creams to use during and after radiotherapy

[Bibi]

Hi Charlie - have you had a planning session yesterday? That was when they discussed with me about moisturising and keeping hydrated - the skin can become very dry and itchy if not moisturised I was told. The drinking helps with the tiredness - Body is working hard to replace the cells being killed by rads with healthy ones so fluids help. Have you had a booklet about it? If not look up info on BCC site as they produce the booklet. There are also other threads on this subject if you search . I had a WLE not a mastectomy somyou might want to chat with someone who has and had rads . Good luck with your treatment . 

[Charlie101]

I am due to have Radiotherapy in 2 weeks, but I  have not been told by anyone to use cream? I had a masectomy 7 weeks ago.  Should I start using cream now and where do I put the cream before and after and why do I need any cream?  I saw my Oncologist on Friday but he never mentioned any of this?

[ellajo]

I saw the oncologist and the specialist radiotherapy nurse on Wednesday. Although the breast cancer nurse advised me to us acqueous cream on the scars I was told on Wednesday not to use this nd also that they don’t recommend E45. Advised me to use Aveeno or Simple products. I’ve bought some Aveeno for radiotherapy which should start in about 4 weeks. Although I have been told by others that radiotherapy is a breeze I am dreading it as oncologist has advised I may burn quite badly and skin split and blister (I am ver fair and burn easily in the sun).

[Susieone]

Hi

I've just had my first radiotherapy session. I was told at my planning session to use either E45 or diprobase. I got both on prescription from docs.

I started the E45 straight away so had 2 weeks to prepare skin before starting.

Xx

[Bibi]

Hi Pamela - I am at 18/20 sessions of radiotherapy and I have used Aveeno cream which has been great - tried Aloe Vera gel but had a reaction so have stuck to Aveeno. You can buy in most pharmacies or from Amazon which I have found slightly cheaper- I wasn’t given anything from hospital just advised to moisturise and drink lots of water. Good luck x 

[Ruby5000]

Hi there

I've just finished 15 treatments. I've used La Roache-Posay cicaplast Baume B5. Along with the their thermal spring water spray which I applied immediately after treatment. They have a web page dedicated to cancer. Brilliant company.

Hope this helps.

[Pamela Stutchbury]

I had breast cancer. I had it taken away 3 weeks ago. I am now wait for radiotherapy. I want to know the best cream to use. and do the cancer trust or doctor give you it

[moigriff]

I have been using 'Udderly Cream "
Good results so far.

[Stefa]

Atat.

It was the same for me, I live alone so I bought myself a small radiator roller (about three inches wide and the kind you use to paint behind a radiator) and sleeve (fluffy). You put the cream on the sleeve and Hey Presto, you can run it up and down your back with ease and you get even distribution of cream. 

[stage_4]

Hey All,

I am not sure that Fightcancerwithbeauty.com supplies the royal family, but I very much love their products. It's the one that was recomended to me because it's all natural with no chemical in it....

It has Reishi mushroom which is known to boost the immunite system. 

I used the balm for radiotherapy burns, and it really helped.... Good luck out there!

[MsPuddleDuck]

Hi G.

I have completed my rad treatment 3 weeks ago and was lucky everything went smoothly. I too put a big countdown calender on my wall which I put a big cross through every day with great relish!!

I too avoided Aqueous cream like the plague particularly as it contains 'sodium lauryl sulfate'...great in cleaning products, check out your cupboard!! I read a great little article in the Telegraph;

http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/news/judithpotts/100043038/how-i-saved-my-skin-after-radiotherapy/

I contacted Judith the author who put me intouch with the company who supplies the London Royal patients with the Aloe Vera mixture.

I used Aloe Vera from start to finish, I even had a small blister under my arm-pit and put nothing more on it except when it had dried up and was flakey, so used E45 Intense recovery.

Make time for yourself, have manicures, facial, hair etc which all involve nice smelly things. Also I think its really important to keep up some form of exercise, I personally power walk with the dog, I admit I didnt always feel like it as the tiredness sort of creeps up on you, but it took my mind of the treatment and I still felt better for getting out in the fresh air and not breathing in 'that hospital smell'!!

I also booked a holiday so I had something to look forward too.

A large slab of cake and a glass of wine for breakfast with friends on my last day of treatment.

Good luck

[Robs1612]

Hi Globalnomad, it is so sad you have no one at home, I think breast cancer makes you feel alone anyway, I do have a hubby at home and friends around, but I still have feelings of loneliness, can't bring myself to talk to those closest to me honestly about how I feel all the time. I called the helpline number 2 days ago with a quick medical question and chatted for ages to a really kind, understanding woman and found myself pouring out so many feelings, it was so incredibly helpful, please give it a go. My question was about creams too, as a friend who's a district nurse gave me some MediHoney cream for soreness under my breast a few weeks before I was diagnosed, it is so wonderful wanted to know if ok for during radiotherapy, the advice I was given was each radiotherapy unit will tell you what you can use depending on their equipment and guidelines, they may not recommend such creams or aloe Vera gel, but will let you know if it is ok to use them. I do hope this helps, you can always message me if you want to let off steam, we are all in this together. Best wishes Robyn x

[Bigpumpkin]

Hi how are you?

