tip or tricks on getting through radiation?

Hi @Maree72
i I had 28 sessions and used the strata xrt creme ( yes it was expensive!) and it did the trick - I only got a bit of pinkness towards the end.
i There was a trick to applying it I had to get the nurses to show me - main thing is not to put it on too thick
I I had ni long term changes to my skin .

@Katie46 yeah I had not heard of StrataXRT till the rad oncologist spoke of it, after jumping on here and asking my question /topic one of the lovely ladies spoke about it and how her team in Perth were so kind and helpful, probley the one time I wished I was back in Perth with the care she was shown and experienced, unlike here in Brisbane where I am now, its so not cheap, mine costed my just under $140.00 for a 50g tube, and that was with the 40% discount code the centre /nurse gave me.
I tried explaining I'm on a super tight budget and did they have samples, answer was no, you will just have to use sorbolene or something you can get. this product is from Switzerland. 
this is the website https://au.stratpharma-shop.com/
i even asked once I brought it and if it didn't arrive in time for the start of my treatment, would they wait till it arrived, again NO, I tell yes I truly do not get along with my 

my chemo went tits up, so I have had about a 7 week break from chemo to radiation starting, as I ended up with grade 3 peripheral neuropathy in the second cycle of chemo the friendly version as the team called, not to relive all the sickness of the 1st round of that red devil that put me in hospital more times than I care to remember but that's all behind me now - so it all came to an end 1/2 way through, otherwise I was meant to finish around the now too. 

best of luck with your radiation, stay in touch ::smiley:

That's a bummer you're not getting on with the Rad Onc @Maree72 - mine was just lovely & I was public.

I had no change to my flesh 'feel' or look - still soft & smooth - but some may have changes - it depends on many different factors ... and I definitely didn't change size .... just make sure you lather up with lotions & potions after each session xx

take care - ring our helpline if you'd like to chat 1800 500 258 .... I am sure they'll be able to help you xx

Oh @Maree72 I'm sorry to hear your clinic has not been great. I'm not far behind you, I finish chemo on 20 May and after a 3 week break I'll start radiation therapy, mine will be 3 weeks. In my unluckiness I feel lucky to be in Darwin, the Alan Walker Centre and everyone along the way has been wonderful, I am a public patient. They are our only choice up here, and we currently only have 1 breast surgeon as far as I'm aware, but I can't fault the care I've been given. I had a consultation with the Radiation team a few weeks ago, and although they did go through a list of possible side effects, they did say that generally the side effects are short term, although they can't guarantee that. The most likely one being the 'sunburn'. They advised using sorbolene generously after treatment, and reapplying it often, they had not heard of StrataXRT, which I was surprised about, and they were going to look into it. 

update for all who have jumped on here to show their support and give their own thoughts,

Radiation kicks off this coming Monday 20th May, for 6 weeks , I had to buy the StrataXRT cream, my word its got a massive price tag even with the discount coupon I was given by the nurse at the clinic.
The mapping app went ok, I guess, I had nothing to compare it to, so had no idea what's was truly involved.

I'm not getting along with my rad oncologist DR at all. She isn't a nice person, nor are the nurses at this clinic I have been sent to by my team at the hospital.
Its 1/2 private and 1/2 public, so no surprises on how they look at their public patients. well that's what I'm finding any way, like I'm just another one of those people they have to treat, not one who got the private health insurance they swan over, yes I've watched them do this as they have 2 reception counters, one for public and one for private, right next door to each other.

Dose  you skin return back to normal at all after all this radiation finishes?
I'm told the skin will thicken etc. but with using all these creams and doing what they tell you to do, will the skin ever return back to being soft and smooth like it was before the treatment even started?

It just amazes me, that you do everything in your power to save the breast, go through chemo, takes the advice and do as they say, only to put you through such a treatment that can disfigure the breast, 

Has anyone had their breast change size? but then did it return back to the size it was before radiation? 
if not, then what's you experience in bras' so to speak?
I have not brought myself anything nice in the underwear range since this hole breast cancer nightmare started back in late Dec 2022

My rad oncologist wasn't keen to answer any of my question regarding any of these things, only happy to speak of the facts and then shove me out the door.
in fact she dismisses most of my points and questions, and looks down on me completely, only again re sighting the fact sheet they give you.

Nice lady , not! 

feeling a little, no a lot worried, that my breast wont ever go back to the way it was, and is right now,  
feeling like I'm on the count down to the end of what I have now, before it gets taken away from me.

Hi @Maree72
I too find swimming my salve - for both my creaky bones and my rampant anxiety.
I waited about 10 days after my rads finished before I got back in the pool - but my skin was intact and OK. Hopefully your skin will be too!
You got this
Kelly

@becs70 thanks you for your information 
I had another appointment with my radiation oncologist 
I again pleaded about my dermatitis 
it pretty much went over head 
as she said she has not had many patients with eczema  
It was like she didn’t believe me that I suffer from this 
pointing out that most expensive  patients have it in their crease of their arm
i exploded mine was under control there
Them I asked about the discount vouchers that patients had been given in WA
she looked blankly at me and told me I could a cheaper option at the chemist 
mum not really have a fabulous time with this woman !!
tried to address my concerns 
was met with typical responses of the medical kind ! I felt like absolutely no care was considered for me the one going through this, 
then I asked about a sample 
so the nurse patch tested me 
but no they do not offer samples
so you guys back in Perth are quite fortunate if you have been offered that
however I was given a discount code 
so I guess that’s something 

so very very angry 😡 that I’m not allowed to continue with my swimming ( because they all tell you to exercise) and swimming is what I enjoy , chemo took that away for the last 4 months right over summer 
but no unless you go into the sea , ( I live no where near the beach) 
6 weeks of radiation 
them I’m told I have to wait another 4 weeks afterwards before I can return back to the pool 
so I’m totally salty right now 

I’m also not really happy about the entire radiation thing either after all the possible side effects 
Its extremely upsetting  
and very overwhelming 

planning meeting next week 

sorry just ranting 
as it’s all just unfolded this afternoon 

thanks again for your message & how you are personally traveling 

I hope radiation is kinder that what chemo was 

Hi @Maree72, I've just started radiation and had #6 today. I was very kindly gifted a tube of the StrataXRT from a wonderful friend who had also used it and recommended it highly.  When I told them I wanted to use it, I got differing info from different nurses.  One said she didn't think I'd need it, and almost told me not to bother, then another that said that it will definitely make a difference.  Anyhoo, I'm going with it since I have the tube and so far it has been great.  The instructions that came with it said you use it very thinly and there should be enough in the 50g tube for 60 applications.  Which is about what I need morning and night for 15 sessions and for two or three weeks after, so I'm hoping I'll have enough. 
Good luck and I hope you breeze through this next part of your journey.

Hi @Maree72, I'm also getting radiation near my neck, which was also a surprise to me. The radiation oncologist told me it was because my cancer was in the inside of my right breast, and so they would be targeting the lymph nodes that are associated with that, which includes the clavicle area, as well as under my arm where I had 1 lymph node with cancer. I asked about Strata xrt and they had not heard of it, but took the name and said they'd look into it. They recommend sorbolene, applied generously after treatment, and not let the skin dry out.