Preventing radiotherapy skin reactions

Yes Doll I'm hoping that my requests emails etc make a difference for someone else I'll deffinately be using my experience to help others.  I've got a day off radio today ( yeah ) exciting stuff!! I've walked one dog done the groceries now I'm stuffed I'll watch a crappy movie then have a swim xx keep us posted with your treatment Regards Tracy 

I can hear your frustration.  It is hard to understand the differences in hospital policy that allow some things in one place but not another.  I admire your tenacity in trying to find the best possible options for your treatment.  Good on you for chasing up the rep.  Hopefully your efforts might make a difference for the next person who asks about Mepitel film.

I'm sorry to hear that you are already experiencing a reaction to your radiotherapy.  Hang in there, be gentle to yourself and your skin.  You're nearly half way through. I'm practicing my relaxation and meditation in the lead up to my radiotherapy and including some visualisations about intact healthy skin.  Fingers and toes crossed :)

Thanks for replying Chris,

I will be very interested to hear how you go with the gel; keep posting.  All the best for your last cycle of chemo.  Mine is done and dusted and it feels great to put another part of treatment behind me.

Umm I'm feeling you Doll I fought for metipel film took every once of energy was told I could travel to Royal North Shore everyday instead ( yeah right 3 hour round trip) I even had to reps ready to train nurses.  It comes down to individual hospitals policies I've a girlfriend in Darwin having radio she only had lumpectomy her hospital routinely uses it.  Myself I've had left mastectomy with huge expander in my concern was skin breaking down especially in centre of my chest well guess what 10 days in I can already feel and see the burns there.  I took matters into my own hands and am using massive amounts of moo goo skin udder and y naturals skin soother my hospital only agrees with plain sorbolene ( which I'm also using). Makes me very angry that the system dictates what we can and can't have.  Here's another example my hospital wouldn't allow numbing cream over port prior to chemo yet most hospitals do I solved that myself as well I did the numbing cream washed it off 45 minutes prior result I was less stressed -  I will reiterate it til the cows come home we are individuals able to make educated decisions on our own bodies this is something I've continually hated via this journey just when we have fought hard there's another fight best of luck 

Hi Doll

l met with my radiation specialist today and asked about using Mepitel film for my radiation treatment, and she advised that they tend to use the film on ladies who had had a mastectomy, by not for ladies who had a lumpectomy (which is me). 

She said they would prefer to use the Stata XRT gel on me and l will start treatment in à month. The reason given for not using the film is that it is hard to maintain when used to cover a complete breast. So l will try the gel and see how it goes, and provide feedback though it is a while away for my treatment to begin. Have to have last cycle of chemo first. 

chris