Forum Discussion

justtrina's avatar
justtrina
Member
13 years ago

Advice - Radiotherapy

Hi Ladies... I need some advice... I'm start Radium next Tuesday... and am a little concerned about the side effects - ie: the readness etc (don't deal with pain well)... should I start moisturising the area now or wait till Radium starts?.. They mentioned sorbolene at the information session I went to but I've also read about Moo Goo and other stuff... is there anything out there better than sorbolene?

 thanks in advance

Trina

8 Replies

  • Hey Justtrina

    I was told by my nurses that being fair skinned and normally will get sunburnt so easily wouldn't make any difference to my skin burning through radiotherapy????  maybe ask that question of your nurse.

    Good luck, wishing you smooth sailing.

    Lots of love,Mich xoxoxoxo

  • Thanks everyone for the advice.. start Radium tonight... the next six weeks cannot go fast enough.. I have fair skin.. so sunburn is usually a concern for me but I intend to look after my skin more than I ever have before.... my biggest concern is the lack of support in my bust (underwire)... they saved my life because of their size.. and now I really have to look after them.... looks like we get to go bra shopping... (may sneek in some pretty one's for when this is all over!!).

  • Thanks everyone for the advice.. start Radium tonight... the next six weeks cannot go fast enough.. I have fair skin.. so sunburn is usually a concern for me but I intend to look after my skin more than I ever have before.... my biggest concern is the lack of support in my bust (underwire)... they saved my life because of their size.. and now I really have to look after them.... looks like we get to go bra shopping... (may sneek in some pretty one's for when this is all over!!).

  • Good advice above, and remember not to wipe dry but pat dry the area...no deodorant or strong soap.  The hospital should give you a information sheet with all the do and don't ways to take care of your skin...wear crop tops no underwire bras.  Good luck.

  • Hi Trina

    There is a post that is only a month or so old on here that you can search for and I have put down my thoughts and advice.

    I went through 35 treatments of radiotherapy (7 of them being booster zaps directly on the tumour site) and only I finished on 5/9.  I had minimal problems with a very small blister which lasted a day or so.  My skin did go very red especially in the area of the booster zaps but no blisters, peeling etc.

    I used Sorbolene cream only and it worked wonderfully well for me.  I do still have my breasts which I am not sure whether that does or doesn't make a difference to burns or not.

    Hope you can find the other post as well.

    Wishing you the best and hoping your skin comes through unscathed like mine.  It is definitely a walk in the park after horrible chemo.  You do need to take good care of your skin though and watch out for any clothing which may rub on the area and irritate it as that is a major factor I feel.  I wore loose singlets.

    The public hospital I went to provided as many tubes of Sorbolene as I needed which was great as it was one cost I didn't have to worry about.

    Hoping everything goes really well for you.

    Mich xoxo

  • Start now - the better condition your skin is in, the better it will stand up to treatment.  I have had 14 rads now with no ill effects, but a bit of tightness goes away with a good slather of cream. (But not in the 2 hours before treatment.)   My rads oncologist favours Essentials pure Vit E cream (from any chemist) which works well for me, and isn't greasy, as they prefer cream without oil in it.  If skin gets a bit burned later in the program, he suggests pure aloe vera PLUS the cream, as on its own it can be quite drying.  I am sure sorbelene does the job as well.  All the best for Tuesday - it is really easy so don't worry yourself - Michelle x

     

  • Hi Trina

    Wishing you all the best for your radiotherapy. I have had three rounds of radio & sorbolene & vitamin E cream have all worked well. I found that if you take a small tube with you (which the nurses at radio should give you anyway) & keep it in your hand bag & apply it to your skin as soon as you are finished radio ~ when you are getting changed ~ that seems to help.

    Hope this little tip helps & good luck with it all  ~  Cheers Kerrie

  • Hi Trina

    Wishing you all the best for your radiotherapy. I have had three rounds of radio & sorbolene & vitamin E cream have all worked well. I found that if you take a small tube with you (which the nurses at radio should give you anyway) & keep it in your hand bag & apply it to your skin as soon as you are finished radio ~ when you are getting changed ~ that seems to help.

    Hope this little tip helps & good luck with it all  ~  Cheers Kerrie