Just finished 1st week of rads and don’t really want to go back for the rest of them because it hurts but obviously will.
The first treament left me with a long rectangle of sore red across the front of my boob and painful and swollen still in the morning. V tired - sleep around 2-4 hours each time after get back from treatment and still tired during day. Each treatment has made my boob hotter and sorer and painful. I asked at the second session and they said it was normal so just tried to get on with it.
Yesterday the radiographers said they were worried from just looking at my boob and thought it shouldn’t be that red so soon. I explained that it got sorer and more swollen overnight each time and really hurt by morning and that I took paracetamol for it and had been told it was normal.
They got the duty doc to have a look because they thougt I might have an internal infection. Doc took a look and said I was ‘systemically ok’ but that i was just sensitive to the treatment and to come back to hosp over w/e if I felt ‘unwell’ whatever that meant.
Have been using aqueaous cream 2-3 times a day. Have seen a different set of radiographers on each of the 5 days of treatment so far and a nurse just before first treament.
Not sure what to do now. Have been up since since 6 and my boob, especially my nipple still hurts in spite of ibuprofen and paracetamol. Letting the air get to it and trying to cool it down.
Should I call bcn on mon or try to find number for a dressings nurse if there is one at the hosp today or mon - not sure when they are around or if they exist.
Hi Chicci,
I’m sorry to hear you’re having such a bad time with rads. Mine haven’t started yet but I’ve been checking this site ahead of starting and some people recommend aloe vera gel for soothing. It needs to be pure (99percent) and probably should be rinsed off just before you go for treatment. It’s a natural soother and shouldn’t cause problems. Frankly, I can’t bear the thought of aqueous cream - my sister was prescribed it for a skin problem and wouldn’t touch it because it contains liquid paraffin - hardly something you would willingly put near your body. I think it’s recommended because it’s cheap and apparently effective but it really doesn’t suit everyone.
Take professional advice, but give the aloe vera a go.
I hope you get relief soon - rads are so good at knocking this disease on the head and it would be a pity if you had to give up.
All the best,
Kathleen
Hi, iv had zap number ten with 9 still to go. My boob is slightly red now and nipple is probably the sorest bit, but I haven’t felt the need to take painkillers yet. Iv been washing with simple soap and applying cream twice a day. I suppose we are all different and react in many ways. You seem to be struggling, I have a breast review on monday, when is yours? I would ask to see them on monday? What about changing your cream, loads use aloe vera? I should av said, breast more firmer now. Hope you get it sorted and you feel better soon. Karen xx
I asked radiographers about aloe vera but they didn’t know whether it was ok or not. They asked when i had a review but I’m only booked to see the consultant on the last week of rads as far as I know which I told the radiologists so they got the duty doc. Is seeing the consultant the same thing as a review? Should I be seeing a nurse at some point? Not sure what other peoples’ experience has been.
Chicci, perhaps ask your nurse specialist to have a look? I am going through radiotherapy at the moment, and have a radiotherapy nurse spcecialist whom I can contact for questions. She also does some of the ‘reviews’, which are just meetings with her or the oncologist at some times during the radiotherapy to check how you are getting on. If you have problems with pain you should definitely ask to see them as soon as possible.
Warmest wishes
Christine
I aksed my onc before I started rads whether or not it was safe to use aloe gel he told me yes I could use the 99.9% stuff they sell in holland and barratt, my mx site is sore and red but so far has not split or blistered, when I put the gel on it really cools it down and stops the soreness, I also was taking paracetamol/codeine for pain relief I have stopped taking them at the moment will take them as and when I get more pain. I have not used the aqueous cream given to me by the hospital once. One of the other ladies going through rads at the moment see’s the skin nurse I did have appts. for what they call in my hosptial the skin clinic where they check your skin, I would ask for an appt as you may need the site properly dressed like one of the other ladies on here.
Chicci so sorry that you are having these problems. Apparently the H and B aloe 99% is fine and I find that it is really soothing. I don’t use the aqueous cream at all. I have an appt booked in for me once a week as a double appt after the rads with my oncologist to see how things are progressing - can you push for this too?
Hope things calm down a bit for you this weekend with the 2 day break
lots of love xx
Hello Chicci
I had similar problems, but not until after rads had finished. I had been using the Aqueous cream, which I had kept in the fridge, twice a day. When the sore redness and blistering came it was very painful. I went to the GP and he prescribed hydrocortisone cream which took about 2 weeks to calm it all down.I’m still feeling rubbish and very fatigued. My rads finished on Dec 23rd.
I hope you feel better soon.
HI Chicci
Sorry you are having a bad time with Rads. I had 20 sessions and it wasn’t until later that skin split and was sore. I do have tough skin rarely burning in the sun. I found the aqueous cream thick to rub in especially as it was more soothing when it was cool. I used aloe vera by SBC it’s available on line and from qvc so no need to go shopping.
I also found after that the area was very sensitive to the cold even after healing so in this cold weather make sure you have extra layers for that side. Tesco did a chashmere range that wasn’t a rediculous price and that was very soft and warm. Bet you can only buy swimsuits though at the moment!!!
