Starting Radiation

As many will tell you, often the worst thing about rads is having to go five days a week. They are quick appointments, and the good news is every week you can knock off five more! I had noticeable but not awful skin impacts. I had only a few days of what I'd call fatigue each time, generally after I'd had a big day. Note on fatigue if you've never experienced it (which I really had not)--it's not like being tired, where you can work/energize your way through it. And it's not even like you really feel like you have to sleep--it's more like you absolutely HAVE to get off your feet. I found that if I just laid down for an hour or two, I felt much better. Re: creams--I don't think it matters so much what you use, more that you slather some stuff on several times a day. I bought Miaderm the first time around but found it's mostly calendula cream so used that (cheaper!) the second time. I also had Aquaphor and Desitin--I'd really just grab whatever was closest through the day. I wore some old soft cotton exercise bras. If you already have something like that, save treating yourself to new bras until you're finished. The ones you wear will likely get stained by the markers they use to outline the area they're zapping. It felt really good to throw them away when I was finished. For me, radiation was more of an annoyance than anything. You'll do fine.

I've just started, I'm four sessions in. Yes it's a pain to have to go every day, that's for sure. But the procedure itself takes very little time. So far so good with just calendula as recommended by the RO. She also recommended this stinky powder called Zeabsorb for use during the day since it's summer. It keeps the crease under the breast nice and dry and doesn't matter if you have it on during radiation. She also recommended I use Dove soap for bathing. I just got some pure aloe vera gel (also on RO's list) to use as well. So far my skin is fine. It's early days, but I'm hopeful. RO thought my skin is likely to be okay. We'll see. I have 12 more to go.