Any top tips for us rads newbies???

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Hi rads gang!

I will shortly be joining you guys, just as soon as I have been promoted from the chemo caners club next month! Anyhoo, following on from my post about ‘lotion or cream’ I was wondering if anyone had any top tips they could share for those of us rads newbies? It would be great to hear from people that are either having rads now or have had them previously.

Any ‘top tips’ will be very gratefully received by me and many others I’m sure,

Thanks in advance,

Kelly
-x-

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Hi Kelly,

Well done on moving to the rads gang!

Planning usually takes place in a simulator or CT scanner. The treatment areas will be marked out on your body using one or more small tattoos about the size of a pinhead. The scan is painless but you have to lie still. I just closed my eyes and thought of lying on a sunny beach, drinking a cocktail with the sea lapping at my feet.

The actual rads treatment is very quick. The positioning takes longer than the blasting.

During treatment, you may find that you get tired. I was lucky, I did not.

Very few people feel sick.

Try to eat well (not a problem for most people!) and drink plenty of fluid.

Advice on skin care varies from one hospital to another. The skin may become red, sore or even raw or blister. You may wash the area gently using an unperfumed soap. I didn’t use deodorant but then my rads were in the winter. The staff don’t mind people ponging a bit!

Protect your skin from extremes of temperature.

Slap on plenty of aqueous cream.

You will be given advice on all of this.

I found it was great to meet up with people on a daily basis and count down the days until it’s all over.

Good luck.

Margaret x

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Thats awesome,

thanks v.much Margaret,

Kelly
-x-

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Hello Princess
I would add - wear cotton bras or crop tops. I bought a couple of the Sloggi 95% cotton crop tops which are very comfortable and also give good support. Once I got sore I just wore the M & S cotton vests and tucked them up under my boobs for some support.
Take care
Love Anthi x

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Hi Kelly
In addition to cotton bras you might find some high necked Tshirts useful! I had to buy some more to cover the ‘drawing’ all over my chest! Although I don’t know if you’re having your neck zapped or not! I am only having my neck treated as a precaution because so many lymph nodes were infected. I have found suitable bras difficult to find. I was told off for wearing underwired bras and found supportive (as my treated breast is swelling and now quite heavy!) bras mainly have wiring. I did get a maternity bra at M & S which is soft and adapts to changing shapes, to accomodate my mis-matched pair!

As for cream, I was given that by the hospital (and lots of advice).

Hope it all goes OK for you! I am 11 down and 22 to go! no problems a little pink by the end of the week, but no discomfort or tiredness. In fact I feel so well I have decided to go back to work for a couple of hours in the morning on a volunteer basis (I am a teacher) knowing that I have to leave at 11 for my hospital appointment so can’t get drawn into doing anything else! I actually enjoy going for the treatment as the staff are lovely and no pain or needles are involved,

Take care Nicky

Take care

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Thanks ladies,

much appreciated!

I am having my neck zapped and hadn’t even thought about suitable tops, and most of mine are fairly low cut. Blimey, theres so much you just don’t think about, I guess I was prob just as anxious when I was starting chemo!

Thanks again,

Kelly
-x-

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I don’t know whether this helps or not but I had 3 weeks radiotherapy 4 years ago. I wore crop tops and was advised to buy some pure silk. I bought about 30cms. You cut this into squares and put it inside the crop top against your skin. I also used the aqueous cream and although I went a bit pink I was never sore or blistered.
Take care
Cassie

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Thanks for that cassie,

Much appreciated,

Kelly
-x-

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just bumping this - I will be joining the rads gang in a month after last of first 4 chemo sessions - was looking for tips - this did the trick for me o it might help anyone else starting soon

margaret x

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I had the last of my 15 rads yesterday. Mine were to the chest wall only, as I had mastectomy. All nodes removed, only one affected, so no rads to underarm or collarbone areas. I also had chemo (4 FEC and 4 Taxotere) prior to rads.

I have had no burns, pinkness or soreness through the treatment, although I am told that this can happen for up to two weeks afterwards.

