Peeling skin

Hi Hazel

I am sorry to hear that you are having some side effects from your pelvic radiotherapy. It sounds really sore and uncomfortable. It is good that you have talked to your team and been given something that may help. If it does not help or the soreness increases or there are any signs of infection then do get it checked. 

I had pelvic radiotherapy in 2022 for my endometrial cancer. Mine was for 5 weeks. I was lucky in that the cream that I used did seem to keep my skin in the area relatively ok and my main side effects were more tummy related. What I will say is that my side effects did increase during radiotherapy and continued for a few weeks after it ended. I was told that this is normal and in time things did improve. I also had chemo and I found the effects of the radiotherapy harder to deal with at times. Radiotherapy is not an easy treatment to deal with and I remember really feeling the effects such as fatigue building up during treatment.

Why not give the Support Line a call and talk with one of the nurses. They may be able to make some suggestions that will help. However I did find during my radiotherapy that the best thing was to talk to them at each session as even with the more challenging side effects- they were used to them and could help. 

Well done for getting to week 6- only one more week to go. I found that things did improve a lot once I was not travelling back and forward to the hospital everyday and I hope that is the same for you.

Jane

Hi Hazel52 

I hoped that someone who has suffered in a similar way might have replied, but maybe others have maybe not experienced the same. 

I know when I was having my radiotherapy I went without underwear in the house as it was so uncomfortable, and used a hairdryer on a very cool setting to soothe the area. It helped to lie on my bed legs akimbo which also helped.

It can be a real struggle getting through the last week of radiotherapy, but my side effects did calm down very soon after treatment ended. Is the gel helping at all? If not, please ask there’s anything else your team can suggest using. 

I do understand how hard it is as treatment goes on and the effects accumulate, but you’re nearly there now so try to grit your teeth and keep going.

Sarah xx

Hi

Thank you 

I actually do all that

I guess I'll just have to be patient  

Xx

It’s just so difficult when it’s such an intimate part of you I think. I thought at times things were always going to be as bad, but they did get better. It’s hard to be patient when you’re in such discomfort though, so I can definitely empathise. 

Sarah xx

Hi I am 4 weeks post chemoradiotherapy for vulval cancer and can honestly say it has been brutal however I think I have now finally turned the corner and although not fully healed am in a much better place.

i spent most of the time bed rest but now able to sit for longer periods. I think a way to go but just hang in there 

Thank you for that.

My skin has all peeled off and I'm bright red

I do spend most of my time very undignified in bed legs akimbo.

I have 3 more radiotherapy sessions to go and can't wait. 

It's been a long 7 weeks  

I never realised how bad it would be.