hi everyone, I finished my rads last week, my chest is very itchy, a bit red, a bit tender but nothing much to worry about at the moment, the problem I have is that under my arm is not so much sore, it feels tender and very itchy, I am not wearing any deodorant as such just rok, I am applying the aqueous cream, I was just wondering whether anyone else has experienced this, if so any advice would be gratefully received,
best wishes all, Liz xxx
Hi Liz
I am 5 weeks into 6 weeks of radiotherapy, I have been using deo and perfume on my “good side” but nothing on the other side and have been washing with simple body wash. On Monday I had a review with the nurse I told her that I was very red and tender and it was beginning to be painful she then informed me that my nipple was starting to blister which I hadn’t noticed I just thought it was tender !! I also have a few blisters on my front and back caused by rads. I have been using the aquaous cream since before rads started and about 3 times a day since but the nurse told me to wash with the cream as well as applying it, I have done this since Monday and it has made a slight difference I have also lay for a while each day with skin exposed to the air.
She also told me that the rads effects would still be occuring up to 3 weeks after treatment finishes
Hope this helps
Lizz x
Hi, thanks for that Lizz,
I have been washing with the aqueous cream too, in a way I am glad I have a little bit of soreness because at least I know the rads are doing their job, (if that makes sense),
I will just carry on as I have been unless obviously the situation gets worse,
thanks for the advice and sharing your experience,
best wishes Liz xxx
HI Liz,
Glad to hear that you have finished the Rads.
I did not find that the aqueous cream was good for anything except for using instead of soap. If you are itching and burning the best thing is Aloe Vera Gel. Don’t rub it in, just gently apply a thin layer and let it dry before you dress. It forms a slight skin which protects and heals and stops the itching and burning.
Test patch first as some very few people cannot use Aloe.
Hope this helps,
E
The other thing which is officially recommended for reactions like blisters, peeling skin or real soreness is hydrocortisone cream. It’s not at all unusual to get a reaction under your arm, so treat it very gently. Aloe vera might be worth trying if it hasn’t reached that stage. The humid weather we’ve had some days may be making things worse, so if you apply the same advise as for breast care–perhaps air from a fan, loose sleeves or sleeveless tops so air can get to your underarm, this might help to keep it from getting worse. I finished a day or so after you, and I find I’m having to look after my underarm and the area under my breast most, because those areas get warm and sweaty.
Cheryl
hi everyone
I finished my rads 4 weeks ago.during the rads i developed a dry cough. the radiologists said it would be a virus .
after the rads stopped my cough got worse -resulting in antibiotics from GP . this cleared
been off antibiotics two weeks -cough still there.
should I go back to GP -bit scared that there might be something there as bit quick for rad chest which happens at 3 months ?
x
hiya enaid , when i saw my onc last week she warned me that because of the rads being aimed at the breast there was a chance that a small section of lung could be scarred resulting in a cough , in turn that cough could be permanent , i think this is prob whats happened to you but if you are worried give them a call xxxx
Hi Liz
If you try the aloe vera gel my radiologist said to make sure it is the 99.9% stuff (from H&B). She also said that I could use all the Simple products for washing but no deodorant under arm being treated
Emmbee - thanks for the tip on application! I start my Rads on 18/07, can’t wait to be lying around exposing myself whilst I dry off!
Another week, another challenge…
DasiyGirl xx
Hi Liz ive 3 rads left of 15 my skin is very itchy (nipple too) my under arm is ok but that part isn’t being treated only just past my scar so my armpit is ok, was your armpit area treated ? if so I imagine the itchyness would be there too, keep slapping on the anqueos cream & I find the 99.9% aloe gell great for itchyness I put it on then let it dry, the rad nurse told me if any part gets really itchy where you want to scratch then they would give me steriod cream, if it gets bad prehaps a visit to your GP to get some might be the answer
All the best
Mekala x
Hi,
Quite right about the 99.9%, I should have said before. I used it 3 times daily but especially as soon as I came out from having Rads. Was jumping up and down in the loo waiting for it to dry but it was worth it. Burns can come out after Rads have finished so keep up the Aloe for at least 2 weeks.
Do not use Hydrocortisone cream on damaged skin.