My tips are:

shower, rather than bath, and use unscented shower gel (I used Simple Body Wash). Avoid rubbing the treatment area when washing and drying. Use Aqueous cream liberally on area twice a day, be gentle and don’t rub it in too enthusiastically.

I was told not to use deodorant, talcum powder or any scented products throughout treatment and for two weeks afterwards.

I had no problems with wearing underwired pocketed mastectomy bras, thank goodness, as I was worried that if I became sore I wouldn’t be able to wear my prosthesis.

I found radiotherapy (apart from travelling up to London everyday), easy-peasy compared to chemo!

Good luck everyone!

xxxx

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Hi,

I’m going for my planning appointment tomorrow and have found all these tips very helpful, I was worried about showering as I had visions of wiping layers of skin off in a single stroke!

This may sound like a stupid question but do you apply the aquaceous cream before you go for rads?, I am presuming you do - please forgive my ignorance.

Many Thanks for all the advice,

Tracy xx

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Hi Tracy,

I was told to apply the cream each day before the rads, but to do it at least two hours before treatment. I used to do mine morning and evening. As I said above, I have had no reaction at all to my skin, although I know others have. I don’t think for a minute you will be wiping layers of skin off!!

Good luck at your planning…and for your treatment (I found it was a doddle after chemo)!

xxx

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Isn’t this a brill site!
I’m down for 25 sessions but don’t have a start date yet and was wondering how I could best prepare myself as I reacted badly to the core biopsy.
Thanks to you all for sharing your tips.
Lynne x

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Hi Justme,

Thanks for you advice, I have always been a bit of a drama queen, hence the ‘wiping layers of skin off!’

I shall go and get a huge tub of aquaceous cream this weekend and start putting it on, I am hoping my rad start within the next couple of weeks I’m having 25 in all.

Thanks again,

Tracy xxx

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Hi all

Thanks for all the great tips - I go for my planning appt next week (19th) and treatment starts on the 21st - 20 sessions in all. I have to have rads to the chest area and collarbone as large lymph node involvement - I hadn’t thought about high neck t-shirts either!!

Although I am hoping the rads will be a ‘breeze’ after chemo - I’m not particularly looking forward to it cos my health board don’t administer radiotherapy, so I have to move away from home to live in a hostel in Edinburgh Mon-Fri to have it - the one time you want to be near/with your family - my 9 year old is already moaning she doesn’t want me to go away.
Guess I’ll just have to treat it as a wee holiday - no cooking, ironing, washing etc - hubby has been forewarned that if I come home ot housework on the weekends he’s in big trouble !!

Margaret x

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www.goingfora.com (Royal College of Radiologists) “has virtual radiotherapy and chemotherapy [and also nuclear medicine, i.e. bone tracer scan] departments with pictures of what patients will see as they attend for treatment. Also has accounts of patients’ own experiences.” There’s a link that plays 2 minutes of radiotherapy equipment sound effects.
[added later] Sorry, I’m not sure how to make this into a link. I clicked on “link” underlined and I got a warning about “using a scripted window”.
I found “goingfora” in the Cancerbackup BC booklet. There’s also
www.dipex.org
database of individual patient experiences.

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Thanks MrsBlue - that is so good !

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Thanks for that MrsBlue, I will have a look in a bit.

I have my planning meeting on the 28th and hopefully my 20 sessions of Rads will start soon after.

Jackie x

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Hey there

I’m a newbie too - just had my 5th session out of 20 and so far so good - no redness or nothing - just keep rubbing on the cream. I am only having it to chest wall so spose thats better. Hope my skin does not flare up as I have my best mates wedding 2 weeks today.

Good luck to you all
FIona
xxx

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Hi,
I have just started too, have had 5 out of 25. Using aqueous cream as everyone seems to suggest and so far so good!
I am only having the chest wall done as a precaution as the tumour was so close. I didn’t think I would be having any other treatment, the surgeon said the mx would be enough, then I got offered chemo or rads. I refused chemo, (4% seemed too small an increase to suffer for) but decided to have the rads even though I have had an LD recon. (no implant). Has anyone else had rads on their reconstruction? My surgeon says it should be OK as it is all my own tissue, so I’m keeping my fingers crossed that I don’t get cooked.
Good luck to eveyone