List of what to do/get/pack to prep for Radiation Therapy

I'm almost halfway through my 36 radiation treatments and the three main things I do:

1). Exercise first thing in the morning. I've found by afternoons my stamina is waning.

2) Always take a jug of ice-water with you to drink on your way home from treatment.

3). I'm getting treatment on a mastectomy without reconstruction, so I take some Emu oil with me to apply after my treatment.

1. wear comfortable clothing that closes in the front, including your bra. Taking things off over your head can be difficult.

2. Buy soft bras (Genie Bra-Walmart) in 1 size larger. More comfortable and I was able to wear them while sleeping.

3 I used J&J large gauze pads to cover the radiated breast after I used the recommended cream. It protected my clothing from stains and kept the cream on the breast. You can also cut up an old soft Tshirt for this purpose.

4. Drink lots of water and continue to exercise during radiation as it will help with the fatigue.

I discovered men's ribbed tank-style tee-shirts (aka "wife-beaters") too late to save my new sheets from being ruined by melted Aquaphor. I found the tees to be just right when I didn't want to wear a bra but I was too sensitive to not have some protection and just a little bit of containment. I'll probably wear them overnight for several more months.

My go-to skin product was Calendula cream by NatureWorks - available on Amazon. It's not greasy, really moisturizes well and kept my skin in good shape. I applied it in the morning and in the dressing room after my treatments. (I did use Aquaphor overnight, but it was too greasy to be socially acceptable during the day.)

Soft cotton Genie bras from Walmart worked well but Amoena makes a cotton bra with hooks and eyes in the front which worked even better.

I quit counting calories and counted protein grams instead, making sure that I concentrated on lean meats and low-fat or fat-free dairy. My goal was 60 grams of protein per day.

1. In addition to carrying my water bottle with me each day and going straight from 9 a.m. rads to the gym on MWF, I also wore cotton bras with no seams on the cups (except when going out to parties, dinner, etc.)

2. Also made my life easier in the morning by driving braless (even with a D cup) to rads, and putting bra on afterwards. (Was lucky to never be stopped by a cop!)

3. My rad onc "banned" Dial, Irish Spring and Ivory and advised Dove or Camay as the only soaps to use, and advised Tom's of Maine or pure cornstarch as deodorant.

4. She also suggested standing with back to shower and letting the water just run down gently on the breast--to never let the water assault the already traumatized breast.

5. She also encouraged me to keep the underarm area "open" by placing my hands on my hips (like a tough teacher) when standing and walking, and sitting with the affected arm over the back of a chair next to me.

6. In the 2 weeks between the planning CT and the start of rads, I used a safe gentle moisturizer on my boob to prepare it for what was to come, and then stopped the day before rads started and switched to Aquaphor as directed.

Hopeful, my skin is really good almost 2 weeks after finishing. I didn't blister at all but my "underboob" was pretty sore the last 2 weeks and the week after finishing. My boost area is very discolored but the raw-looking area has pretty much healed already. I never peeled either.

Like tgtg, I'm still showering backwards with warm water. (I'm really looking forward to my first hot shower facing the spray. I might be brave enough to try that in about a month. Anticipation can be fun, right?) On days I don't have to wash my hair, I take a shallow bubble bath and splash flowing water from the faucet onto my boob, lather with Dove and then wet a wash cloth directly from the tap to wring out over my boob or blot gently to rinse.

I'm going to continue to use my calendula products (I also have an ointment and a gel) until the containers are empty. I think that'll be about 2 more weeks, so it will be a full month after finishing rads.

Hopeful - I had 25 full-breast external treatments in the prone position and 8 boosts to the scar and tumor bed.

Thanks so much for the details, chtease, including a warning about the locker size. Who would have anticipated that? It's certainly something I'll check on.

You're lucky that you were able to do rad. in the prone position; I understand that can make quite a difference. You had about as many as I'm slated for, including the boost and I hope I do as well.