E
Hi everyone, thanks for all your advice and suggestions, I will get the aloe vera gel if that doesnt do the trick I will contact my GP and ask him for the hydrocortisone cream,
I am so pleased I have finished my treatment, but at the same time I have been struggling emotionally the past few days,
I actually think a lot of it is because I have overdone things, and not been sleeping too well either,
I have been given anti depressants and made an appointment to see someone to talk to perhaps that will help.
best wishes everyone Liz xx
hi everyone,
its me back again!!!
Just to keep you updated, the soreness under my arm turned into a blister, burst and is now rather like a raw patch under my arm, very sore tried the aloe vera gel, burns cream and aqueous cream too, I am using each of them in turn, so to be honest, I dont know whats helping most maybe a combination of all 3,
Is anyone else experiencing anything like this too?
Liz xx
Not this time, but when I had rads before, I lost a patch of skin while washing, like sunburn peeling. The skin underneath was pink and sore, but not broken, so I used hydrocortisone on it. Keeping air off seems to help the pain, and aloe vera is traditonally used for burns in any case. You could phone your BCN for further advice.
Cheryl
Just to say although I slapped on the aqueous and rads staff congratulated me on good skin at the end, 2 week later… huge burn mark on clavicle and neck. I hadn’t been aiming that high with the cream as I was concentrating on chest and armpit. GP gave me some gel pads. Still a bit tender in the chest area but tiredness has subsided after 4 weeks. Don’t forget you necks ladies!!
Hi embee I could just picture you doing that & thanks to you & your advice I think thats saved my skin BIG time about putting the aleo on straight after & letting it dry I find this is marvalous for stopping itching in its tracks & rather use it than any steriod creams which I know I would have needed had I not used the Aloe along side the aquaeous cream 
Yippee weekend & my FINAL one Monday at 8.30
Mekala x
Hi Janipi I was covering the whole area up to mu neck & right up armpit to underneath my arm & im glad I did as where the air & sun has got to the part not being treated ive tanned more so than usual & wondered if this was part to do with rads I keep the part that is darker well covered from the sun
Ladies,
Do not forget to keep using the Aloe for at least 3 weeks when your Rads have finished. It takes a while for the burn to come out and better be safe than sorry.
Also, if you are out in the sun you should use sun cream. I found that the best was Calypso once a day factor 20. I used this in the Canaries and although I am very fair I did not burn. Follow the instructions carefully.
E
well i read the good things you all said about Holland and Barrat gel. They have a an offer at the moment if you buy two so i went on line and ordered some.
I am a little worried by the ingrediants though. it is 99.9% but look what else is in there…Any chemists on here who can tell me if these are ok?
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice (Organic Aloe Vera Gel), Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Panthenol, Disodium EDTA, Sodium Hydroxide, Phenoxyethanol.
Hi Liz
I think I must have jinxed myself after my post on Wednesday morning as when I went for my rads in the afternoon I had to go to nurse for a wee checkup. She took one look at my breast and said I needed something other than aquaous and she gave me Askina gel and some adhesive dressings. There is a part of my skin just under my nipple that has blistered and is very sore although it hasn’t and hopefully won’t weep or burst I also have small blisters just above my collar bone which have had to be treated too and some on my back which haven’t. My nipple is also very dry and tender. Through reading the posts it has highlights the different information we are given I have been told under no circumstances to use anything other than aquaous cream, no aloe vera and not to use sun cream this year but that maybe due to the fact I had chemo.
I too have been very emotional this week and have cried every day, I have cried more this week than I have since my dx in Nov last year. I am so near the end but am so tired and I think that the reality of what I have been through is hitting home!! I rarely post but I just feel that I need to talk this week . I am going to wait till after my hols and if I’m still feeling like this I’ll be visiting my doc, I hope you feel better on the anti d’s xx
P.S. I have never been told that a cough may arise is it a common side effect??
Take Care
Lizz
Hi,
I start Rads mid August for 3 weeks treatment Mon - Fri with weekends off. Been reading through some of the recommended and tried abd tested remedies. I have bought some pure organic Aloe Vera with some small drops of tea tree and lavendar and it says it is a first aid healing remedy, I also have E45 cream in, savlon, aloe vera to name a few…
Feel scared when I think about this process.
Wendy x