Crowd-sourcing radiotherapy advice

Thank you all for your thoughtful responses - some great tips that my nurse didn’t mention 
xx

Hi there @water_nymph.

I had 30 treatments (25 then a 5 day boost,only one side mind you)  my skin held up really well until half way through week 5 then it went to the pack.  I too used Moo Goo.  Its fantastic. Manuka honey gold cream for the really sore bits then  Flamazene and dressings for a few days after I finished.  Healed up really quickly.  I really didn't have any fatigue issues and worked right through.  Now 4 months on and am still a little tan where they did the boost and every so often get a little bit of an ache on the supraclavicular ...think thats what they called it....apart from that  all is well.
All the best.  XOXO

I was unprepared for the emotional toll of radiation. Perhaps because it was the last of a years worth of treatment. Treat yourself gently, having to go every day can be quite taxing.
Fatigue sneaks up, but I still managed to walk the 3/4 hour to the station and then to the clinic each day, which I actually think helped.
I managed to work for the first three weeks (I had 25 treatments) but reduced the hours worked for week 4 and then no work for weeks 5 and 6 ( the week after treatment ended) however I burned quite badly from half way through week 3.
This meant I was dressed and bandaged each day after radiation, first with an organic pawpaw cream, then with Flamazine burn cream. This was all done at the clinic.
when treatment finished I still went for dressing every second day to the clinic for a week, then twice a week until the burns had healed. I changed the dressings myself on the days in between visits. 
It took about a month after treatment finished for the skin to stop being so sore.
Worst areas were where the lymph nodes were removed. They swelled quite a bit.
They are still swollen now and need lymph massage every day. (I do it)
I also have some very tight areas that I am having worked on by the lymphodema physio.

I found the Best and Less zip up bras with the Berlei soft form okay for the first three weeks, then had to go braless for the next month or so as they were too uncomfortable.

The staff at the clinic I went to were wonderful, gentle and concerned and very supportive.
Showering though was still a very emotional time I found.
I used Moo Goo shower wash, Moogoo cream twice a day before I had to start getting dressings at the clinic, and after I finished going to the clinic, there is little evidence of the burns now, my skin is nice and pink and smooth.

One tip from the clinic nurses was to have a spray bottle of salty water to spray on the area, towel off gently after the shower, then spray all over the treatment area, leave for a minute then pat dry.
I also used it when I got itchy or hot, it was lovely and soothing. Keeping another in the fridge to use in summer might be nice too.

I hope you have a smooth treatment time, it seems never ending at the start, but then suddenly you only have a couple to go and you can see the end in sight.
Good luck and go gently.

I used Dermaveen and whilst advised 3 times daily I used it more depending on need. I wore a Target front opening bra which became quite discoloured as you cream up for at least 3 months. Be wary of uv and wear a Rashie in the sun. I had 16 rounds of radiotherapy and was fine all the way thru but the week after it ended was enveloped by fatigue and slept a lot. I am very fair and was surprised my skin coped well.Be aware there can be longer term side effects rib pain , infection like cellulitis that can last for months after - get them checked to be reassured or a script though. 

Keep a tube of pure aloe Vera gel in the fridge. I would sorbolene all day long, carried some with me, kept the skin moist with it. Then last thing at night a layer of cold aloe. Also when you shower make it cooler and don't direct the jet directly on to the radiated area. I used and still do use dermaveen soap free wash. 
Oh and a big soft cotton scarf to drape the skin for sun avoidance. 
Goodluck xxo

@water_nymph moisturising the skin in the treatment area is essential. Nurses at the clinic should discuss creams and skin care with you and monitor you throughout. Beware the fatigue! You think you're not going too bad and might be lucky, then weeks later BAM! My advice is try and rest frequently all throughout, even if you just get to bed a little earlier, to avoid the crash at the end. I found radiotherapy very tollerable, especially compared to chemo, even though my skin broke down quite badly. All the best!

Use sorbelone cream or moo goo (or another appropriate cream) 3 times a day (just not in the 30 mins before treatment) start that now. Go braless as much as you can. If you need extraa time off take it, probably won’t hit til wk 2. Avoid shaving and deodorant. Avoid sun. I’m a Radiation Therapist so feel free to ask any questions throughout your treatment. Your treating therapists and the nurses will look after you x