What cream to use after radiation

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Tigger51
Tigger51 Member Posts: 14

My ROhas suggested using aquaphor for a couple of weeks after radiation. I will be done this coming Wednesday, 1/17/2018. Yippee!

I asked him what to use afterwards and he said whatever works. Typical for a man. Any suggestions?

Thanks for everyone’s help with this journey, your love and support means the world to me

Comments

  • Georgia1
    Georgia1 Member Posts: 1,321
    edited January 2018

    Hi Tigger and congratulations on being almost done! My RO, who's a woman, also told me the important thing was to moisturize twice daily so essentially whatever you like and can be consistent with is fine. I'm currently using up my calendula cream then plan to switch to aloe vera just because I prefer natural ingredients. I'll be interested to see what other people think since we seems to have a lifetime of moisturizing ahead of us!

  • ruthbru
    ruthbru Member Posts: 57,235
    edited January 2018

    I kept using aquaphor until the redness was gone; after that I just went back to my normal routine, which is just a good body cream all over the body after a shower.

  • Simbobby
    Simbobby Member Posts: 140
    edited January 2018

    My Sister and I are both fighting BC at the same time. I haven't had radiation yet but she just completed rads. She had horrible discomfort from itching. A guy at my chemo recommended anti - itch CeraVe. She bought a jar on Amazon and loves it

  • gb2115
    gb2115 Member Posts: 1,894
    edited January 2018

    I used unscented lubriderm after, and that worked well.

  • gb2115
    gb2115 Member Posts: 1,894
    edited January 2018

    I used unscented lubriderm after, and that worked well.

  • Runrcrb
    Runrcrb Member Posts: 577
    edited January 2018

    I used aquaphor 2 x day during my 7 weeks of radiation and the month or so after - until all of the damaged skin had sloughed off. Additionally, I used aloe vera from about the mid point, when the "burn" was bad, until it didn't hurt like sunburn any more.

  • kbram
    kbram Member Posts: 185
    edited January 2018

    I used coconut oil during and after treatment.  My skin did great.

    Kathy

  • theresa45
    theresa45 Member Posts: 314
    edited January 2018

    My radiation oncologist cited a study that found that calendula was the ingredient most effective in treating radiation burns. A number of different lotions marketed for radiation treatment include calendula. I used MyGirls skincare which contains 10% calendula. Congrats on finishing radiation!

  • scaligirl
    scaligirl Member Posts: 74
    edited January 2018

    I use AVO Cream. My rads center gives it to all their patients, men and women. It's been pretty good so far. I'm 14 of 30 in and only have some light redness, which my RO says is a very good sign at this point. I think the words this morning were "you barely have any redness at all" so I will take that!

  • Blinkie
    Blinkie Member Posts: 169
    edited January 2018

    I used aloe vera the first time. When I had radiation on the other side, years later, I found I had developed an allergy to aloe vera. I got an itchy rash all over my body. As soon as I stopped using it, the rash left. So I switched to a lotion that the radiation oncology staff gave me. Sorry to say, don't remember the name of it. Seemed like an ordinary moisturizing lotion.

  • PauletteK
    PauletteK Member Posts: 2,205
    edited January 2018

    My RO only let me use Miaderm so I use it after radiation and 4 times a day.


  • jeniphur
    jeniphur Member Posts: 4
    edited January 2018

    I just finished rads yesterday!! WOoo! I am using a bunch of lotions, not sure if it's recommended but it's working for me. On clean skin I start with a base of green tea, then pure cold pressed aloe vera, then Maiderm. But that's not all, those products absorb fast, after a hour or however long I can stand the itching I switch to Calmoseptine and Eucerin throughout the day.

  • Sydsym
    Sydsym Member Posts: 16
    edited January 2018

    I finished about 6 weeks ago and like Jen I used a mixture of creams. Calendula, Aloe Vera, Cocoa Butter. Coconut oil, Shea butter, Aquaphor and Eucerin during rads and still about 3x a day since. My skin held up pretty well and is almost back to its original shade. Had my first followup last week and the oncologist told me to just keep doing what I’m doing for another 3 weeks or so

  • PauletteK
    PauletteK Member Posts: 2,205
    edited January 2018

    Sydsym, sounds like we have to be continued to use cream 2 months after radiation, isn’t it? I have one more treatment to go, I got pretty red on my collarbone, now I’m using mixed cream also. Miaderm, Calendula and Aquaphor also. I put some cortisone from time to time on my collarbone also. Thanks God no break up.


  • Sydsym
    Sydsym Member Posts: 16
    edited January 2018

    Yeah, my skin turned really dark and red. I still see a faint darkness around the area and it feels fairly tight. My PS told me to do this massage after showering to have my implant move in the pocket so maybe that’ll lessen the tightness.

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