Forum Discussion

Aqua_sunrise's avatar
10 years ago

Radiation

Hello, lovely ladies ??

I am just over half way thru my radiation, with 15 more to go, 

The skin under my breast is starting to break down , even with all my careful best efforts,

Eeeekkkkkkk, quite a way to go yet, so it's obviously going to get worse before it gets better,

Is starting to get a bit itchy as well . . . . . .

i'm finding I get quite sweaty under there, which wouldn't be helping,

I am using 99% aloe Vera gel & udder cream, 

any other hints that helped anyone else, 

also, did anyone need painkillers ? 

Thanks, ladies ??

Tansy 

10 Replies

  • Hi Tansy, I finished 30 treatments back in November last year and ended up very sore with broken down areas too. I was given xylocaine gel to add to the creams for pain relief. Helped a little. Found Bepanthan cream to be the most soothing when it was really bad.Like the other girls said, the nurses provided combine dressings to prevent friction. I was given some mild sleeping tablets for the last two weeks so at least I could get some sleep to cope with the days. Wish you all the best and count down the days. Maria.

     

  • Hi

    I was doing well with my skin till right at the end of radiotherapy and the following 2 weeks. My small blisters ended up as large areas of skin breakdown. I found lots of cooling and dermeze ointment - it's very sticky like vaseline but great but you need dressings to prevent it getting onto your skin. The nurses advised me to avoid any tape on my skin so I wore tight vest tops to hold the dressings in place. All healed up beautifully

  • Hi kari,

    thanks for that ??

    I did visit the nurse y/day, who did apply the gel & gauze pad thingie,

    I live in Noosa & yes, the tropical climate prob isn't the best for sweating under the breast ! 

    Am looking forward to the healing part ! 

    Only 14 sessions to go. . . . .

    best wishes

    tansy ??

  • Hi michelle, 

    yes, I have been wondering about the aloe Vera,

    may just stick to Moogoo,

    thanks so much for taking the time to answer ??

    Tansy.??

  • Hi again Snow ??

    Funny, I just replied to your post & then found this,

    thanks so much for your in depth reply, 

    very helpful ??

    Nothing like hints from those who have been there,

    love this site,

    Tansy 

    ????????

     

  • Hi Aqua, i have just finished my 30 treatments. it went as planned with the reddness and the sorness. i was using sorbolene vitamin E cream at first and wearing bras that had no bone or wire underneath and cotton. i found some sports bras good as they had the ventilation holes in the area underneath and under my arms the lymphnodes were taken out so the bras helped there as well being cotton and soft and no too bad on the rubbing. the other bra is Yah bra(ithink that is what its called) was great. for the heat and the cooling down i made up a bowl of tspen salt warm water dissolved the salt then put into the fridge to cool down and used a flannel to soak in the solution then put it under my  breast and walked around the house with it lol. the nurses also gave me Dermeze which i found very good. stopped it from drying out alot and my bras didnt irritate as much using it. my last week was more intense and i started to blister and it was sore but the dermeze and the salt water solution helped greatley. painkillers i cant help you with as i didnt take any. but sleeping at night(im a side sleeper) i found a pillow between my breasts and under my arm where the nodes were taken out helped to stop the skin from touching and causing pain while trying to sleep.I hope this has helped you. You will get thru this time  with lots of help on this site.  take care and good luck. X

  • Hi Tansy,

    My nurses told me not to use aloe vera initially as it is too drying and can irritate the skin.  Moogoo should be fine - lots of the women used it - but I was told to buy Essentials Vitamin E cream from the Pharmacy and it worked really well for me during and after rads.  I didn't need painkillers so can't help with that, but Panadol always helps post-op.  All the best for healing quickly.  Michelle x

  • Hi, I had 30 sessions started 6th Jan so right through the worst part of the year (live in Townsville). I only used Aqueous cream, but once the skin breaks down the nurses should give you inceptin (?) gel with a moist gauze to dress the site.  They also supplied me with large cotton pads to place over the worse areas and any other areas that rub.  The only good news is that once the treatment stops everything heals really quickly, they told me it could linger for 2 weeks after but the skin had healed really well after 1.5 weeks.  All you can do is moisturise, keep cool and reduce the friction!! 

    All the best, Kari

  • Hi

    I am 10 days after last session (25 sessions)

    I have broken down areas but they didn't happen until a week after the end. It's horrible and sore.

    I am taking mersyndol at night and neurofen during the day, it helps.

    Ask the nurses for some dressings to use which help and don't stick to areas 

    Thinking of you - you will get there !!

    ??????