Hi ladies.. Im in day 7 of my radiation & have already started to get sore red & itchy just under my breast & especially on my scars..I also have strong, buring, shooting pains insde my breast straight after treament,they last for a couple of hours,, I told onco they said take panadol every 4hours, is this normal... Im hoping my skin does'nt break down, I have been applying Moo Goo as much as I can, maybe Im over doing it with the moo also using moo goo soap........By the way Im still waiting for my app with the Gyno..I think Iv turned into an emotional nut case...I had a friend come visit today & all I did was cry:(& thats about it...How do you control tears.... Christine x

Sorry you are feeling anxious about the radio. I know everyone says it is the easier part of the process but it is still the unknown part of how your skin will handle it etc. I actually found the pain in deeper quite severe at times and found it worrying because not much is said about this. All the info seems to concentrate on the skin reaction. I kept asking the onc about my pain and she kept reassuring me this was 'normal'. I still have quite a bit of discomfit when I stretch the arm and chest area (2 months after finishing) and was told this may take months or even years to totally resolve. Some people always have a little bit of pain left in the area (hopefully not us!) With your skin, you could try using pure aloe vera gel immediately after (or within the first hour at least). This has a cooling, soothing effect. Another idea I read on here is to put a wet washer in the fridge and put this onto the area as soon as you get home. Moo goo is excellent but particularly if your skin is fair you may find you still get quite a reaction. I have olive skin which held up very well during the 5 weeks of radio but I did find it got worse for 2-3 weeks afterwards. I had some skin peel which was very uncomfortable but the skin underneath was very healthy thank goodness and I did not have any infection issues. The area now is just a tanned look. Hope you find some relief and that it goes as well as possible for you. Take care. Deanne xxx

hi there; i had lumpectomy and radiation therapy and i did find the fatigue with this treatment peaked in week 5 and then the last week--good news is dont get too worried as in my case it lifted within a week which was lovely. my skin did get red and bit angry looking and again i wouldnt worry too much --i started seeing the nurse on the unit --and i did get a tear which looked huge but healed overnight--reminds me that body is amazing--however this occured in the last 2 weeks so i had daily nursing to change bandage--they would clean, apply solugel which i think everyone should now have it at home--and there was no pain--occasionally there is some --and not itcy etc; bandages were lovely and i applied solugel a few times a day--just took supplies with me as i was mainly at work etc--so dont worry too much; my treatment was all low intervention but nurses will jump in when needed --including creating a vest for me to wear at night to keep bandages on --very cute. and after treatment it all just came good pretty quickly best wishes

Hi Christine, Yep all of the above support is great. I put the sorbeline cream on immediately even before I got dressed and it seemed to hold off burns 'til just at the end. The lovely nurses gave me parrafin and a sort of net bandage to keep it all greased up when I got a burn near my neck and it took nearly 2 weeks but has healed really well. Now it's been 3 months and I still put bio oil or rosehip on that area especially and of course avoid the sun! Hope you manage to fight off the burns, keeping yourself cool is pretty helpful. Good luck Sue

I used aloe vera gel straight after each zap.I would lie in a warm salt bath each night and that helped.Yes,I had weird pains going on inside the breast during radiation. My breast was never quite the same- always a slight discomfort but at least it filled my bra.I'm fair but my skin never broke down- just ended up glowing like a hot plate. You are going through an emotional time so it's on the cards you'll cry and often when you least expect it. Carry sunglasses and tissues at all times! Check with your team but I took panadol or panadiene when my breast got painful.Mich is right,seek help if you find yourself crying every day. Big hug, Tonya xx

My Radio update.. | BCNA Online Network

12 Replies

Mich_x
Member
12 years ago
You are allowed to cry in those sessions. That is why you are there. I bet they had plenty of tissues on hand for you cause you won't be the first and you won't be the last.

i am so glad you are seeing one. Always talk it out, cry it out and ask if your not sure. Like I say you won't be the first huny.

Good luck and don't forget to pop back on here any time when you need to get it out or to share or to vent or whatever it is you need at that moment. We know where you are coming from.

Lots of luv, Mich xoxoxoxoxo
Christine_Marie
Member
12 years ago
Thanks Tonya, tissues & sunglasses are on my list...hopefully I will get handle on all this emotional stuff, my last couple of years have been filled with lots of family loss & BC has just tripped me over big time....big ((hug))back at you:) Christine xox.
Christine_Marie
Member
12 years ago
Wow getting your neck burnt,I didn't think rads went that far up..thank you for the tips:) Christine xox
Christine_Marie
Member
12 years ago
Thanking you for all your advice on my rads & tears I did go to counseling after rads today & seeing her again in a couple of weeks, I do feel a little better & kind of Silly at the same time, cause all I did was cry again..so emotional it's just ridiculous...thanks again Mich :) Christine xox
Christine_Marie
Member
12 years ago
The body sure is amazing with the way it heals & solugel Viv has mentioned the same thing to me, & hopefully I may not need it..it's nice how everyone can share all different kinds of info.. I'm learning lots thanks Mona:) take care Christine xox
Christine_Marie
Member
12 years ago
I'm glad I'm not the only one with this pain! As Deanne said there doesn't seem to be a lot of info on this pain.. I can't believe you still get this you poor love, & I will be getting myself one of those gel ice Packs thanks for that & Adean was that pure aloe gel straight from the plant & thank again for your good advice...
Christine_Marie
Member
12 years ago
The pain has been around since my surgery & having gone through the nasty infection didn't help.. So now I think radiation has stired it up, the pain starts deep inside & radiates through like stabbing burning feeling, like you I'm hoping this goes away, catches me off guard every time it happens...I have an aloe Vera plant is that ok to put on?? & thanks Deanne for all your good advice:) take care... Christine xox
TonyaM
Member
12 years ago
I used aloe vera gel straight after each zap.I would lie in a warm salt bath each night and that helped.Yes,I had weird pains going on inside the breast during radiation. My breast was never quite the same- always a slight discomfort but at least it filled my bra.I'm fair but my skin never broke down- just ended up glowing like a hot plate. You are going through an emotional time so it's on the cards you'll cry and often when you least expect it. Carry sunglasses and tissues at all times! Check with your team but I took panadol or panadiene when my breast got painful.Mich is right,seek help if you find yourself crying every day. Big hug, Tonya xx
skarch33
Member
12 years ago
Hi Christine,

Yep all of the above support is great. I put the sorbeline cream on immediately even before I got dressed and it seemed to hold off burns 'til just at the end. The lovely nurses gave me parrafin and a sort of net bandage to keep it all greased up when I got a burn near my neck and it took nearly 2 weeks but has healed really well. Now it's been 3 months and I still put bio oil or rosehip on that area especially and of course avoid the sun! Hope you manage to fight off the burns, keeping yourself cool is pretty helpful. Good luck

Sue
skarch33
Member
12 years ago
Hi Christine,

Yep all of the above support is great. I put the sorbeline cream on immediately even before I got dressed and it seemed to hold off burns 'til just at the end. The lovely nurses gave me parrafin and a sort of net bandage to keep it all greased up when I got a burn near my neck and it took nearly 2 weeks but has healed really well. Now it's been 3 months and I still put bio oil or rosehip on that area especially and of course avoid the sun! Hope you manage to fight off the burns, keeping yourself cool is pretty helpful. Good luck

Sue