Forum Discussion
Finished radiation and am singing the praise of aloe vera plant
My 25th and final radiation was six days ago. I used StrataXRT gel all through treatment and the burning is minor, according to the radiation oncologist. In the past few days, particularly in the evenings and when I first wake up, my treated area is "on fire" and stinging. I've been using ice-cold washcloths and Moogoo cream. This evening I decided to try the flesh of aloe vera plant from the garden, as recommended by someone from Be Uplifted, a local support group in Brisbane. It stopped the stinging and burning immediately. I've put a big leaf in the fridge ready for morning, or if I need it during the night.
17 Replies
- If you use the real plant @bambam , just be careful of the spikes along the edge .... make sure you cut those off after you ‘split the leaf’ to access the natural gel. The spikes can be nasty!
All the best for your treatment xx - @bambam Good on you. I didn't find radiation at all scary. The constancy of going there every day is tiring, but it's no big deal, so long as you look after your skin. :)
- thanks for all the good information I will be getting a aloe Vera plant as I start my radiation treatment in 3 weeks after reading all different comments about radiation it doesn't seem as scary as I thought thanks everyone bambam 👍
- @Flaneuse Good!
- @kmakm I rang this morning and left a message for my oncologist. Her nurse rang back and asked a lot of questions about my radiation side effects and peripheral neuropathy and said she couldn't find the oncologist at the moment, but would discuss with her and they'll get back to me.
- @Flaneuse Different from rads I know, but my oncologist was happy for me to have a month off after my double mastectomy and reconstruction before starting the AI.
- You can buy pure aloe Vera in a spray from the chemist. I put it in the fridge and used it regularly. Instant bliss on hot burnt skin from rads.
- @Sister Thanks for that tip about the reactions starting after two weeks. I've read about how some oncologists like us to have a couple of weeks' break after rads, to separate identification of any side-effects from rads from those associated with Letrozole. I suspect that might be my oncol's attitude. She was very keen for me to have it before my surgery right up to the day before and between end of chemo and day before start of rads. My GP was being kind to me, I think. I might ring oncologist soon and see what she says.
- Thank you @flaneuse. I think my daughter in law has a plant. I’m about to have a second round of rads. First lot was back in 2016 & that time I didn’t have any bad reaction. Well done finishing your treatment. 🌹
- Congratulations on finishing @flaneuse. You may still get effects coming out in the next week (mine started at exactly 2 weeks) but if you've survived so far intact, I wouldn't think it will get too bad.
I started Letrozole a few days after starting rads. Onc said there were no problems doing that and he wanted me on it as soon as possible. i think the only issue has been that I haven't been able to really separate the side effects left over from chemo and those (which are minor) from the AI.
