Anxiety over radiation burns: What can I expect?

I will think of you on Tuesday. Sometimes things have the "straw that broke the camel's back" effect. That is, stress builds up and the most recent thing seems the worst--although I think it can be accumulation. Glad you are on Connect.

This is what my radiologist gave me for treatment. It worked for me. No burns.

You can ask the radiologist that will be handling your treatments. They usually give you a cream and tell you where you can get some. You will tan in that breast. I did 23 treatments and continued to work through my treatments time. It will be 1 year next Saturday that I got my biopsy done. On November 17 I did my lumpectomy and started radiation treatments on December 7. I was tired but just kept my regular routine of working, taking of my household etc. This helped me heal faster. I used vitamin E oil for my incisions. They took my lump out and 3 lymph nodes to make sure it didn’t spread. It was clear Ty Jesus. I hope this helps. Prayer for fast healing for you….

Ditto on the green tea. Per radiologist instructions, put it on before radiation treatments
Used calendula lotion immediately following radiation, applied it before getting dressed after treatment. Also applied green tea twice a day on non treatment days.
Had 5 radiation treatments, every other day.
3 days after last treatment had mild rash on chest wall, mostly where I had previous sun damage, not on my breast. Per radiologist instructions, continued to apply green tea & calendula lotion, used topical hydrocortisone cream & rash gone within a week.
I’m a year out from radiation & no side effects

@feprincess, how long did your reactions to radiation last after treatment ended? How are you doing now?

Thank you all so much for great advice. I finished my radiation treatments today!
I’ve been using a water based cream by Glaxo and a Calendula cream that also contains olive oil. I will need a prescription for cortisone cream. I’m in Canada and we can only get a 1% over the counter. Hoping I won’t need it.
I somehow missed the post from Carrie on the green tea. (I wonder if I’m navigating this site properly, I just saw it today). I will pass it on to a friend who is starting her radiation tomorrow.
So far no reaction but I know it can come out after treatment, fingers crossed! I’ll keep using the creams for a couple of weeks.
Now the decision on letrozole, anastrozole or tamoxifen. I have done some research and, from what I have read , letrozole and anastrozole are more targeted than tamoxifen. However, I already have arthritis and dread making it worse with either of them. My oncologist said either letrozole or anastrozole are his recommendation.
Back to the gym to get in better shape to support my old bones.
This site is so valuable, thanks to all of you. Nice to know we are not alone!

Hi Colleen, my last treatment was at the end of September 2022 but the effects got worse over the next 3 weeks. I wasn't totally clear until the end November. They were surprised at the office and never saw such a reaction to only 16 treatments. It was really hard because my brother was killed in a car accident a week after my sugery and my mom died in November of that year. I ended up taking predisone to releave the symptoms finally.

I am doing pretty good now but it was really tough to have that and a double whammy of greif.

Thank you for asking.

My papers from the radiation oncologist office says to start skin care products on the day of radiation but the people that did the mapping a couple days ago that will also do the radiation told me I should start using the cream 2x/day that day and continue during radiation - which starts Nov 18 (which is scheduled for every other day for 5 treatments), so I have been using Vanicream as that is what I have. - they said it would make my area soft/moist before radiation. I never thought of using moisturizer unless my skin was dry - but to start with moisturizer to prevent skin dryness makes sense. They also suggested Udder Cream/Bag Balm, Aloe Vera gel at least 97% aloe, also approved are Aquaphor, Lubriderm, Eucerin and Cetaphil, and that I may apply Hydrocortisone cream if the area is itchy. Also I am to use either Lume or Native deodorant (or another deodorant that is not an antiperspirant). I haven't heard of anyone else being told to start the cream early, have you? I will do what a lot of you are saying and continue the cream for a couple weeks after surgery, and perhaps I will switch to 97% Aloe Vera during radiation treatments since many of you are using that with success but for now will use Vanicream.

My doctor gave me a prescription for a cream. I don’t remember the name of it. And a jar of petroleum jelly. I had to use the jelly twice a day and the prescription once a day after every treatment. I’m shocked they don’t automatically give you that. All My best.

It sounds like a helpful tip to moisturize before. I've found that often techs really know a lot as they see skin all day long. Hope it works well.