** SEPTEMBER OCTOBER NOVEMBER 2021 BREAST CANCER RADIOTHERAPY **

Hi

E45 aqueous cream or 99% aloe Vera gel

I finished my RT(5 fraction) 5 weeks ago and didn’t get much of a reaction at all

i used neutrogena deep moisture comfort balm from amazon

it absorbed really quickly 

Thanks exraygirl - I got the same answer at my session today re hair loss. 
I am on Tamoxifen - am now really worried that I will not get my hair back.

N

Hi. I have been using a mixture of E45 cream and aloe vera (got from body shop). I have now had 8 treatments so only 2 more for me (1 week intensive and 1 week boost). I have warm, red rash like boob but am not doing too bad. I hope it won't get too much worse over the next 2 weeks. I am putting E45 morning and night and then aloe straight after therapy and again in afternoon. 

Hi Iblodwin

There are usually 3 in the team that I see and they have been mostly young men. 1 female 2 male is the norm. I’m 55 and don’t love my look after surgery either so I had some qualms but they vanished after the first session. Everyone was so kind and professional. Most of the time you are exposed you will be alone  in the room. You see the team at the start and end of the session when the get you into and out of position. It’s just a few minutes. I was given a hospital gown which has Velcro fastenings at the shoulders and down the centre so they undo that once I’m lying down. Don’t have to get on to the thing half naked thankfully!  For me it been much less intrusive than chemo, the machines make it impersonal somehow. And it’s short. The treatment time is 15 minutes or less and the team are in with me for less than 10 minutes.  Hope it’s OK for you xx

Thanks CoffeeFiend Hopefully I'll feel ok after the first one... It's always the voyage into the unknown that's daunting. That and being rather self conscious currently. I've just got to get on with it.

Honestly you will be fine

You don’t see or feel anything.

once you have one done and know what to expect you will be less anxious 

Feel free to ask me any questions you like.Always happy to help x

I started using Aveeno (blue) after my planning meeting.  It wasn’t a brand I’d previously used but I’m now 8 weeks post RT and had no major skin issues.  My left breast and underneath still looks quite tanned.  I had my oncology follow up appointment yesterday and the consultant was very pleased.  He told me to keep moisturising.  Good luck.

Had my planning CT scan today. I ought to get a phone call in 3-4 weeks to tell me when my 15 sessions of radiation will start. 

Are patients given any advice about how to prepare or look after their skin, or given any creams or meds etc? I feel rather unprepared, and a bit in the dark about how best to help myself. 

Hi lblodwin, I have just finished 15 rounds of radiotherepy, and felt at the beginning just as you do now, the hardest part was getting up off the hard table we have to lay on, the team were very good, the weeks went by very quickly, as dose the time you are on the machine, use your moisturiser and keep as still as you can when they have positioned you on the machine..x

I had my 3rd of 10 sessions today.  The hospital here (Musgrove in Taunton) called me to explain it all last week and they advised me to wear a vest top.   This means I can have this with no bra to go into the room and just pop the straps down, mush easier than a gown, just wanted to share this tip.

I too have had male radiographers in each session, very professional and sensitive as exraygirl says.  So far my skin is pink but not painful, fingers crossed and good luck to all of you.