Advice on radiation

I too was terrified because it was an unknown.  However I found it to be really easy.  Just a few tips - go straight home once you have the treatment.  I actually put face washers in the freezer before treatment each day and went straight home and put the cold pack on my breast, after this I lathered myself in cream.  I now read that it is not good to have extreme temperatures on the area.  It did work for me though as I never had any blisters - I had been told this by a bc survivor who had it work for her as well.  I was superwoman and did too much.  It is best to treat it like a holiday.  I too had to be away from home for 7 weeks but always had a family member with me.  During this time I gave myself very good nutrition - it cost me an absolute fortune = organic food.  Each day I made myself a concoction of vege juice.  No one wanted to share it!!!!!  Anyway it is good to do everything possible for your body to assist it during the radiation treatment. ie do some basic exercise each day, eat well, rest and sit back and enjoy life......get yourself some good books and some funny dvd's.  As Moira said take showers with very gentle "soap", use lots of moisturiser (no perfumes etc) and be kind to the area.  It is best not to swim in chlorine pools as these dry out your skin.  I was told it was okay to have a short swim in the ocean or saltwater pool.  Remember not too much sunshine either.  I actually searched everywhere to find nice cotton bras and had cotton t-shirts for bed.  All about comfort and minimal abrasion to the area.  Good luck with it all.  I will also start radiation mid February for the second time = up under the armpit to counteract lymph node cancer.  Not sure how I will keep this area cool.  I will probably have to get around looking like a bird with a broken wing sticking out!!!!!!! CheersXLeonie