Posts: 437
    edited July 2015

    thank you all! I feel better about this. I'll definitely use whatever they rx for me for my skin. I'm ready to have this behind me now.

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