🌟 September 2026 Radiation Support — Gather Here!🌟
Having radiation therapy this September? Whether you’re preparing for your first session, settling into the routine, halfway through treatment, or counting down to your final appointment, this thread is for you.
This is your place to connect, ask questions, share updates, celebrate milestones, and support others who understand the experience of getting through radiation one day at a time.
Hopeful, nervous, tired, determined, frustrated—or somewhere in between? You belong here. 💛
✨ Introduce Yourself
Tell us a little about your journey:
- Your radiation start date or treatment schedule
- Where you are in treatment
- A little about yourself
- Or simply say, “I’m here!”
Then come back and keep us posted!
đź’¬ Share, Ask & Update
This isn’t a one-and-done thread. Check in before treatment, after an appointment, throughout your weeks of radiation, or anytime you need support.
Come back to:
- Share how you’re preparing
- Talk about what your appointments are like
- Ask questions about what to expect
- Share side effects or concerns
- Talk about skin changes, fatigue, or other challenges
- Share tips and routines that are helping
- Celebrate milestones and little wins
- Encourage someone else
No update is too small. Whether you post after every treatment or simply say, “Today was a little easier,” we’d love to hear from you.
💞 Ask Questions & Share What You’ve Learned
Radiation can bring plenty of questions. Ask them here!
Wondering about skin care, fatigue, positioning, breath hold, what to wear, managing daily appointments, or what recovery may be like?
Someone here may have had the same question—or discovered something that helped.
And if you’ve found a tip, routine, or strategy that made treatment easier, please share it. Your experience could help another member feel more prepared.
🌼 Celebrate Every Milestone
First treatment? Finished your first week? Made it through another appointment? Only five sessions left? Rang the bell?
Tell us! 🎉
Radiation is a marathon of small daily steps, and every one deserves to be celebrated.
đź’— Support Makes This Community Strong
One of the best ways to participate is to reply to someone else.
A few encouraging words, a shared experience, or simply saying, “I’m thinking of you today,” can make a big difference.
And if you’ve already finished radiation or are further along, please stay and share your experience. Your practical tips and perspective can be incredibly reassuring to someone just starting.
✨ Easy Ways to Join In
- Introduce yourself.
- Share your treatment schedule.
- Check in throughout treatment.
- Ask a question.
- Share a tip.
- Celebrate a milestone.
- Encourage another member.
- Come back anytime you need support—or have an update.
There’s no such thing as posting too often. We’d love to follow your journey from your first session through recovery.
🌟 One Session at a Time
Radiation can feel repetitive, but every appointment is one step closer to the finish line.
So let’s take it together—one session, one week, and one milestone at a time.
đź“Ś Helpful Resources
- List of What to Do / Get / Pack to Prepare for Radiation Therapy
- Radiation Therapy resources on Breastcancer.org
Our Virtual Support Groups are also here for support before, during, and after treatment.
đź’› Ready to Join Us?
If you’ve been reading without posting, this is your invitation to jump in.
You don’t need the perfect words or all the answers. Just start where you are.
Introduce yourself. Ask a question. Share an update. Celebrate a win. Encourage someone else. Then come back and do it again.
Together, we’ll get through treatment.
— The Mods
Comments
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I had a lumpectomy on 7/28/26 for IDC, stage 1a, neg margins, ER PR+, HER2-. I have my first p/o visit with rad onc tomorrow, to plan rad therapy.
Your links are helpful. Thank you all:)1 -
Hi @mlav4314, welcome to BCO and the September radiation group! We’re glad you found us and that the resources have been helpful. Wishing you a smooth appointment with your radiation oncologist tomorrow and a good start to your treatment. Please keep us posted on how everything goes, and we hope others in the group will join you soon!
The Mods
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ILC Stage 1b ER, PR+, HER2- 2 lymph removed, no cancer found
I start radiation today and, admittedly, have a bad attitude about it. The radiation machine stopped working in the simulation yesterday and they had to reboot it. This did not give me confidence.
I did read in another thread that aloe or calendula helped a lot. Aquafor is … best for my heels with socks. Not my breast, but I will do it until I find organic aloe or calendula.
Also the techs kepts giving me different information about when to apply the Aquafor - before or after treatment. I guess I will figure it out.
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Hi @jen0009, and welcome to the September Radiotherapy group! We’re glad you found us, and we hope you’ll find some helpful tips and support from others going through radiation this month. Please keep us posted on how you're doing!
The Mods
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Stage 1, ER PR+, HER-, invasive cancer. Two tumors at 4 and 5 o’clock. I had a lumpectomy with reduction on 7/6/26. My surgeon was very pleased with his margins. However, the radiation oncologist was eager to book me for as many treatments as my insurance would approve, and I was scheduled for 20 treatments with the last 4 as boost treatments. I completed the whole breast radiation on 9/9/26 and declined the boost.
The radiation clinic gave me a cream I didn’t find beneficial, but my surgeon recommended Miaderm. It worked great! They have a soap which I also recommend. And they have a cream with lidocaine which is great if you have any discomfort. I make sure I put on cream at least 3-4 times a day. I also add vitamin E oil after a shower. My skin has held up pretty well. I also use Lindi aloe Vera sheets. I keep them in the fridge. They are very soothing.
I took a tube of Miaderm with me to radiation and hit the bathroom to apply it before leaving the facility. Get that cream on as soon as you can.Radiation is not a walk in the park. Nutrition and rest are important. I make sure I get plenty of fruits and veggies to ensure generous Vitamins A and C consumption. And watch that sun! Gotta be careful there.
