Hi ladies, i’m now 10 days after 5 sessions of full breast radiotherapy and am starting to suffer with redness and peeling under the fold of my big breast. Clinic closed today and haven’t got an appointment till Wednesday to see the nurse. From the beginning my nurse said don’t wear a bra and don’t put anything on the breast that will cause friction, I mentioned before treatment if I could put a gauze without taping it to my body under my breast as I sweat alot and she said no, not even a 100%
muslin cloth, she said that would leave marks. What am I supposed to do apart from putting the cream that I’ve been using since radiotherapy started
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My radiotherapist advised me to use the cream, I used Cetraben, 2-3 times a day, wear a soft, non wired bra, I wore crop tops and bought a size larger than usual, and to put a cotton hanky in the breast fold, inside the bra to prevent the skin edges touching. This worked very well for me.
I guess a cotton hanky is smooth so won’t leave a ‘pattern’ on the breast as maybe gauze would do?
Thank you for your advise
Sorry forgot to ask, did you roll the hanky or just lay it flat under the fold?
I had it flat so some of the hanky was within the cup of the crop top and the remainder was sticking out the band at the bottom. Not pretty but it did the job!
That sounds the opposite of what I was told which was to wear a supportive bra though often I wore it with a Proskins sleep bra underneath . I also put a bamboo sock beneath my breast to keep the two skin surfaces apart and prevent getting sore in that skin fold - which worked and seemed to help with itching . I had a lot of dryness redness and peeling on the inner slope of my breast including part of the skin fold and particularly around the nipple but my skin never broke down in any place and without having the sock beneath my breast I suspect I would have had more soreness there .
I would have thought that a seamless crop top should be fine if you’re worried about wearing a bra and some people have used bamboo cloths or silk scarves inside their bras / under their breasts ( the silk scarf lady I think that was a tip from a doctor ) . Another lady wore her very soft T-shirt next to her skin with a soft bra over the top so that the bra pushed the T-shirt fabric into the skin fold . If it doesn’t improve make sure you get in touch with the radiotherapy centre or your BCN or surgery first thing on Monday as a few people have ended up with fungal infections which have usually started in the underside skin on skin area . Xx
Sounds very similar to my experience. The t shirt idea is good. I was already wearin a seamless crop top in bed as I found it more comfortable after my axillary clearance
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Hi 2209. I’m just about to start radiotherapy and have been advised to use Aveeno Skin Relief for very dry and tight skin. I’m not blessed with big breasts but I’m aware of the fold under my small ones ! I plan to go bra-less for a while but thinking that a soft cotton vest will be comfortable. Someone also reminded me to just be careful when putting on a car seat belt too - just something else to think about ! X
I went braless but used cream religiously. Water base is important. Need to air out too!!! I peeled a few weeks after but healed quickly after that.
Thank you for all your replies. Had the nurse this morning, the sores under my breast have opened a bit so she’s changed the cream to a cream that helps to close it up. Was advised not put a hanky under my breast as it will touch the damaged area and pull off the skin when taking it off, so I will continue to have to go braless as well. She said the more I get it out in the air the better, so fingers crossed it heals quickly.
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Yes - now that the skin had broken that isn’t an option. if you can air it out as your Nurse says that will help. Don’t know if you’re able to lie with your hands behind or above your head ( like with the post - op exercises ) for a few minutes a time . Go carefully as you don’t want to open the sores any further . Hope you get some improvement soon xx