Radiation

slonimski

Any suggestions please of a good bra for when I start radiation for breast cancer. I have large breasts. Size 24 E Also suggested creams that are good during treatment

Coastiejas

Hi @slonimski
Make sure any bra has no lace or anything scratching your skin...I am a fan of the kmart post surgery crops which zip at the front, (I'm an 18DD) and have been wearing them during radiation. Best and Less also have zip front crops in larger sizes.
As for creams I'm using moogoo restore udder cream and find it soothing

https://moogoo.com.au/products/skin-milk-udder-cream

Best wishes. 

slonimski

How did you find radiation. I am having it for four weeks

Coastiejas

Much better than chemo! I'm 20 of 25 fractions down so far,. I am a bit tired and pink but otherwise OK. 

slonimski

The whole process is an emotional roller coaster.

Mez_BCNA

Hi @slonimski while we don't have your exact size, we do have 24DD or 20E in the 
My Care Kit range. You are welcome to call our Helpline 1800 500 258 to order

slonimski

Thanks so much for your help

Locksley

Moogoo creams are very good.  Slather on what ever the nurses recommend often.  Especially after you have finished treatment.   I had sorbelene but I found a thick cream called something like intensive treatment cream to be soothing.

Kmart crop tops were good too.   I found I was braless at home for a while as I was a bit too tender for any sort of bra. 

Maree72

Hi
I have just finished my radiation, I too was extremely worried and had massive panic attacks over it all. The rad nurse gave me a discount coupon for the StrataXRT silicon cream, costed me $140.00 all up, I'm a very big busted chick DD - E cup, and I didn't sue all that tube up, (so I played it forward and gave it to my Rad nurse to pass onto the next patient who also found themselves struggling with costs, like myself)  thankfully, I was shown how to use this before treatment, I must say it has mostly protected my skin, with very minimal damage, only now id the skin peeling in my arm pit, I was able to save the skin from peeling under the breast. 
I used cool face clothes to cool the area at night once the heat and the itch become to much.

I wore bamboo pull on crop bra's, they kept the if any moisture away from the skin. you can get them on line from https://www.boody.com.au/ 
I found them to be so soft and very comfortable , just takes a little longer to dry after washing due to the bamboo.

my treatment went for 6 weeks. 5 weeks of treatment, plus 1 week of a boost. 
Wishing you the very best for this next chapter of post cancer treatment. 

AnnieG

Hi.
I used the kmart post surgery bras after my lumpectomy and until RT finished. The bras were ok...served their purpose.
Re RT and creams: the protective film fell off after 1 RT session..so my skin was fully exposed. Half way through my 15 sessions the skin was beginning to blister . None of the creams given to me helped ( sorboline, solosite, dermaid) ...so by session 15 my skin was in a bad way....bleading, blistered , red ugly pimples. Very uncomfortable and disrupted my sleep. 
No one at the Cancer centre team knew what to recommend. Thank god for my GP! : QV intensive cream for very dry skin plus Novasone ( topical corticosteroid...script needed). Magic !  for me at least. 
I passed this info on to the team.

Abbydog

Dear Slonimski,
Given your size, I'm not sure what is available in your size. But if you had a post op bra it may be suitable.
Mez_BCNA above has suggested a bra.
People often suggest crop tops, but I haven't seen much in larger sizes.
I went looking for these when I had breast reconstruction, and didn't see much. I'm 18DD-20C/DD
I had some singlet type tops, that took my prosthesis. I wore those. I purchased from a specialist mastectomy bra shop. 
I had Mepitel applied to the R/T area. It was on 24/7, and no moisturiser is applied.
It is a plastic type film that keeps moisture in and prevents friction to the area. I had no burning or redness.
You will probably have a planning session and speak with a R/T nurse.

Katie46

Hi @slonimski I was given sorbolene cream to use, a large tub and a tube. They told me to use it at least 3 times a day, the small tube was for immediately after treatment and when you are out and about if you feel like you need it, and for at least 2 weeks after. I slathered it on and had 15 radiation sessions. My skin had a slight blush when I had finished, and a tiny itchy patch on my chest which only lasted a few days. I finished 2 weeks ago and it all feels fine, just a slight skin colour change when you compare the pair. I'm using moogoo now for a change, and I think it helped the itchy patch. 

Katie46

They also told me to put nothing on my skin for at least 2 hours prior to my treatment. I had sessions in the afternoon so had a shower in the morning put the cream on after that, and then straight after the session and as much as I wanted in the evening.