I’ve just finished a course of 20 rads, and consider myself fortunate, my skin has been surprisingly good, only slightly red and itchy, I used lots of aqueous cream twice a day before and during rads, and simple soap, my skin went pink very early into treatment but hasn’t got much worse. Of course your rads team will give you advice, and there are ladies on this thread who have just started, or are about to start, they may have different experiences.
I haven’t needed chemo, so not sure if skin reacts differently after chemo or not, but I hope your treatment goes ok, and any se are minimal . The worst thing about rads is the waiting and traveling it just seems to disrupt your day .
Thanks. That is pretty much what I’ve heard, although the tips for skin care are really helpful.
I’m really hoping to be back at work in March so it would be GREAT if I didn’t get the awful tiredness.
I HAVE been told to wear soft cup bras during rads. Which is a bit of a bummer because I’ve not been able to find one that fits properly despite lots of expense and trial and error(one boob is H cup).
I have worn a sports bra since my WLE in Oct, and found that is ok, just a cheapie from primark, although I am a small b cup, some ladies don’t wear a bra during rads, so you could always do that! Or just wear a vest top with built in support,My boob did feel swollen about half way through my appts but that seems to have gone now, (my last one was 24th Dec), as for tiredness I have been in bed most nights for about 9:00! But we are all different, and I think may depend how far you have to travel.
Also during treatment drink loads of water, and eat well, and hopefully all will be fine. I haven’t worked through rads, - my choice - was going to go back after Xmas, but might ask gp for a new sick note, just to make sure I’m fully recovered and ready for work!
100 mile round trip Lilac! OMG, and I’m stressing about a 20 miles round trip each day - what a wuss am I.
I have started on the aqueous cream, but not really sure how much of an area to cover apart from inbetween the tattoos and under the arm. I suppose I’ll know more on the first treatment which is on 5th Jan.
I’m hoping to keep on working but have told them I will see how it goes. If things become too uncomfortable and/or sore I’ll get myself signed off for the duration.
I too am concerned about the hardening/shrinking that I read about. My Onc did say to me at the end of our first meeting that I should expect my boob to become smaller than before. I’ll just have to wait and see what happens I suppose.
I must admit, I’m enjoying this break in all the hospital appointments and treatments though, and feeling ‘normal’ again. Oh! and being able to taste Blossom Hill and Chocolate!
Lilac - you surely take the award for farthest traveler. Not sure about shrinkage or hardening , I haven’t got either, but I think it comes later on, after treatment has finished so will have to wait and see.
Karen - my rads covered all my breast, my snb scar, and at an angle towards my collar bone, but it may depend were your tumour was, enjoy the blossom hill and chocs and take it easy if working during rads
Hi Everyone,
Am one third of the way in and no pinkness yet (same area as crazy cat lady) but after treatment, skin feels slightly warm. I am using aloe vera cream as well sa aqueous but I did get it checked out by the radiologist as they have a list of permitted substances. I must admit that I am getting tired but it could be Christmas things. Remember to cover the skin under the arm with cream too.
On the Macmillian site it says that some shrinking of the breasts is fairly common but it usually feels the same. I got really worried about this and my surgeon did say that it is possible to even it up if it happens.
Wendy x
Wendy & Crazy Cat - Thank you for you advice re: the cream. To be honest I have only been applying it for a few days in readiness for Jan 5th and I’m already bored with it!
Hi All,
have just picked up this thread,
finished radio 6 weeks ago found the tiredness only kicked in about 3 weeks post treatment, throught I was getting away with it, maybe worth bearing in mind when working-I was signed off, as still suffering from effects of chemo.
Re cream my unit recommends aqeous but not too much, a thin layer is better something to do with the technology of the machine. I applyed it in the morning and immediately post treat. Very little affect on the skin, slight redness/tingling and can now just see the treated area if I look really hard.
Jo re bras- I too am a larger lady wore my bra throughout, no problems, even with the one wired I have. Not sure if it goes to a H cup but royce def. do a G cup as do M&S.
