Although I’m not quite ready to join you yet, the start of my rads is fast approaching and I wanna get myself prepared! Anyhoo, my question is this… I know that after each session I need to be slapping on some sort of cream to try to limit the amount of soreness and was wondering whats best, cream or lotion??
I already have some E45 aqueous cream ready to go but am starting to wonder if perhaps I wouldn’t be better off with a lotion which is much lighter? I’ve been told you can liken the feeling post rads to sunburn, if that the case I always use ‘Vaseline intensive care aloe vera lotion’ as an after-sun. So, should I perhaps use that instead?
Any advice/hints/tips will be greatly appreciated as ever!
I have nearly finished my 15 rads, the hospital gave me a cream “Aqueous cream BP” I put this on right after my treatment and again at night. So far my boob looks only very slightly pink and the skin doesn’t feel sore to touch.
Definitely go for either plain old E45 or plain old Aeqeous, anything else could have even the tiniest proportion of ingredients that might cause reaction like even worse then usual itching or blisters etc. Your skin will become very fragile.
I went through radiotherapy 3 years and it was absolutely fine. I was told to use the Aqueous cream every morning after my shower then again when I got home after the treatment. Just very gently massage the cream all over the area have the rad. treatment. Carry on over the weekend even though you will not be getting “zapped”. I did this the whole time and carried on for a couple of weeks after treatment had finished. I have to say by the end of the fourth week my breast was only a little pink, there was no soreness or discomfort whatsoever, I never got tired or had any ill-effects whatsoever. Hope you are as lucky too.
Also, was told to wear lightweight cotton bras as nylon can be an irritant whilst having the treatment. I did it, but as I’m a 36F not much support, my knees started to make friends with Bill and Ben (that’s what I call my boobs) as they were heading downwards!!!
I started using E45 cream a few weeks before starting radiotherapy. I am in week 4 of 5 now and have a slightly pink breast, no soreness. I use it morning and evening, 7 days a week. I think this works well.
thank you so much for your prompt responses. I will defo stick with the E45 cream then, boring and smell-less though it may be! LOL!! I have some ‘simple soap’ raring to go too.
Blimey, this is gonna be tougher than I think! I love soaking in a nice bubble bath, then smothering myself in a lovely smelling lotion afterwards. Sounds like I’m gonna be knockin that on the head for a while once I start!
I have my last chemo on Oct 10th (fingers crossed!) and have been told my 15 rads sessions will start 3 weeks after. See, told you I’m being a bit premature!!!
I too love my bubble baths, so I bought some “simple shower gel” and squirted that in the running water, its not smelly obviously but gives a few bubbles.
Goodness, forgot that I couldn’t use bubbles or scents, perfumes, deodorants or anything else. Was also recommended to wash the laundry using a non-bio (e.g.“Fairy”) washing powder. Simple soap and Simple shower gel were rules for the day. My radiotherapy lasted for 4 weeks.
I use Johnsons gentle wash on the rads breast and carry on as normal everywhere else. I use body lotion and deoderant as normal but not on rads breast/ underarm. I have only had 1 bath during treatment and that was only because I forgot that it’s showers all the way! I also had a near miss with a razor as I was shaving my ‘good side’ and got carried away- its sooo attractive having one hairyish underarm, not deoderised- lol! (I have cut the hair as close to the skin as I could- its not too bad). I haven’t changed my soap powder- I didn’t know about that.
I was also given the cream by the hospital - Aqueous cream BP, I actually don’t like touching my affected breast very much at all! It feels lumpy, although it looks normal and I rub a very thick layer over the surface and hope that it will absorb itself! I love baths so have one every now and again I tend to soak in them as normal, then sit up and wash the unaffected side with really strongly perfumed stuff to compensate, as I love getting out smelling fragrant.
You should only use aqueous cream and simple soaps as I was told by radiology dr that some other soaps and lotions can contain things like zinc that stop the radiation treatment working, but then your Dr should explain things to you
I was told by the hospital not to use any cream at all and not to rub with soap either, and only to pat dry (obviously just where the rads were!). Now in week 3 following instructions and have no pinkness, soreness , etc so far!
Your radiographers are very good at advising you what to use and when. Unfortunately I had horrendous reaction to rads and after 3 weeks had to stop using the E45 cream but was given soothing gel from the hospital to alleviate the burns.
I think after reading through the posts, my reaction was very unusual and I am sure you will be absolutely fine. Certainly dont use any highly perfumed soaps, shower gel etc. Stick to very simple soap and no deoderants. Also try and take it very easy and get plenty of rest. I was fine for a couple of weeks but tried to do too much and then half way through became very tired and worn.
I am absolutely fine now after rads and getting on with life!!
I would like to echo the great advice you have already received on this subject. Definately use aqueous cream. I am coming to the end of my rads - I have 5 to go out of 25. I am very fair skinned and usually a red head (hair is growing back a browny colour though), my onc team had expected I would get a skin reaction to the rads but (touch wood) so far I have had none. I put this down to using nothing on my skin apart from aqueous cream. I wash with it and slap it on as often as I can - its marvellous stuff.
I’m so grateful for all your advice. Do you know I had already forgotten that they told me to use a non-bio washing liquid such as Fairy! Mind you, I’ve got a few more weeks yet so I guess I don’t need to make a mercy dash to Tesco just yet!
I have been told that I will be having rads to my chest and neck but not my underarm as I have had a total axillary clearance. Does this sound normal? Also, if that is the case I’m wondering if they will let me use deod on that side after all? I guess I’ll have to ask when I go for my planning session in a couple of weeks. Feel like a chemo expert and a complete rads novice!!!
Saw your comment about bubble baths. You can get Simple Shower gel AND Simple Bubble bath (Superdrug and Sainsbury’s have them) - during rads the highlights of my day was an oggle at the dishy male radiographer, a blast in the car with Genesis on the drive home and a soak in the tub with bubbles from head to toe - thank goodness for Simple products.
I’d give deodorants a wide berth considering the ingredients but you can get some organic roll on ones called Crystal, recommended by the Breast Cancer Haven nutrritionist, who also talks about environmental hazards like deodorants and bottled water, and the oestrogens in our own water supplies, heaven help us.
No one mentioned the washing power/liquid business to me. Aeqeous cream was the “order of the day” and when they signed me out - the microwave went “ping pong” after 25 sessions, they said to use only SPF 50 when in the sun - not seen any sun since and would never be daft enough to expose the irradiated area to sun - it’s like paper 9 months on and I’m told that’s pretty much how it will stay.
I started my radiotherapy on tuesday just gone. I’ve been given an aloe vera gel mixed with an oil (Grace - Vital Skin Oils) to use, which seems to be fine. It’s also supposed to help with my surgery scars.
I should also have my last chemo on 10th Oct, all being well, and start rads 3 weeks later. I have to have 6 weeks of rads though for some reason. I am meant to be discussing the planning with my oncologist next week. I didn’t know about all the info above so have learnt lots from the answers to your question! Thanks everyone.
they’ve told me that they wont be doing my underarm as there is no need as I had total clearance of lymph nodes. Its just the breast area that they are covering.
yeah they’re not doing under my arm either but I am getting my neck zapped apparently due to the lymph node involvement.
Hope you are still doing ok and are rejoicing in the fact that you’ve reached that huge milestone and finished chemo! I’m not too far behind 'ya, hurrah!!! I love this 3 week break but really want it to go quickly so I can crack on with my last 2 doses!!!