Preparing for radiotherapy

Hi Esther

An unfortunate welcome to this site but please use it as much as you wish as there are plenty of us ladies that are travelling the same road as yourself and you will find tonnes of support from the lovely ladies here.

I am currently having radiation after surgery of a 30mm tumor and like you am a ++-  and consider myself to be very lucky.

I have had 11 radiation treaments or zappings as I also call them with 19 treatments to go.  I was also very apprehensive about treatment and the affects on my skin and energy levels as I am working while having treatment.  To answer your question about preparing your skin I started applying the Vitamin E cream that was recommended by the radiation nurse a week before the treaments started, 4 times a day, after my shower in the morning, around lunchtime, directly after treatment- I have a small tube I keep in my gown bag, and last thing at night before bed. The radiation nurse did say not to apply the cream for 2 hours prior to treatment and as I have my zappings at 4pm lunch time is the best for me. I did this to get myself into the routine of it and I'm not sure if there had been any real benefit but so far my boob is a bit pink and I have had no drying or splitting of my skin.  The treatments themselves are over very quickly and I fine I spend more time parking - undressing and dressing than anything else.  I do find myself yawning a little when I drive home and I am tired later in the day but I find if I rest for 20-30 minutes my energy level comes back a little.  I hope this helps and you luck with your treatments.

Stay in touch Georgie