LADIES GOOD LUCK WITH ALL YOUR TREATMENTS
Travelling was the worst bit for me 140 miles round trip finished rads on 22nd Dec still very tired need a nap during the day and not doing too much. I am more itchy which is driving me mad but hopefully this will pass soon. I have found it more comfy to go braless and have some vests with support in them. Good luck
Hi all, and happy new year!,
Karen - aqueous, booooooring your so right, there is nothing nice about it, I’ve nearly finished my pot, and will be moving on to something nicer
Barb - OMG still tired! I was going to go back to work on tues, but doc gave me another 4 weeks, which I’m so relieved about, but think ill have to go back after that, so I’d better make the most of it.
Smiley - your a bit ahead of me, mine is itchy now and nipple peeling (ouch!), 140 miles! Ok you’ve taken the award for farthest traveler off lilac, I bet your glad to have finished.
Wendy - how’s it going? You must be a fair way through by now, hope your skins not too sore.
To all about to start - all the best, and keep posting! X
Last one on the 10th Jan.I am lucky as it isn’t far but still takes an hour and a half round trip on bus. It seems to make me tired straight away and have to have a nap so I’m not back at work yet. Skin not sore (yet!) but the thought of nipple peeling makes me wince.
Off to finish the wine left over from yesterday - it is calling to me!
Not long to go Wendy, you rest when you need it, I’ve found its time to be selfish and think about me, but I usually end up with my boys in bed with me - they find it hard to cope, when mums out of action , even if they are teenagers!
I’m not back at work yet, got 4 more weeks, so will make the most of it.
Hi
Just read this thread and thought I would pass on how it’s going for me. Started rads just before xmas and am now just over halfway through. Started using aqueous cream but it made my skin feel tight so switched to a moistuiser called diprobase which I use for my psoraisis. Checked it out with the rads nurse this is ok to use and the only reason they don’t use it, is it is more exspansive than aqueous cream so had to get it from my gp. So far skin is turning pink in places, occasional feeling of soreness so I rub some cream in and stiffness which the exercises from post op sorts out. Have a few spots on my breast which are so itchy, trying hard not to scratch them, again cream helps. Unfortunately picked up a bug between xmas and new year which wiped me out, like early days of chemo re tiredness.
Taking tamoxifen at bedtime with a cup of tea and biscuits to combat any nausea and so far ok. Hot flushes defenitely reduced since chemo finished and are back to pre chemo levels but have been told se’s from tamoxifen usually take about 3 weeks so waiting to see what happens.
Hope all goes well and so feel for those of you with long travelling times,
Ali.
First of the Rads today, so I feel like I’m finally getting to the end of it all. Luckily, I don’t have far to travel but even so, my usual daily travel is two minutes in the car to the next village for work and back again and driving along a busy dual-carriageway and into town for me is quite a big deal! “What a wimp” I hear you calling - but I know that doing that journey every day will cause me major stresses.
Ali, did you start on Tamoxifen at the beginning of your Rads then? I have been told I will start when they have finished.
Hi Karen
I was supposed to start at beginning of rads but delayed as I got hit by a bug which meant the post xmas and new year period passed me by so I started 3rd Jan. Other cons. leave it until you finish rads so it just depends on where you are getting treatment. Have noticed that it gives me that chemo foggy head feeling about 1/2 hr after for about 1/2 hr and have found I am wide awake for 2 hrs or so. Going to try taking it tonight at 8pm to see if this makes a difference.
Ali.
Hi evryone, hope it’s all going ok. Skin holding up well but tiredness is now chronic and have to sleep for 2-3 hours in the afternoons. I’m dutifully walking for half an hour a day as this is supposed to help with tiredness. If I get any tireder, I won’t be be able to get up at all! Only 2 more to go
The tiredness is dreadful isn’t it. I finshed my rads on 22nd Dec but am still needing a nap every day. I feel as if I will fall over if I don’t lay down. Still have probs sleeping at night though-not helped by night sweats!Onc did say I would prob feel tired for quite a while after rads so I guess she was right. Eileen xx
and take it easy if working during rads