Starting Radiation and nervous April 2016 Standard Radiation

I will be starting radiation soon. I just finished the prep where they tattoo three spots on you, no one told me I was having this and was just surprised with the needles, wished they would have explained it a little better. Said would start radiation next week. To be prepared for skin peeling and uncomfortable. I got some 98% Aloe Vera spray, but also think I need something else. I am 69 years old.

Lucky to have found very early stage, not in lymph nodes, low grade1, Stage 1A. .9 Mm. I am trying to prepare my self for the worse. I have very large breast 40D. I am worried. Had a Lumpectomy. That went very, very well. Did wonderful, never even needed pain medicine at all. The needle from the tattoo bothered me more. So I am so afraid of this much more. I want to make sure I use the proper cream to protect myself after the treatments. Can not put anthing on 2 to 3 hours before, so will put on 3 times a day after treatment. Were going to do Braceatherepy Radiation, but tumor was too tiny.

Annette - I finished 24 of 28 radiation treatments and am also in my 60's. You'll do just fine. The treatments are painless. Just an inconvenience and a daily reminder that we HAD breast cancer. I have a very dark patch of skin on my breast/chest but as yet, no open sore spots or anything like that. I strongly suggest that you ask your Radiation Oncologist what cream to use several times a day. There are special creams developed especially for those undergoing radiation (I use Miaderm) and my Rad. Oncologist suggested using Aquaphur (which is a healing petroleum jelly) every night.

Here's a list of tips I picked up from my Winter RADS thread:

RADS Tips/ Shopping List:

• Tip - Don't buy all products on our list in advance - discuss with your RO / Team first as some centers prefer certain products over others
• Tip - Be especially clear about whether your breast must be completely clean and free of any creams, ointments or gels when you walk into the treatment room.
• Tip - Make sure NO Alcohol in ingredients
• Tip - Talk to RO about what is most important to you ie Swimming, Working thru it etc..
• Tip - Drink lots of water and exercise
• Tip - Avoid Skin to Skin Contact: try soft t-shirt under bra and at night sleep with rolled piece of cloth under breast
• Tip - Cornstarch in a sock and pat it on skin to keep dry
• Tip - Treatment rooms are on the cold side - be prepared or ask for blanket if cold
• Tip - Always Hydrate before treatment
• Tip - Use Cold Cabbage leaves to cool breast when needed; Remove whole leaves from cabbage head; Clean & Dry each leaf; Place each leaf in individual ziploc & store in the fridge; place cold leaf on radiated area for a few hours
• Tip - Saline Soak: 1 quart boiled water + 2 tsp salt, let it cool, take clean wash cloth - soak & ring out - place over radiated area as needed
• Tip - use Tongue Depresser to take cream out of jar & use gloves to apply if skin open
• Aloe Gel from Trader Joe's (use 2 weeks out from finishing RADS)
• Curel Ultra Healing/Jergens/ Aveeno (use weeks 1-3)
• Aquafor (use from Week 3 on)
• Medline Remedy Nutrashield
• Miaderm
• Earth's Best Baby Calendula
• Boiron Brand calendula cream - use at night
• Clear (No Dye, alcohol, or fragrance) 100% Aloe Gel - Fruit of the Earth available on Amazon
• Advanced Healing Aquafor
• Gold Bond Powder (underarm, along side & under Breast) for chafing
• Lip Gloss - may need it during treatment
• Triple B Cream

Thank you so much, Just need to get some good rest, best of luck to you as well. This is a great site for us to share information.

What about the prone position?

Donna

I had my rads in prone position. My DCIS was on the left side and prone position avoids heart and lung better. It takes a bit more maneuvering but not really a problem. I kept waiting for a massage to begin. 😬

Ladies - good luck! I started rads in Nov and finished Dec.21 - I had no trouble until the last week or so? Then it was sort of like a not-quite-bad sunburn? You could def. see the outline of where they were hitting w/the beams. I continued to run daily until the end of week 5 and started again a week after finishing (the jog bra was too irritating to my skin) - at this point, it's all faded and you can't tell. I only used regular Aveeno daily moisturizing lotion (gets a good score in the EWG safety database) and calendula lotion.

As for the tattoos - they wanted to put one in the center of my chest that I would see with every V neck shirt I own - after talking w/the tech, she was able to do it in a different MUCH lower spot - you don't have to have it in the center of your chest if you don't want to!!!

Good luck - you ladies will do great! Feel free to pm me if you have more specific questions!

Oh, ThePrincess!, I wish I had known that about the tattoo. I hate the stupid little center dot that is visible in almost every neckline I own. Every time I see it it's just "ugh"...brings it all back. Hope other ladies read your post beforehand!