I shower using Nivea shower then use Nivea in shower body moisturiser skin conditioner. Then I use Epiderm cream in the mornings and at night. I have just finished 15 rads and start 5 boosters today and fingers crossed my skin is good.
Good luck with your Rads

[Suetoo]

Hi! I live in the US, in New York State and started rad tx Thurs. For Stage 1A invasive ductal carcinoma and a partial mastectomy on June 4th. My radiation oncologist gave me Aquaphor. Which is 41% petrolatum and I absolutely hated it! the ointment was hard to spread on tender skin! and it gave me a terrible slimy feeling. Today he gave me RadX and it's a wonderful albeit slightly stinky moisturizing cream that I'm to use right after a tx and at bedtime, not right before.

[lucy12]

Our radiotherapy unit told me I could use either aqueous cream or aloe vera gel (one or the other but not both as that would clog the pores). I used the aloe vera gel from Holland and Barrett - it smells lovely and was very cooling. I also continued to use the bio oil I had been using since my surgery (they told me I shouldn't but my friend in another hospital had been told it was fine!).

To help me get through the four weeks (as it did seem like a long slog), I put my weekly timetable of appointments up on the fridge and took great pleasure in crossing them off one by one. I also asigned Friday as 'treat day' and made sure I did something nice after each Fridays appointment - coffee and cake in town, lunch out with a friend, a leather jacket I'd had my eye on for months and on the last week I dyed my hair bright pink! Just make sure it's something that will make you smile, no matter how small or big.

Good luck

Lu x

[PaulS]

I was told that I could use Dove or Simple shower gel just after the surgery, then through the radiotherapy.  I was also told to buy Dove or Simple shampoo and conditioner and use that throughout.  I went for the Dove - it seemed somehow richer and moisturised more I thought.  I have been fine and healed well.  No infections.  During the actual radiotherapy I have been advised not to use anything as it can affect the treatment,  but I was told to use a good moisturer for weeks before to prepare the skin, and to buy Aloe Vera and keep it in the fridge to use when I am finished or if there seem to be burned areas.  My radiotherapy hasn't started yet, so I can't say how my skin responded, but I'll let you know.

Globalnomad - pampering is NOT superficial!  And you should not be going throught this on your own.  Is there a Maggie's Centre near you?  Macmillan nurses?  Your BC nurse? The nurse in your GP practice?  Can't your GP refer you to some support systems and get you in touch with someone who can help - to offer you emotional and practical support?  To put your cream on?  To make you a cuppa?  I hate to think about you on your own!

[Atat]

That's interesting to hear, but have no- one to put it on my back for me!!!

[keeks]

Hi ladies

it seems that every radiotherapy department has different recommendations on what to use on your skin.

I followed the advice on here, even though it went against the recommendation of my radiotherapy dept. I used E45 cream before my rads, tried to use it for two weeks before, three times a day, I still had an open wound so not easy,  remember to include under your arm and back. 

When my rads started I was told to use only simple soap and deodorant but I continued with the e45. Even took some with me and put it on after treatment, before I got dressed. It did help a lot. The days I forgot it my skin was tight. The radiographer seemed pleased with how my skin held up during treatment, said they did not recommended using cream but everything seemed ok. I had aloe vera gel ready for burns but didn't need to use it.

once you start rads the time passes quickly,  so good luck to you all.

take care

Keeks

[Lakeslover]

99% aloe Vera gel from holland and Barrett is nice to use and leaves the skin feeling soft. Some radiotherapy units are happy with it, others say not to use until after radiotherapy finishes. I don't have a clue why. You could use anything you like on areas not covered by rads like legs, arms.

Our local cancer care centre here offers complementary therapies like aromatherapy. Not suitable during radiotherapy but if you could book for afterwards maybe it would be something to look forward to.

How about non smelly treats? Strawberries and cream, takeaway curry, cinema, a new book, whatever you enjoy? I did loads of jigsaws as they needed little concentration and passed the time without resorting to daytime telly.

[globalnomad]

Thanks for the kind reply,  and for suggestions.  Unfortunately ...tho I was married...I had no kids, grandkids, AND had a very different life experience from most women, very different so I cant relate to them.   Wonder what happens to people like me, largely ignored because they dont fit the mould! But good luck  to you in your   own cancer experience.  

[pinky3]

Hello globalnomad

I am sorry to hear that you feel so isolated, it must be very difficult for you.  Most areas have local Macmillan support groups, have you considered joining? I have found this forum helpful, but I am lucky to have moral and practical support at home as well. I imagine that meeting with other ladies with a similar diagnosis would be helpful in many ways. If you can't find details of you local support group maybe you could telephone the breast cancer care helpline and they could give you details of a local group.

I think pampering yourself is a great idea. I am yet to have radiotherapy so like you am not sure what is okay to use. I have read on here of some ladies using aloe Vera gel to sooth the skin, but I am not sure.

[globalnomad]

Hello...going for radiotherapy  two weeks time.  Want to know what  creams u can use. Aqueous cream not always good reviews and many creams stink like a vet surgery.  Would be nice to have  effective  cream and shower stuff that  had nice scent and felt   pampering.  Cancer treatments are all grim. We are surrounded by impersonal machinery in harshly lit rooms, often  attended by staff who have little or no people skills to put you at ease. We don't all go home  to homes where someone is there to hug or make a cuppa. I have nobody like that myself. Therefore any pampering ,  superficial as it may seem,  is a good thing for me! Anyone got any nice ideas?    And anyone else out there totally alone?      The slogan that noone should face cancer alone is a nice sentiment.  Unfortunately for me it is true.