I'm glad to hear that you;re doing well and hope that only continues to improve. Thanks again!

I used Eucerin and Jean's Cream (somewhat expensive) all over the radiated area. I was advised no creams, lotions, etc. 4 hours before treatment. Post treatment, I applied the creams when I got dressed again. When the skin under my arm got red and dry, I started applying Aquafor and put Vaseline gauze over it and dry gauze over the baseline to protect my clothes. I also wore cotton tank tops to protect my clothes. If you must use deodorant, be careful to use non-metallic as opposed to aluminum free. I inadvertently used a deodorant that had zinc oxide in it instead of aluminum. The metals can scatter the radiation. My doc also gave me antiseptic soap Chlorhexidine Gluconate 2%, which I diluted 1 part soap to 3 parts water and washed the area 2-3 times a day.

Best advice I can give is to listen to your MO and do what they say. If you are doing something they don't know about, it might be the wrong thing.

I found the room I was receiving treatment in to be freezing; it was the late Fall. I ended up wearing tights under my pants, bringing my own wool blanket with me, brought a long-sleeve wrap cardigan to wear under my gown, wore extra fuzzy socks just during treatment, and had them put warmed blankets over my arms -- and then I was comfortable.

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I tried a bunch of different recommended lotions, ointments and creams during treatment. Here's what seemed to work best:

Aquaphor

Calendula lotion

Silvadene

Lubriderm

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For dry and wet desquamation the silicon dressings by Mepilex worked best. They cling without adhering and the foam versions can absorb exuded fluids.

For wet desquamation I found Silvadene cream covered with a hydrogel dressing and held in place with a larger piece of Mepilex over the damaged area was amazing. The hydrogel dressing is a wet dressing and it lets the wound heal without further trauma. You can keep the hydrogel pad in place for a couple days before changing it (I looked it up).

Johnson & Johnson used to sell hydrogel pads as part of their consumer bandaging line and I still had some in my first aid kit. Your treatment facility should be able to order some in for use with patients. My facility was reluctant for some BS administrative reason. You don't need much and you can order it online but it usually comes in packs of 10 larger sheets.

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At the end of treatment I started feeling itchy all over and felt like I had too much histamine in my body. The body produces histamine as part of the inflamnation used to heal injuries in the body. I had some modicum of relief when I took liquid Claritin (Children's) but I still felt icky like when I have had bad allergies - nauseous even. After reading up about histamine intolerance I realized that rads had overwelmed my body's ability to break down histamine -- there was too much inflammation. Anti-histamines only block histamine receptors but histamines still circulate. DAO is the enzyme your body produces to break down histamine, but I speculated that my body couldn't keep up. My naturopathic oncologist heard me out and gave me a DAO supplement (HistDAO) and within a couple of days I felt better

I drank a lot of water, wore lose comfortable clothing and nothing else! ! My doctor told me do nothing unless you need. I turned slightly pink in the end the only spot that broke the skin was when I refused another tattoo and they put a bandaid type marker on me when I took it off my skin did too !!!

I just finished my radiation yesterday/I had 21 treatments. My facility has some construction going on and there are only 2 small changing areas and the lockers are very small. So I just brought a tote bag that also doubled as my purse and put my clothing in there once I changed into the gown. I could bring the tote bag into the treatment room with me. (I saw my RO every Thursday so this made it easy to have all my clothes with me and just wore my gown from the rad room over to the patient room.) I rarely wore a bra during treatment and instead wore a tank underneath a loose fitting shirt. Sometimes it was quite cool in the waiting area and treatment room but they have heated blankets as well as small quilts made by a local church quilting group!

I used Dove soap during treatment. The doc prescribed Triamcinolone cream to be used after radiation and then again at night. I was able to get 2 tubes of the cream so I kept one in the tote bag and one on my nightstand so I wouldn't forget to use it. The doc also said to use Aquaphor or Calendula after the Triamcinolone at night.

I always packed reading material but found there was little time for it. They were always on schedule.

