LAST RAD

Hurrah last rad tomorrow, which is just as well my poor little chest is looking much the same colour as santas suit!! My only problem is it itches so much any ideas that may help, aqueous cream which I keep in the fridge helps for about 10 mins my onc is not very keen on aloe vera so any other ideas, coz I gather it may take two to three weeks to clear, and as the skin has not actually broken down coz I’ve sat on my hands for most of the time so that I can’t scratch Any ideas Please

Hi Sweetheart,
congrats on getting this far with your treatment.
I used E45 as soon as rads finished which helped a lot and I used it every couple of hours.

best wishes for Christmas
Margaret

I used e45 and aqueas cream by the bucket load…and sat on my hands. The worse bit is still to come…cos you carry on cooking…so look out for the really really bad sunburn peel…which is irritating beyond belief. The main problem I had was during the day I could resist temptation to itch it (just)…however…during the night…well your asleep how do you know what your doing! I used the e45 bath oil stuff and that helped a little bit…but literally just felt like i was saying over and over again…dont itch it, dont itch it, dont itch it…i swear the men in white coats were going to come and take me away

Hi
I developed a ‘prickly heat’ type rash half way through rads and the hospital gave me 1% strength hydracortisone cream which took the itching away straight away. You should be able to get this over the counter at the chemist also.

Best Wishes

Carol

Hi
I’ve just got to number 10 in radio - I’ve been told not to use E45 - the hospital said it contains lanolin which can dry the skin - it really is a minefield. Thanks for the tip of putting cream in fridge. I’m very fair skinned and red already. I am having 25 with a possible 5 more boost - seems like a lot - anyone else have 30??

MuddyXX

I’m up to 15 sessions out of 25 - ‘delicate’ around the nipple and itchy scratchy hot across my chest - I use a microwave hotbottle which I keep in the fridge (well it didn’t say I couldn’t!) as well as keeping the aqueous cream in the fridge - but I’m seriously considering getting some of those mittens my new grandson has been put in !!!

Maddy xxxxx

Hi All

Seems that we are all in the same boat, had a male radiologist this morning. Really cute!! He calmly informed that the itching would get worse before it got better and that in about 10 days time I would feel really knackered, something to do with the body having to work really hard to repair damaged cells which can repair themselves but the cancerous ones can’t.
That great happy new year to me it will be new years eve. Still hopefully the little bleeders have all been zapped. Have to see onc on 30th Jan to decide if anything further is needed.

Maddy - thoose little mittens would be wonderful. Enjoy your new grandson and give him lots of cuddles.

Hope you all have a great christmas and a happy new year.

Love Heather

Finished my 15 rads plus 3 boosters on the 3rd Dec. Split slightly under the breast, the nurse at the hosp gave me a gel and dressings, she said side effects would peak after about 10 days. However on the 11th day the area that received the booster treatment came up with a 3inch round angry looking patch. I’ve continued using the aqueous and it is now almost faded away, the area under the breast has also healed well. I’ts been uncomfortable and sore, especially round the nipple area at times but I was lucky that I suffered no fatigue, I put that down to my family and friends who took it in turns to drive me to hosp for treatment. Hope all goes well for you ladies.
Merry Xmas & Happy New Year
Caz x

HI Sweetheart,
Good luck for the ending of your rads and the start of the healing process afterwards.
I have had 19 of my my rads - another 9 to go. I look and feel as if my left breast has been boiled like a Christmas pudding!
I have got some 0.1% hydrocortisone cream for itching but have been warned to use it very sparingly as it can cause thinning of the skin which is fragile enough anyway. I have been given Geliperm dressings of which I keep some in the fridge and some on my skin - it does help it feel cooler and decreases the chafing of clothes on skin. I can see the skin is just starting to go under my breast, but hope it will hold together long enough to get through this. I just keep repeating the mantra - “It’ll soon be finished…”
I am dreading Christmas as I am going to have to be polite and wear clothes - not just flip up my top and turn a fan on whenever I feel the need. Because I keep slathering on the aqueous cream I find it gets on everything and I end up feeling greasy and yucky. My family say they don’t mind what I wear or look like when I go to stay, but I don’t want to do psychological damage to my teenage nephews by exposing myself!
Thanks Caz and others who show it does get better - I can’t wait to start feeling more normal again.
Happy Christmas everyone - and a much better 2008
Lesley xx

Finished Rads 12 days ago and the redness has gone down a lot .The prickly heat has also improved . I was told to

take piriton tablets and to put a thin layer of hydrcortisone cream on top of the aqueous cream .These seem to have done

the trick . All I need now is a goodnights sleep ( I v’e tried the wine it only works for an hour or so with me !)

DianeD

Hi All

Thanks for the comments, I shall get some hydrocortisone from the chemist and try it. Although at the moment I have found wearing as little clothes as I can get away with and really loose, look a bit like a ghost plus cold aqueous cream from the fridge is not to bad. I keep telling myself that its only so many days left and the itch should get better like its seven left now tomorrow will be six, shall be really upset if it last longer but thats my mantra at the moment bit like ten green bottles.

Have and lovely christmas all you lovely ladies.

Love Heather xxx

Hi ladies,
hope you managed to enjoy your Xmas and have finished or are nearing the end of your rads. It’s 26 days since my last rad and my skin is pretty much back to normal. I still get a few twinges but I can manage the bra all day without discomfort so there is light at the end of the tunnel.
Good luck
Caz x