Hi - I'm starting my radiotherapy on Monday! I know I need to use tonnes of cream but should I be washing it all off before each session? I did ask during my planning appointment and was told no but now I've read a couple of posts that say I should?
Hi Kitz welcome to the forum. Nearly there with the treatment.
Im not sure what cream that you intend to use if I was you I wouldn't use or buy any until you have spoken with the Radiotherapy team as there are certain creams that you cant use. That said you may be one of the lucky ones who gets through with no problems so wont need the cream. However, what you must do is keep yourself hydrated and drink plenty of water during the course of the treatment. This will help keep your skin in tip top form.
Have they advised you which cream is best? If not I would ask them? Most creams absorb quite quickly so Im not sure about needing to wash it off all the time but maybe someone else may know the answer to this one for you .
Best wishes for the start of treatment and look after you. xxxx
Hi Kitz. I am due to finish my 15 radiotherapy sessions on Monday. I used the cream the radiotherapy team gave me. I slather it on in the morning, after treatment and at night. Let it soak in the 5 mins then just get dressed. You dont need to wash it off for treatment.
I find putting it on thick under my breast stops the rubbing that can aggravate red skin.
I am a bit pink and tanned. Some freckles have come out. I have no blisters or itchiness yet. I try not to wear my bra unless I'm going out. Its wireless , seamless and soft from m&s.
I am due to start 18 sessions of radiotherapy on 2nd March. I asked my oncologist about creams and he said I could use aloe vera. I haven’t been told anything else. I have super sensitive skin so am a bit concerned how my skin will be during treatment so I’m interested to hear what others suggest too.
Hi Bearcat19. In Merseyside the radiotherapy team give you a huge tub of aqua cream at your first session. I too have very sensitive skin but it has been perfect. Use it generously and aside from a little pink skin, some sunburn and fr3ckles my skin has stayed in tact. If I could give you any tips I’d say wear your bra as little as possible and use the cream as often as needed but always after shower, after treatment and before and after bed. Let it soak in don’t rub it in.
Things I have also learned during treatment are that you should drink 2-3 liters of water a day to avoid dehydration, you may get a sore throat if they treat your lymph nodes this goes and go with the tiredness which has just hit me after treatment 14. One more to go then it’s over. Good luck hope this helps. Jackie x
Thanks for the info and advice, I hadn’t thought they might give me some cream at my first session. Will see what happens. It’s great to hear that your skin has stayed intact, I am concerned about blistering as I always burn in the sun despite using sun cream and I am still quite large chested even after having a therapeutic mammoplasty and I understand blistering can happen underneath the breast where my scars are.
I will make sure I look after my skin with creams and hydration, which makes perfect sense.
good luck with your final treatment and I hope the tiredness reduces too.
5 years since I had radiotherapy and they told me to buy E45 and pure Aloe Vera and to keep Aloe Vera in fridge . I had early morning appointments for my 15 sessions as I lived less than 5 minute drive away . I would shower E45 and put on cape they gave me then come home and Aloe Vera. As treatment went on and afterwards I carried Aloe Vera with me as boob hot! I had some breakdown underneath breast which is common with larger breasts (I had a mould made to hold breasts in place during RT). I wore mastectomy bras during and after treatment as softer cotton inside. I put a pantry liner under breast tissue absorb wetness and BCN gave me anti fungal cream.
They did give me special dressing to absorb wettness under breast which occurs from skin on a kin burns. They were low adhesive and I believe quite expensive but they irritated and stuck to my skin so I was thinking what else I could put there to keep dry and stop bra irritating and remembered my hubby saying an ex soldier he knew used sanitary towels to reduce friction from back packs ! My BCN laughed at me but it was extremely effective .
Also not sure if others found the same but as well as being thirsty I was starving after each session. Hubby made me bacon roll while I applied cream. Also found myself resting late afternoon. Just feet up on sofa. The sessions themselves a breeze and used to take about 10 minutes at most - depended how quick the mould went in right place!
I love all the advice that I have got since I’ve been in this group especially as it’s things I would never have thought of. Thanks Carol for these tips. I will put my aloe vera in the fridge now so I don’t forget.