I'm fair skinned but my skin held up well during treatments. During the 3rd week I was pink, especially the nipple area, and was a little tender. During the last week of treatment I noticed my skin was very "freckled" in some spots and especially in the nipple area. I had some "zinger" type pains and a little itching but no blistering or skin peeling. I am to continue with the creams for 2 weeks post treatment and was strongly encouraged to stay out of sun and use sunscreen. There is a follow-up appt. in 4 months.

I was able to do my radiation face down until the boost. For others doing the same thing, wear the gown opening in the back for the boost and you will have better coverage. I was pretty tired throughout treatment, but we had a variety of illnesses running through our household at the time. I did a lot of sleeping and played my cancer card--"No, I'm not cooking tonight; Someone else can take the trash out" etc...

I adored my radiation team and will miss not seeing them today. I brought them a special treat every Friday to countdown my weeks. Their compassion, professionalism, and kindness meant a lot to me during those 21 days.

I'm halfway through. I go first thing in the am. I use R1 immediately after RAD and then R2 60mg every 3-4 hours. No one told me to apply to my back and I'm badly burnt. So now applyingR2 to back as well as a mix of a queues cream with Betnovate( cortisone). I use Taurine in my water 4 x a day. Radiation depletes the body of Taurine, and this is what results I in fatigue. I work full time and dont suffer from fatigue at al

I used only Elta Lite and Elta cream that was given to me by the RO and my skin coped ok.

I got a soft furry seat belt cover from Amazon that helped with soreness when driving

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Hello fellow members:

I've just completed my chemo this past Tuesday. In 5.5 week's time, I shall be going for radiation therapy. I would appreciate it if you can share the following info in this format. I shall list mine of what I know thus far. Thank you all

1) Treatment length, in weeks?  3 weeks (daily for 15 days, excluding weekends). RO said 1st two weeks will focus on the whole right breast, and the last week is a booster to the location where my tumor was originally,

2) Treatment duration, in mins?  10-15 mins daily.

3) Treatment dose?  40 Gray each time, I think. Need to write and clarify with my RO again.

4) Treatment position?  My RO said they will do a trial run after the markers are in place, but that I shall most likely be in the prone position because this causes the least damage to my lungs and other body parts.

5) Clips within breasts -I've only just discovered two days ago that there were six 3 mm clips inside my right breast where I had lumpectomy and reconstructive surgery. Those clips are supposed to help the radiologist find the exact location to radiate. It seems they cannot be taken out. Is there anyone who has had it taken out after radiation completion? If so, how and what method was used please?

6) How do you feel immediately after radiation?

7) What do you do subsequently and for the rest of the day?

8) What side effects did you experience? How long did it lasts?

9) Anything else you would like to share?

Natsgusg

I am about where you are. I had the CT scan for positioning last week and placement of the tattoos. I will be in the prone position.

Didn't have a lumpectomy, so no clips.

It's undecided yet whether I will get 10 treatments or 25. The radiation oncologist will discuss with his peers and give me their best opinion. I don't have strong feelings either way.

Each treatment will be 15 minutes.

My next appointment is Thursday, it's a trial run and an education session with the nurse. They will be going over many of the issues that these fine ladies have discussed.

Hello, Bythemarina - My one piece of advice right now would be to start moisturizing the entire area very generously now, rather than waiting until you start radiation. Use something with minimal chemicals, if possible. I think it does make a difference in how well your skin handles it.

You may find it hard to find certain lotions or, for example, Aloe Vera without alcohol so you may want to start shopping for those now as well.

There is an on-going thread for Summer 2015 Radiation where you'll find lots of encouragement, answers, questions and lovely women. I hope you'll join us.

Radiation is daunting in the beginning, and I reached a point about 1/2 way through where it seemed as though it would never end. That passes, however, and eventually you will be finishing and thinking that it went by faster than you'd have expected. Good luck (and greetings to beautiful Cape Town - such a lovely city!).