Keep asking for help and reassurance. I think it’s one of the drawbacks to not seeing the same team each time you go. They don’t get to know you or can keep a real check on the changes. Sounds a bit odd but take photos so you can show what you are experiencing to new people.
Take care.
Love ChinooksP.S. Big hug on the better side.
Hi chicci
You need to go to get your burn dressed after every zap I think. The nurse put gel on me then paraffin gauze.then a large pad to hold all in place. Paraffin is exactly what’s needed as is docent dry out and keeps the gel moist so it can do it’s job in hydrating the area. It might be worth trying to see someone over the weekend. I am two weeks post rads now and have been doing the dressings myself. Nearly all sorted now, I noticed it had begun to heal noticeably from yesterday. My burns were quite bad, but not as bad as they would have been if not using the gel.
X Sarah
Thanks all - was really upset and in pain this morning but have looked at previous posts and cooled down a bit with cabbage leaves and a cold wet flannel. The nurse I saw at the first appt may be the dressings nurse but I have no idea - not seen her since the first time. She was very nervous and may be new to the post. Not sure why the radiologists called the duty doc and not a dressings nurse on Friday.
Will get the aloe vera from H+B - and contact my bcn on Monday. Sounds like I need to be able to contact/see a nurse - this seems to have been overlooked - maybe she will appear on Monday as other ladies have had a weekly check. Will push to see one when I go on Monday anyway.
Thanks to all for being there with help and reassurance
Nearly every Radiotherapy Department in the country recommends Aqueous Cream. Sainsbury’s does a large tub very cheaply and it is very soft. Just put it on thickly and let it soak in overnight . Use cotton next to your body. Never rub you skin or soak it just pat lotins on and if washing pat the skin dry.If you blister or the skin cracks they could give you Hydrogel. This heals the skin in a moist Enviroment . Although aloa Vera is very good it is not what many departments would recommend as first line treatment. Some might do so but it would have to be pure 99.9% I started using it today 19 days post DXT.
Hyricortisone creams may also be given to reduce inflammation. Have you tried old fashioned Asprin that can help with redness as it does for sunburn.
Getting so sore and red at the first fraction is an indication of a heightened reaction. Do ask to see the nurse attached to your Radiotherapy Department. If nothing else it might reassure you.
I so hope you find something that gives you relief. All these problems cause so much worry.
Hydrogel is what I used. Two weeks post rads finally today I was able to go back to aqueous cream. I shall put that on for a few days and then use aloe Vera. I have order the pure stuff from amazon the pace of healing about 10 days post rads was very rapid
Just a thought. One of the medications I take for Rh Arthritis exacerbates the effects of the radiotherapy treatments so I was advised to cease it. Don’t know if you are on any meds, but make sure there are no interactions causing your problems.
I was treated at the Marsden in Fulham (specialist hospital) and they were very happy with my use of Aloe Vera from the beginning to several weeks after treatment.
Just completed halfway mark of rads today. Was called in to see oncologist today who also said that i shouldn’t be getting so red/sore etc so soon. He couldn’t work out whta had happened. He asked if my boob had been red before I started rads/ if I had hit my boob on something etc. Got nurse to check my temperature in case I had an internal infection (haven’t). Seemed to be keen to blame it on something else. Didn’t suggest anything helpful - just wants me to continue with treatment which I’m doing.
Had a session after I saw him and was in tears just before treatment. Radiologists v sweet but had no solutions. They called in a more experienced radiologist who said she’d seen lots of boobs go like mine in the first week esp with my fair skin and freckles. Said the doc was just being ‘textbook’ and the radiologist who also thought I shouldn’t be red and sore who I saw last Fri was ‘inexperienced and still being trained’.
The upshot is my boob is hurting and the experts aren’t being very helpful with solutions/consistent about what is happening to my boob.
Beginning to wonder if I am just a lamb to the slaughter? There’s lots of anti-radiation ranting on the internet… is it just ranting?
It flippin hurts.
Hi, sorry your having a hard time. I have just had zap 14, now getting red and slightly sore. I bought aloe vera from holland and barret and I ended up with pimples, even the radiologist made a comment about seeing the nurse. Switched back to aqueous cream and boob a lot better and pimples gone. I was told that if skin broken ask them for askina gel 15gramms, mepilex 11cn × 20cm. I’m sure your doing everything right you may just have very sensitive skin, karen xx
Thanks - will see how I get on with aloe vera. My boob is permanently dark brown and sore and each treatment starts hurting an hour afterwards.
What’s confusing is that the radiologists are divided on whether it’s normal or not. I’d have more confidence in the whole process if they were all singing from same hymn sheet.
SO far the doc (consultant oncologist), the radiology specialist nurse and 1 radiologist are panicking and saying it’s not normal but don’t know what to do about it.
A senior radiologist and 1 radiologist are saying it’s normal and they’ve seen it before.
Next week there maybe many more and varied opinions - who knows. Just wish it was all over.
Thanks to all for help - sorry this isn’t more positive. I believe most people don’t get this so don’t let it put you off getting the treatment.
