Hi, after 6 months of Chemo treatment I am now at the next phase of my treatment. My specialists have decided to go with Radio therapy prior to my surgery, it will most likely be for 5 weeks but I will find out more tomorrow when I meet with my radio oncologist. I know many of you have had this as part of your treatment also and that like everything we go through all of us have different experiences etc, just wondering if there's any hints or tips on the best way to prepare my skin beforehand? My Mum had 6 weeks of radiation a couple of years ago so I am up to speed on the Moo Goo udder cream and it's benefits for the treatment period , her skin coped really well until the last week or so. I think I'll be receiving treatment to my neck area ( preventative ) and my left breast

Skin prep is all you can do. I did and still burnt post treatment but everyone is different. A gentle saline wash with cool water can help. Its the back and forth that will wear you out so just rest when you can.

I think you'll just have to roll with it, Kat. I finished rads a month ago; I didn't have any issues until the last few zaps then the burns were shitty for a couple of weeks afterwards. Thing is, they turn around really quickly (I had axilla, neck and sub clav treatment) One day it feels like you're a BBQ chicken, the next its just manky looking peeling skin, then it's done.You've come this far. The moo-goo is about the best you can do for your skin, the rest is just general looking after yourself. Marg xx

I guess if there was any real trick to any of this we'd all know by now. I am slowly learning to let go of my inner ' control freak" and trying to take on a more 'just go with it ' attitude but after 47yrs it's just baby steps at the moment. I said to my surgeon the other day it's like I've given my body to medicine for this year and I'll get it back after they've finished dictating what needs to be done and then I get my life back! I am very lucky to have an amazing team of specialists looking after me who have now thankfully got used to my sarcasm. I have about 12 weeks before surgery so I am really going to try and concentrate on getting myself healthy and strong, oh and am really looking forward to visiting my hairdresser again one day soon too.Thanks Marg and Tennille, the cooked chook look will be another ' new look ' to add to my growing listKat xx

Kat09, why radiation first then surgery. Is there a benefit to having it this way. I'm meeting with my surgeon this Wednesday to discuss surgery as my last chemo next Tuesday yay.

Zoffiel, I will be having rads to my neck also and the rads doctor said I will have a sore throat. Did you get that and how long and how bad is it.

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13 Replies

Kat09
Member
8 years ago
Thanks , I hope that it goes well and quickly too. Good luck on your last chemo it's great to get that over and done with. Such a massive thing to go through.
LMK74
Member
8 years ago
Thanks kat09 for the reply. Makes sense now. Hope radiation is a breeze for you. Let us know how your experience goes with it. And yes let's hope it blasts the F out of it. One more chemo for me thank goodness. Mastectomy here I come.
Kat09
Member
8 years ago
Hi Lisa, @LMK74 , they decided to do radiation prior to my surgery as I still have some skin involvement and my specialist wants to ensure that there's no microscopic cells lurking under the skin. She's trying to preserve as much skin as possible.I had my tatts today and got all measured up ready for things to start on Monday, another step closer to the end of treatment. I was advised today to start moisturising my skin twice daily as it will help ( I already do each morning anyway so no biggy ) My Mum used the Moo Goo udder cream while she had her Chemo and it was really good for her, the nurses also advised me to use their products including the bodywash and deodorant as they are really gentle on the skin.I am really excited that I now get a big 5 days to myself with no Drs, tests or treatments until it all starts for 5 weeks. hopefully they nuke the F#@#*R right out of me!
fairydust
Member
8 years ago
@Kate09 I also had radiation to left breast and neck. I freaked out too when the neck was mentioned. However it depends where on the neck radiation is targeted that may result in sore throat. I was okay.
Like Zoffiel the biggest pest is the fatigue at the end. So glad you are close to the finish line.
Romla
Member
8 years ago
They are switching to Cetaphil
Romla
Member
8 years ago
Have had a lot of success with Dermaveen wash and cream for looking after my skin - the radiotherapy Centre supplied Sorbolene and discontinued it switching to another product will look up which
LMK74
Member
8 years ago
Thanks Zoffiel, I've also heard the horror stories of radiation to the neck and straight away I was freaking out. My mum died from lung cancer two years ago but she was stage four and all through her by time of diagnosis. Just terrible. Thanks for answering my question.
Zoffiel
Member
8 years ago
I did have a sore throat. While at the time it feels like it is your whole world I can say that my worries didn't match up with what happened.
I had a dear friend who dies of lung cancer several years ago. When it was suggested I have radiotherapy to my neck I had a shit fit because I remembered how damaging it was for Trish. Completely different cancer and treatment but as soon as I heard radiotherapy and neck in the same sentence I started stockpiling avocados ( assuming that's all I would be able to eat) That was pretty silly, but that's where my head was. In the end it wasn't fun, but it started late and stopped pretty quickly.
We can only hope for the best and this stuff gives us the best chance of survival. For me, the fatigue is the worst thing about that phase of treatment. I drove myself 200km a day for 6 weeks to do it, but it's only now, a month later, that my tiredness is starting to be a problem. I'd thought I'd have it sorted by now. Too impatient, apparently.
LMK74
Member
8 years ago
Zoffiel, I will be having rads to my neck also and the rads doctor said I will have a sore throat. Did you get that and how long and how bad is it.
LMK74
Member
8 years ago
Kat09, why radiation first then surgery. Is there a benefit to having it this way. I'm meeting with my surgeon this Wednesday to discuss surgery as my last chemo next Tuesday yay.