I’ve got the sorest boobs imaginable at the moment after 20 rad sessions, 5 to go. I’m a GG cup and it’s impossible to stop the skin under my boobs touching and so I knew it would get sore but now its happened, its horrible and I’ve still got a week to go.
The biggest problem at the moment is trying to get a dressing to stay in place. My nurse dresses the area with nu-gel, then geliperm, then gauze, then I put my bra over that to keep it in place but its very hit and miss and the geliperm slides all over the place.
Hi Hannah,
This might be a bit late now but have you seen the tip from Horace about the hairdryer? When the dressings are off lift the breast out of the way and blow it on cool to dry the area. I tried it as this has happened to me and being well endowed! it is very difficult to stop the skin touching. I found the best for me was to wear a soft loose cotton top and sort of tuck it up under the boob (with or without dressings) and it helps with the chaffing. I still can’t wear a bra as it rubs unbearably, so am restricted to large sloppy jumpers. Thank goodness its winter!
Hi Hannah,
I’m a 40DD and after 18 rads I had a small split under the breast. Towards the end of my rad treatment the nurse at the hosp gave me some gel, dressings and a sort of net boob tube to hold things in place. At night I would lie with nothing on and let the air get to it, this worked quite well but I had to support the breast in the morning as any movement would re split it. I was given Flamazine cream by my GP and I applied this about 3 times a day, I used a dressing which was held in place by my bra. It took about 2wks to gradually repair.
Other posts have recommended Marks and Spencer support vests.
Hope things improve soon.
Caz xx
Hannah dear I bought melolin dressings and put them between my bra and skin when I didnt wear a bra the weight of my boob[40-42DD]kept them in place.The splits were really bad at first it was the hairdryer that finally got them healing.Remember you can go on cooking for a couple of weeks after treatment finishes good luck,horacex
I found the best thing was… wearing a sanitary towel with the ointment my GP gave me in my bra! I only went without a bra at home, but obviously couldnt walk round the office with it all hanging out, so the towel was a god send.
Oh thank you so much for this thread. I am doing chemo and have rads to come and have been worrying about the fact that my boobs are so large and heavy and I just cant wear a little vest like everyone suggests and these tips are all so helpful. I wil buy a hairdryer with a cool setting, mine hasn’t got one.
Hannah and Jojo, I do hope that things have improved for you since posting this and that you are more comfy.
Thanks everyone! you’ve all been so helpful. My Doctor gave me a break from rads for a week as area was so raw and we just did the boost area for last 5 days -restarting remaining 5 rads tomorrow. It has started healing but still pretty horrible under there so hoping it won’t get as bad again.
I’ve been using flamazine and the nurse gave me geliperms which are really cooling but have to wear bra to keep in place as slides all over the place. At night I just have flamazine there and it’s really helped.
The hairdryer was a great top tip -thanks.
I’m sure my 2 year old is going to be mentally scarred seeing my boob like this!!! poor thing
I was given Jelonet gel gauze pads to use by the hospital. They stink, but they’re not too bad when they stay put. Unfortunately they often seem to roll up and rub. They said Mepitel ones are better because they stay on for 5 days or so and don’t have to come off for showering. They don’t use them there because they cost more…
GP’s nurse gave me a couple to try this morning. She also said they are much better at staying where they’re put. I’ll report back on that in a few days…
I’ve got approx 10 x 15 cm peeled area now, but mostly OK apart from when I stretch for something or try to reverse the car. Also still split underneath. Occasionally a bit itchy but haven’t had to sit on my hands yet.
I have just finished 23 rads and am starting to split - great advice about the hairdryer - I hadn’t really expected it to get so bad right at the end. I felt that the Aloe Gel really helped most of the way through. I am an E cup but still find the secret support vests from M&S quite good and much softer under the bust and they seem to hold the jelly pads in quite well. I find it worse at night when not wearing the vest - really painful to turn over…I can’t wear a bra at all - too painful.
Anyway - hope it feels a bit better now - nearly at the end!
I must try out your tips as my treatment finished 2 days ago and my skin is tearing in all areas of friction. Night time is awful as it tears when I turn over, so I must try the hairdryer technique.It’s just good to know that I’m not alone!
Gill
I’m now 15 days post treatment and only have one small raw/oozy bit only about a fingertip size. The split bit healed a few days ago but the skin is still a little sensitive there. I have done lots of peeling and it is true that once it starts healing you can see/feel an improvement every day.
Sorry to hear you both are tearing down there. I was also surprised how quickly it happened once it started. I’m afraid it was still getting worse until about 7 days post, but then after about 10 days post I started to notice things mending. You just hang in there because it’s just a few days in your life and you know you will get out the other side. Try to have a few quiet days at home if you can so you can let it all hang out when you feel like it…
I wasn’t too keen on the hairdryer thing as I was worried about it sticking extra dust on the wounds.
After using Flamozine for 7 days in the hope that things would improve, I gave in and went to see my GP. The area of torn skin had begun to bleed in a few places, so it was not appearing to improve. The Doctor diagnosed a fungal infection, gave me an antibiotic cream and 48 hours on, I’m feeling a lot happier. The skin is no longer weeping and although there are still patches I can see an improvement. I wish I’d gone earlier!
Oh dear: you all sound so constructive! Your tips will be helpful am sure though… thanks. Am still deciding and haven’t done so yet. Am also 34F, not small and concerned about how radiotherapy will affect me.
Reaslistically, how can I attend work and look respectable: I mean I can’t go bra less at work (!!) does a 3 hours train commute in and out of london sound reasonable during treatment: what can i expect!? (minor concern). Have you all stoppped work?!
Have posted my main concern on larger breasts - long term effects of radio - if anyone can help there too?
BB
Hi Bb
I have continued to work as much as possible during radiotherapy, going in for the afternoons following a 70 mile drive to and from the nearest Radiotherapy unit, but have not got the bottle to go bra-less especially teaching (nice) teenagers!!! I stuffed a sanitary towel between the bottom of my bra to collect the goo when it got sticky last week and wear a lycra crop top at weekends under baggy fleeces so my 15 year old son isn’t hugely embarrassed. As a 36DD some things can’'t be considered…I didn’t even go bra-less as a teenager so the chances of it happening now are not an option. These lycra tops have been really helpful at night - they sort of keep everything in place when you turn over in bed so I shall continue with them even when things are better. I just tried to keep my life as close to how it was before.
Gill
Havent started radiotherapy yet, but have two barrage balloons…I have been given a ‘top tip’ that aloe vera gel is brilliant for reducing the burn and accelerating the healing process after breast radiotherapy. Have bought a big tube! Maybe you girls might try it? Let me know if it works. Zoe
p.s the M&S vest tops with built in support are pretty good.