tip or tricks on getting through radiation?
Hi all. I haven't been on here for quite a few months as I was super unwell with chemo, (that's a story in itself) My chemo has come to a close now due to many side effects etc, so now I move to th...
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Thanks @arpie ☺️😘, I’m very happy to help.
Hi @Maree72 🙂. So sorry to hear you going through all this as well. It’s not a fun ride at all.
I was also told that my rads centre didn’t use Mepitel, but I’d read so many positive comments on it, I was determined to use it. So, I ordered a pack of my own online and my oncologist said they’d use it. When I turned up for my first session, the technicians said they didn’t know what it was and how to use it. Basically, they wanted to go ahead without it. I was almost in tears because I was so desperate to use it. Let me just say, thank goodness I persisted!!!! It saved my skin!! And, luckily my onc showed up just then and told the technicians I wanted to use it and had a nurse put it on for me. It needs to be applied before your first season, or it won’t be as effective.
Now, I had had a DMX with expanders put in. Big, curvy expanders. As one technician called them, bricks (😄). Therefore, it absolutely is possible to use the Mepitel even when you have breasts there. It’s very hard to apply and it’s really fiddly, so I think that’s why most centres and nurses don’t like it. But they’re not the ones who might be burnt to a crisp. I had a couple small areas where I got burnt because the Mepitel had come off due to sweating, and believe me, it’s PAINFUL. Really really painful. I almost felt sick from the pain, and it wasn’t even all over my breasts. So I’m beyond thankful that I stuck up for myself and got it used for me. The skin on my breasts didn’t burn at all, and was smooth as a baby’s bottom as soon as I took off the dressing. It’s beyond worth it.
There’s also a cream that you mentioned too, which is just as effective apparently, called StrataXR or something like that. Lots of ladies swear by it. It’s expensive but also worth it. Please look into these things and insist on them. They can’t deny you these things, and remember, they’re not the ones who’ll be in possible severe pain.
Good luck with it all 🍀, and please ask me any more questions you might have. I’m happy to answer all ☺️.
M Xx