Unscented moisturisers

Welcome Catherine this is a good forum. I used aloe Vera gel when having radiotherapy a few months ago. I found it good. It didn't stop me burning but that was only temporary. I'm a large boobed woman so it happened in the fold underneath but it's fine now

Thank you for the welcome and the tip, Wicklow Lady!
Unlike you, I am a (desperately!) small boobed woman
I quite like aloe vera gel for accidental burns - and from what I understand, radiotherapy does burn your skin - so I think that sounds like a very good idea.
If I may be so cheeky as to ask: I find my radiologist incredibly pernickity about skin care. I am a runner, and to me it is as essential as breathing. I have done a lot of power walking immediately after surgery - with the weather we had, it was actually quite a pleasure - and am just starting to jog again, to gently build back up to normal. When I asked the radiologist about running, he was adamant that I could not possibly do it, because friction in the armpit and side of breast would damage the skin. Needless to say, I'm not impressed.
Did you or others find that the skin got really very fragile? I should say I am quite sallow skinned - I gather it makes a difference (?)
Thanks again!

Catherine

No problem. I'm afraid your radiologist is correct (they usually are lol) the skin gets like tissue paper . I spent a lot if time near the end 'braless' as I couldn't bear it on. It was very sore , red and weeping slightly and the skin had come away and I had no friction so I would imagine running wouldn't help the situation. I know you love it but if its sore like mine it won't be so attractive to you but once the radiotherapy stopped it started to heal straight away. So it's only temporary. Fair play to you I hardly have the energy to get from A to B never mind jogging.

Hope this helps and everyone is different but you just need to keep an eye on it but being smaller you probably won't get as bad as me.

Where are you attending? I was in Vincent's with Dr mcVeigh

Mary

Hi Catherine
Best of luck with the rest of your treatment; and you are spot on to not think too far ahead in terms of side effects of treatment as they may not even apply to you!
In terms of care of your skin, no matter how vigilant we can be about our skin during radiotherapy, the skin can breakdown anyway in the blink of an eye.
I used aqueous cream and towards the end got my hands on aloe vera gel. I brought a little jar with me to put on in the changing room straight after radiotherapy, wore my husbands huge t-shirts and sweatshirts, no bra. I also tried to wear nothing at all around the house so I used to get the earliest possible appointment so that I could go home and lie on my bed without clothes.
Make sure not to use any lotions or potions before you go into radiotherapy as they can fry your skin; make sure it's as dry as possible. That was another reason I asked for appointments as early as possible - I could have my shower in the morning, pat dry and be ready to rock and roll.
Also, you might experience exit burns on your back; I had one over my shoulder blade so it wouldn't be any harm moisturising that too. (Don't forget to wash/wipe that off before radiotherapy too!!)
Despite my best efforts I still got burns but I was given special padded plasters that I had to leave on over the weekends I hadn't radiotherapy. I was also given a fantastic gel by the nurses to put on.
Best of luck to you Catherine, hope all goes well for you. x

Thank you so much Wicklow Lady and Encee for the very useful tips. I take good note.
I suppose much of the effect on the skin depends on the length and intensity of the treatment, and probably varies from person to person - so I'll apply the "suck it and see" principle which has served me well thus far.
I am currently planning to do my radiotherapy treatment very early in the morning, and go straight into work thereafter. I am told by the med team that this is totally realistic. I am really keen that my treatment interferes as little as possible with normality. I have told very few people about my diagnosis, it is just too complicated to bring them down from the horror reaction and tell them "it's not that bad, really...". It's easier all round, but I can only get away with it if treatment does not take me away from work for any length of time, and if I don't have very visible side effects such as hair loss or other.
I do realise that I have been incredibly lucky in my diagnosis, especially when I read the very scary signatures some of you ladies include in your posts, which illustrate so well the incredibly tough realities of breast cancer for so many women.
Anyway, I ramble.
Thanks again for sharing so generously your experience and your tips. I really appreciate it.

Catherine

Welcome Catherine!

I have now almost completed my 2nd week of rads & so far my skin is fine.. I am being really good with keeping the whole area moisturised, using an aloe vera cream that I swear by in the afternooon and at night before bed lashing on e45.. The therapist did say though that it's really hit & miss whether your skin hold up or not and in actual fact apart from keeping it in good condition you really won't know how rads will affect it until/unless it happens..

Also, about the Tamoxifen - I too was dreading having to start it (I had read so many horror stories) and to be honest the first couple of weeks weren't great as I was soo tired I couldn't keep my eyes open but after that my body seemed to adjust to it and now I'm glad to say I don't notice any side effects at all!

Finally, our cases do seem similar. After the inital shock of the diagnosis , I also realised like you how very lucky I am to have found it (same as you a self diagnosed lump) so early.. ps.. I too had the oncotype test and did not need chemo..

Resolute