15 months after treatment… side effects still persisting

Hi Vik63 ,

My skin that was in the field of the radiotherapy is still really sensitive 8 years on. On the most part it’s all good but it still becomes irritated sometimes & I also get a burning sensation when I get these episodes. My colorectal surgeon told me the new skin would respond like baby’s skin & what I was suffering from was essentially nappy rash & should be treated accordingly. He advised using sudocrem which always does the trick for me within a couple of applications. 

Aside from the sudocrem I can’t use any toilet paper with fragrance in, it’s really surprising how many do have fragrances added these days, I even take my own loo roll if I go away with friends or on holiday etc. I can’t use any kind of soap/shower gel down there either, not even unperfumed ones, the only thing I wash with is aquamax cream which I now have on repeat prescription from my GP but you can buy this on Amazon I believe. For us girls the bacterial balance to keep things healthy in our intimate areas is a really fine balance & unnecessary perfumes/scented products really upskittle things. 

I hope your wife’s scan results are good & her oncologist can shine some light on this.

Take care.

Nicola 

I read this out to my wife and was delighted you took time to respond thoroughly. Much appreciated. Thanking you so much for you your advice. We understand that this is a long term thing now…

Hello Vik63 

I think it is fair to say that there can be significant skin changes both internally and externally after radiotherapy and those affected have found ways of dealing with it.  These skin changes can improve but more than four years on from treatment I am also still affected and found the remedies Nicola describes excellent for irritation relief.  I am also affected when I sit and what has really helped me is having a honeycomb cushion, (Amazon) in fact I have several, dotted round the house and I have one in the car.  I don't worry in the slightest walking into a restaurant or bar with my cushion in hand ready to sit down, life has to go on!

I also have a colostomy and last year my daughter had prepared lots of crudities on a big plate for us all to tuck in - tomatoes featured heavily but I had so much of everything I can't narrow what caused my upset but suffice it to say I won't be eating like that again!

Best of luck with the meeting with the oncologist, I really do hope everything is clear.

Irene xx

Strangely, for my wife sitting was very  painful up until and during treatment. She hasn’t mentioned for many months now.

Thank you.

BR

 Vik63 

I do remember your earlier posts when you share how much pain she was in.  I am delighted to hear that that particular pain has been resolved

Irene xx.