Hi , i have 3 more boost rads to go yippee, but the skin under my breast is really sore and has broken down around the scar. I am going to spain on the 20th Sept ( to visit my dad in his new home) and was hoping to go in the pool. Would it be ok to cover area with a waterproof dressing, i was hoping to play with my kids in the pool, don’t think i could stand to sit on the side and just watch them,.
I have been given aqueous cream and intra site gel, has anyone got any other suggestions to help. The sore area is under the breast where the breast creases !!
Regards all
Sarah66
I finished my rads on 18th August with nasty sore under breast and weeping burn in crease above breast where my arm was up during treatment. I had 4 boosts at the end of 25 normal zaps and everything went back to normal about 4 days ago. I found the gel really good on the burn and that soon closed up. I think you should be ok by your holiday if you keep putting your cream and gel on. The areas now just look like they have been suntanned. I was advised to make sure I shower after swimming and put plenty of high factor suncream on the area.
I had 29 rads in total and at the very end my skin broken on my collarbone and a bit under my arm. I was given intrasite gel for the splits and continued with the aqueous cream everywhere else. I was instructed to go to my practice nurse for dressings and more gel after a week, amazingly enuff when I got there the skin was healed and it was agreed that the best thing to do ws continue with the aqueous cream but leave the area with no dressing to allow the air to get to it. I suppose it all depends on how badly the skin has split and if it is weepy.
Remember to take a very high factor sun block and keep the radiated area and the arm on your surgery side covered to avoid sunburn.
Best thing to do is ask at your rads unit about the swimming pool, they are the best ppl to advise.
I have 7 sessions to go (5 of which are boosters) and just starting to get aggravated under the crease on my breast. I am making sure that I am putting cream on 2/3 times daily and have been advised to put a cotton hankie underneath my breast to ‘capture’ the sweat. I think the main thing is to get a lot of air to this site so it doesn’t fester.
I too am going on holiday on the 19th and want to be able to swim in pool or the sea. I am determined that it’s not going to split and spoil my holiday!
Oooh Sarah forgot one more tip. Where my soreness was really bad under the breast the radiographer suggested putting a really soft old but clean cotton hanky covered in aqueous or e45 on the sore secured by a loosley fastened bra or stretch top. This stopped any friction by keeping it really really moisturised all the time. It worked on mine.