hi all, I'm on my day 4 of radiation and slowing getting the swing of breath and hold (to protect my heart) feeling less stressed about that. I have noticed my skin on spots to become extra dry almost like leather feeling. I thought this would be too early for symptoms and wonder if it's to do with the horrible sorboleen cream they gave me or because I have a tissue expander in. It feels like it sits wet on your skin and not obsorb. Is radiation on a mastectomy more pron to skin damage and is there a miracle cream out there? I'm questioning how on earth will I get through the next 21 sessions .

Hi @Dandelion, I had a mastectomy & have had 23 rounds of radiation, 2 to go. I was recommended to use Sorbolene & was given Novosone, a mild steroid cream to use morning & night. I didn't get any redness until about half way through & one spot of mild irritation in the middle of my chest higher up, it was like dry skin & a bit itchy. My underarm is a bit sore too now. They said my skin is doing well. The sorbolene does tend to sit on the skin but absorbs over time. They also recommended "sorbolene baths" where you smother yourself in it & let it absorb which I have done a couple of times. The radiation oncologist also said to keep up the exercise as the skin tightens up. Is there a breast care nurse you can see in between visits with the radiation oncologist? They will advise you. Also the therapists who administer the radiation are very knowledgeable. We all react differently, try not to worry too much but make sure you tell them your concerns.

Sounds like your doing really well @Glemmis how exciting 2 rounds to go

@Dandelion it is amazing what becomes normal over time. I didnt have a masectomy so cannot answer that part of your question. However got through 25 sessions. I also just had sorbelene and later burn cream. For me it was only really the last weeks that things got difficult. I asked the breast care nurse if people with fair skin have a greater reaction. She said it depended on each individual person how their skin reacted. Interesting.One of the things that kept me going was meeting up with the same people doing treatment. I felt we were all in this together The staff were also good.

Hi @fairydust, so true about what becomes normal. Today felt easy doing rads . I also spoke with the nurse and oops what appears to be my dry skin is a build up of sorboleen. I had been applying it to thick and needed to wash using a face washer oops the simple things are not so simple . Anyway think I have it sorted and feeling much more confident . I use to be s tanner so he's hoping that's all il get . Yay to you @fairydust for getting through 25 sessions , hope life becoming normal for you x

@Glemmis, I think I worked out what happened to the remainder of the message I sent you . My apologies, I didn't save all and most of it deleted. I spoke with the nurse today which is in the above comments . Thanks for your advise . Wow u think you have finished all your rads or is it one to go ? How exciting . Well done to you it must feel fabulous x

1 lymph node involvement opted for Left side Radiation after a mastectom with tissue expander

14 Replies

Dandelion
Member
9 years ago
@Unicornkisses, now that I'm saving $1000s like @Glemmis says I should treat myself with the rest of the range x
Unicornkisses
Member
9 years ago
Love the moo goo. I use the shower wash and the udder cream after a shower. The lip salve is also excellent.
I have Rosacea and the udder cream is excellent, no reaction at all.
Glemmis
Member
9 years ago
Enjoy those baths @Dandelion! I did chemo private & I wasn't out of pocket at all, even oncologist bulk billed but I have heard doing radio privately can leave you out of pocket by thousands. That is an awful lot of Moo Goo LOL
Dandelion
Member
9 years ago
How annoying @Glemmis most of my post disappeared again grr .
Thanks for the heads up with the moo goo , I'm going to do moo goo baths just like you did with the sorb cream . Just feels so much different hey !!!!
Carnt believe we public get the shitty toxic sorb cream and private get the moo !!
In debt from going private for the mastectomy so happy to go public and buy my own cream :)
Dandelion
Member
9 years ago
Yay @Glemmis that is brilliant
Glemmis
Member
9 years ago
Thanks @Dandelion, all done! After radio I had an app with lymphodema specialist & she said not to use sorbolene as it sits on top of skin but to use Moo Goo udder cream. She said public use sorbolene & private Moo Goo so now will use that even though I have finished.
Dandelion
Member
9 years ago
@glemmis woot woot :) thinking of you with your last session today x

hi @LucyE, I have heard about the calendula cream . Iv now started with the moo goo and feels really nice but I actually can invision my bedroom dresser with a variety of moisturisers :) never been one for that in the past but loving it now
Anonymous
9 years ago
I used calendula cream and it was amazing. I still use it almost 18 months after radiotherapy as a general moisturiser. I get it from the health food shops and it is in a blue and white tube and costs around $15. It isn't to often scented. The nurse at the radiotherapy clinic gave me a range of creams during radiotherapy.
Glemmis
Member
9 years ago
That's great you have a solution. It is a very greasy cream & I haven't used it as much as I should, interesting how different the hospitals are in their practices. One more session on Wed & that's it. They told me today to keep using the Novosone cream for a week afterwards as the redness can get worse before it gets better.
Dandelion
Member
9 years ago
@Glemmis, I think I worked out what happened to the remainder of the message I sent you . My apologies, I didn't save all and most of it deleted.
I spoke with the nurse today which is in the above comments . Thanks for your advise .
Wow u think you have finished all your rads or is it one to go ? How exciting . Well done to you it must feel fabulous x