I have just completed 5 weeks or 25 rounds of radiotherapy following a mastectomy. I was fortunate enough to have been told about this amazing Strata XRT gel which I used twice a day during treatment and 30 days post treatment. My skin is amazing and I did not suffer any burning or issues at all during radiation. Unfortunately I over ordered the gel and I have 2 x 50g brand new unopened tubes of the gel that I am willing to sell at half the price that they cost to buy. Please let me know if you are interested or know anyone that is interested in using the gel.

Excellent @Troods!! Terrific that you had a good result with the gel!! I hope that someone takes you up on your offer of buying your excess gel - but just remember that the area will remain 'warm' for the next few weeks & you should be continuing using your gel for that period.All the best xx

@Halla I was also a public patient at a private clinic. My onco said they didn’t like using it, so I ordered my own. When I brought it in, the radio therapists were looking at me like I was a Martian. One of them said he hadn’t heard of it in 20 years in the industry. I persisted and so they used it. A couple days later my onc told me not to order any more, cos they’d supply it. At the end of my treatment, I became ‘famous’ at the clinic cos of the fantastic results. My onc and nurse couldn’t believe how good my skin looked. She said I converted them and they started using it regularly from then. Btw, I had mastectomies but with expanders, and it still worked fine. You’ll see in the pics I sent you 👌🏻.

I was in the public system and asked about Mepitel. Was told that they had some in the cupboard but never used it. Nurse was happy to give it a go (not sure the later nurses were quite so keen as it does take a little while to put on). I had no skin breakdown and just a small sore red spot that appeared 3 weeks after treatment, on the tender skin on my side - from memory, I don't think the film went around quite that far.

I was in the public system and they poo pooed my attempts to talk about mepitel or strata xrt. They told me that sorbelene cream was “just as good”. I insisted and they gave me a discount code to buy some strata xrt and I’m so glad I did! There was a small section on my back that I missed doing until the very end and it just got regular moisturiser. At the end, that spot was the only part that had any sign of redness, the rest was perfect. They all commented on how great my skin held up. I can’t rave enough of how good it was to use it.

Hi @Locksley yes, I started it on Wednesday. So far so good. It’s a bit stressful trying to do the breathing right, but feeling ok so far. They said that it wouldn’t be worth using mepitel for the amount of radiation I was getting, they think I won’t get much skin effect anyway. I hope they are right! I’m using the strataxrt though - which they also didn’t think was necessary - but I want to avoid any painful trouble if I possibly can! How did you find your radio during and after @Locksley?

Radiotherapy | BCNA Online Network

28 Replies

Halla
Member
4 years ago
Thanks @Jwrenn good idea. It’s getting easier now the sessions are a lot quicker, not so much time to stress!
Jwrenn
Member
4 years ago
Hi @Halla I practised the deep breaths when I was was going to sleep, it was relaxing. Counted to 20 or so while doing it and did the same when I was having radiation
Halla
Member
4 years ago
Thanks @Troods for getting it to me so quickly! I’m really glad I’ve got it! I will think about that during breathing too
Troods
Member
4 years ago
@Halla, so glad you received the Strata cream. They told me I didn’t need it either, but there was small patch I missed around my back and the skin got bad there, so I’m glad I ignored what they said and used the gel. I have had comments from everyone that sees my mastectomy scar post radiotherapy, like “wow did you even have radio your skin is fantastic”! So I can say it works!! All the best and just try to stay relaxed through your breathing. I used to breathe the good stuff in and at the end blow all the cancer shit out. That’s what I kept saying in my mind through the radiation. It kept me calm and focused. Cheers Troods
Troods
Member
4 years ago

arpie said:

Excellent @Troods!! Terrific that you had a good result with the gel!!

I hope that someone takes you up on your offer of buying your excess gel - but just remember that the area will remain 'warm' for the next few weeks & you should be continuing using your gel for that period.

All the best xx
Halla
Member
4 years ago
Thanks @Locksley that helps to hear I’m not the only one having trouble!
Locksley
Member
4 years ago
During the sessions I found it helpful for the staff to tell me if it was a long breath and I could push through or if it was a shorter one and I was less stressed.
Locksley
Member
4 years ago
I tried the iPad once and I didn't have the strength in my breath to do it properly so they quickly decided to coach Me through. Some sessions were harder and longer than others. I also found some staff were better at getting me to do what they wanted me to do than others. On the long breath I thought was going to turn blue.
Halla
Member
4 years ago
@Locksley oh I’m sorry to hear about your clots :😢… I’m using the iPad…I can hold my breath and keep it on the green line no problem but the therapists seem concerned that my heart is getting in the way…so the sessions have been very long with them taking loads of X-rays and telling me to change the way I breathe and don’t arch my back etc etc and so it gets really confusing and a bit worrying that I don’t really know how to do it right
Locksley
Member
4 years ago
I had the mepitel at Peter mac. I had a mastectomy. I asked about the strataxa gel cream and they said not to worry about using that sorbelene would be enough. I'm glad you have the strataxa gel. Sorbelene was not enough for me.