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Welcome, @pmartin05! Thank you so much for sharing these valuable tips, it can be so helpful to hear directly from others what has worked for them.
The Mods
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IDC, Stage 1, Grade 2, HER2 -, ER/PR +, lumpectomy and sentinel lymph node removal for biopsy (negative) on 22 July. Clean margins. I am getting 20 sessions of radiation with some of them boosts to the specific area. Then, two weeks after radiation, Tamoxifen.
I have had two sessions so far and have my first full week this week, starting later today. After the first session and later in the evening, I felt what felt like internal sunburn. I have no issue yet on skin and using aveeno unscented and aquafor (at night). I am now making sure to drink a bunch of water before my appointment and moisturize right after. I had at least 96oz of water in me before the second session and didn’t have the same issue that I did after the first.
I am hopeful the moisturizing, lots of water, protein, veggies and fruits will help minimize some pain as I progress through radiation.
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Hey @k8tgr8, welcome to the September Radiotherapy group! We’re glad you joined us and hope you’ll find some helpful tips and support from others going through radiation this month. Wishing you a smooth week of treatment ahead, and please keep us posted on how you’re doing! 💗
The Mods
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Well just finished day 4 and before it, my breast tenderness is definitely increasing- like how they feel during bad PMS. Then, following my appointment today I was putting lubriderm they have in the changing room and notices what looked like a few blisters. I don’t think I had them before but am not sure as it’s hard to see by eye because of the location and not super noticeable in my bathroom light, though looking now I would have seen them if they were there before my appointment. I really don’t know what this means for 16 more f*cling sessions but guess I’ll find out.
F cancer.
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oh also, thank you @pmartin05 for the miaderm recommendations - I just ordered the one with lidocaine.
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Hi! I just finished radiation to the entire breast and axilla yesterday and things are pretty intense today. When did you all find things felt like they were on the upswing, 2-4 weeks after?
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@k8tgr8, blistering and peeling from radiation burns are unfortunately commonly reported side effects from radiation treatment. Please keep your medical team informed of ANY side effects that you're noticing, especially as you're experiencing this early on and have concerns about your remaining sessions.
If your burns are becoming severe, your team may recommend taking small breaks in between sessions to allow you some healing time, and they may recommend the use of the some of the following topical therapies, to help manage the burns:
- Melpitel film
- Miaderm lotion
- Emu oil
- Calendula salve
- Aquaphor
- Silvadene ointment@td2tr26, welcome to our September group! And congrats on finishing up your radiation treatments! It's actually quite common for side effects to seem even more pronounced in the 2-3 weeks AFTER the final session, before you'll start to notice improvement, but you'll get there!
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Thanks so much - false alarm, just splotchy. But definitely keeping an eye on the area, and have my weekly touch base with my radiation oncologist tomorrow after my session.
I just had a bad day yesterday. Those will happen. Today is better for sure. Day 5 of 20 down.
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We're glad to hear it was a false alarm, @k8tgr8! And we're glad today was a better day!
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Woke up after day 6 and can see I’m starting to see skin flushing now on my treated breast - ie different than my untreated breast. I’m going to monitor, moisturize and reach out to nurse if worsens over the weekend after day 7 treatment later today.
Marching on.
F cancer.
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I hope you found some helpful information @jen0009. I also hope your sessions have went smoothly and no repeat of your dry run.
Hang in there, you’re not alone in this, and you got this ✊
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I have had two treatments last week, start first full week tomorrow…thanks for all the suggestions! My insurance quickly approved my treatments, but I have to pay 20%… but 20% of what? I asked for a financial evaluation and was told I will pay $440…per treatment!! That is on medicare. I have met with the financial assistance person and am awaiting approval…🤞🏼
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Day 15 of 20 later today. Last full breast treatment today, with 4 boost sessions to go. Definitely have radiation burn and some is getting pesky itching just this week. I have my appointment with my doc after today’s appt and will discuss things there. For now, aquaphor, miaderm L, and going to try otc hydrocortisone today as also recommended by radiation nurse.
Still trucking along.
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quick update - Cortizone 10 works miracles for the itch relief. That’s just the otc you can buy at your local drugstore. The one I have says “Soothing Aloe itch relief cream” by the “10” in the name on the tube.
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Another update: the terrible itching I had yesterday was my skin peeling. Absolutely terribly irritating as nipple and areola area which of course gets the most friction.
My nurse was an angel after radiation and got me covered with aquaphor coated adaptic (3M product) strips. But what a mess - so old shirts, no bra and towels on bed. And the worst part? It’ll get worse before it gets better.
Just have my four remaining boost sessions and then done with radiation.
Then on to tamoxifen adventure after that.
But, I’m still trying to remember I’m lucky & it could be worse.Hang in there, everyone.
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Thank you everyone that replied to my original post. I have now finished radiation. I switched to calendula after a couple discussions with my radiation oncologist and staff. They looked at me like I was crazy when I told them that the aquafor did not work and seemed to cause an allergic reaction. Here I am now and my radiation oncologist is pleased with the condition of my skin given I switched to calendula cream. Of course, I did apply both the radioplex and the calendula like it was a 2nd job. Hydration was my other job. It is behind me now and I am on to the hormone blocker, anastrozle (spell?). I wish you all the best and virtually share your joy with you when radiation treatment plan is complete! đź’—
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