Topic: Skin Cream during radiation

Susie

I have implants and I am a little more than half way through my radiation treatments. My skin is doing well. I use My Girls Radiation Cream. IT is an all natural calendula based cream which was formulated to protect the skin during radiation. My doctor and nurse are happy with the way my skin is holding up. I get Bolis, which is plastic sheet that is placed over the breast to draw the radiation dose closer to the skin. My skin is slightly red now that I am at this point in the treatment cycle. With Bolis, that is common. The team thinks my skin looks really good. You can order the cream online. It is www.radiationcream.com. It is approx $25 for a good sized jar.

I have one tip, don't forget to apply cream under your armpit as well as over your shoulder. I was focusing on my "boob" and neck area, but these were starting to get red and itchy. Now that I am using the cream there, it is much better.

Good luck!

I had a bilateral mastectomy on Sept. 5 and started radiation on Nov. 17.  I've had 18 treatments so far, and will have a total of 28, plus 5 boosts at the end.   At this point I have a slight burn, but not much, and I'm hoping it won't get too much worse.    This is what I've found works (for me at least):

--Start moisturizing a few days before treatments begin.

--Use Aquaphor at night and one of the following the other two times during the day (for a total of three times, about 8 hours apart):  cocoa butter cream, emu oil, almond oil, calendula cream or ointment. 

--I scheduled my appointment at 2:15 in the afternoon, so that I could put on moisturizer as soon as I got up and that would be at least six hours before treament, as they recommended.   

--Before I got dressed after the treatment, I used moisturizer.

--Before bed, I put on a heavy layer of Aquaphor and put a t-shirt I didn't care about over it.  Aquaphor messes up your clothing, so I'm wearing it only at night unless my skin gets a lot worse.

--When I showered at night, only every three days, and put on a heavy layer of Aquaphor.   Then I stood with my back to the spray, so that it wouldn't hit my skin.  I didn't TOUCH my skin (no washing, etc.).   This was to keep it from getting dried out.    I dried the area with the cool setting on my hair dryer.   Then I put on more Aquaphor before bed.

--Since I know that the effects of the radiation last two-three weeks after treatment stops, I'll moisturize during those weeks, too.

I'm pretty happy with how things are working out so far, but then I was completely hysterical about getting a burn since in college I had such a sunburn I had to be hospitalized for a week.  Northstar

07508125....I've been wearing a bra since the beginning of my radiation..I have 12 more to go out of 33. I use Emu oil after each rad treatment and before I go to bed. Don't see any redness, soreness or anything unusual. I am also not fatigued..still walk my dog each day and go to Curves 3 times a week...glad to be finished with the treatment only because of driving in each day though not far.

Wow...I so WISH I had read this a few weeks ago.  I have completed 20 sessions(as of last tues then had an all out melt down and proceeded to almost rip my rad onc a new one). When I asked if we could skip to the boost she suggested a break.  I am supposed to resume in the a.m. but keep looking at the dark ugly skin that feels like sandpaper and am wondering if it will always look and feel so awful, or be so permanently fibrotic.  Or if I'll ever be able to wear an open neck shirt or have my next boyfriend even touch me.  I have been swollen, uncomfortable, then pink, turning to red, then progressed to almost purple, blisters, couldn't wear a bra or anything else and VERY miserable.  Have had issues sleeping. Missed 3 days of work last week. And feel my biggest mistake was trusting my rad onc who assured me I'd be able to carry on normally. I honestly question if this wasn't a huge mistake as I had a very difficult time deciding on this vs bilat skin sparing mastectomy....and now haven't a clue if that or any sort of cosmetic procedure will ever be possible. I am typically a very upbeat person but have lost my mojo......and haven't even started the hormones..........  Ready to slash my wrists

Hi:

I used Jean's Cream, emu oil, ALRA lotion and the My Girls' Cream.  My skin only turned pink even though I am light with freckles.  One unexpected benefit of using the creams is that my lumpectomy scar is just about gone.  I had surgery at the end of July so I think that is quite remarkable. I kept the Jean's Cream upstairs next to my bed for at night, I kept the ALRA in the car for right after rads and I kept the My Girls' Cream in the bathroom for use during the day.  The emu oil I used once a day after I started getting pink.  Two weeks after rads, everything was back to normal. 

Peeps

Hi:

I got my Jean's Cream at the Lahey Clinic in Burlington, MA.  They also supposedly have it at Dana Farber though I never saw it.  They also have it online so do a google search.  The cream that smells the best is the My Girls' Cream and I loved the texture of it too. 

Peeps

Hi All -

    Have no fear - the ugly brown and red skin does become normal again - and pretty quickly.  I finished rads 4 wks ago, and my skin has looked pretty normal for the past two weeks.  The area where the boosts happened is still a little brown, and my nipple is still a teeny bit tender (my incision went from my nipple under my breast and about an inch below the crease, so my boosts hit my nipple and the area where my underwire hits.  I had some very discolored areas on my collarbone that are completely faded.  Despite the location, I was able to wear a cotton sports bra during my rads, but mostly choose an undershirt (I'm not too big and was working from home so could get away with it).  My doc said to keep synthetics away from my skin as they'd hold in the heat, so I stuck with cotton.    I used pure aloe when I got home from rads (to promote healing) then MyGirlsCream or Aquaphore at night (wore an undershirt with the Aquaphore).  I don't know which worked best so I switched back and forth.  Had no skin problems at all with that protocol.  Also had to cream up the underarm and shoulder blade so don't forget those areas.)

     Anyway, it does end - so hang in there.

Kati

Sharon, I've heard that it takes 2 years for the chemo effects to completely get out of your system.  My bones and muscles ache all over, and I do know that radiation makes you tired and achey, too.  I finished chemo in December, and surgery in January.  I had my 13th radiation today and just starting to show a little redness.  Not uncomfortable yet. Waiting for my radiation cream to come in the mail!!!!   Cora

Sharon, during chemo, it seemed that the arthritis in my knees and feet eased up a lot.  I guess it was the steroids I was getting.  Now it is back with a vengence!  I need to start walking, too, but don't seem to have the energy or gumption to get moving.  It's all I can do to push the vacuum and keep things clean around the house.  I saw somewhere a post about help with housecleaning but I would have to do LOTS of work before I let anyone in to do that.  I've let it go to the point of being embarrassed!  I try to do a little each day, but it's getting further ahead of me!!!! 

Cora

hey ladies who have just finished chemo, have you thought about doing the Essiac Tea cleanse? I did it even though I didn't have chemo. But it will help cleanse your body of the toxins. Also I joined the gym for a month to force myself into action. I have arthritis anyway and I felt if I got my body going during radiation I'd lessen the side effects and get a jump start on the s/e's of Arimidex. Just thought I'd share.

Got my radiation cream in the mail yesterday, and I just love it.  Does NOT stay greasy like the Aquaphor or A&D cream.  I slathered up several times with it and it's wonderful!  I know I'm starting late with it (I'm at #16 already), but hope it keeps my skin healthy, etc., through the rest of the rads!  Thanks to all who mentioned it!  Cora

I used biafine until the burns got bad, then switched to silverdine.  Been happy with both!