Skin Care during Radiation?

Marshgirl24
Vanicream works great

Thank you. I got some of the Georges drink. All our skin is connected so drinking something makes sense. Think I’ll put it in the fridge once I open it.

When I mentioned Mepitel at my treatment planning, I was met with silence. Finally one of the techs said that her patients using the Mepitel were the ones with the skin problems. Obviously something has gone wrong. I’m on that Mepitel FB group and everyone there has had a good experience.

Let me know how it goes.. and how the leaf gel works for you. 👍🏼
The gel needs to be put on often.
If your home alone, go topless and let your skin breathe.

Followup on Best Creams
Many thanks to all of you who offered info on breast creams during radiation. I promised to followup. I'm a lobular 1b patient. Surgery in Oct and radiation in December. Before I began radiation I started using Aloe Vera. At first I used the plant. (Friends brought me 3). But it was thin and I quickly switched to the Fruit of the Earth Gel which gave better coverage. Squirted some gel into a baggie and brought it with me to treatments. Slathered it on myself in the dressing room after each treatment. Every day and night I used that plus calendula cream, some Mia-derm L and Aquaphor. I rotated the others on spaced every 30 minutes. Aqua Vera Gel followed by the others. The Aquaphor does stain so I lost a shirt or two . The itchiness for me started after treatment finished. Peaked at one wk after and my RO prescribed triamcinolone cream, and that handled it. I think I'm about 4 weeks out now and I no longer have to use the other creams...but I do sometimes. I'm on anastrozole and so far have no issues but it hasn't been long. I'm glad that so many of you felt the radiation was easy. Nothing to it, you said. That's not how it was for me. The supine position was awkward. (not like the comfortable one I saw online). Prone was not offered. I wore gloves to save my boney hands gripping those posts and gradually learned the breathing, my head twisted to one side. Phew, I was so glad when it was over. May the future hold good health for all of us!

I thought I’d add the creams that I used for anyone who might be interested. My radiation oncologist recommended a cream called Biafine, which I had to get on Amazon. I used it right after each session and then at bedtime. After about 6 treatments, my nipple became very irritated, so he told me to use Aquaphor on the nipple and surrounding area twice a day in addition to the Biafine. The following week, underneath my breast got extremely red, so he gave me Silvadene cream. He told me to use the Silvadene on the red area underneath my breast and at bedtime to put the Silvadene all over my breast. At that time, I also started using the Biafine 3-4 times a day instead of only twice a day. Right before my last treatment I developed a rash on my chest, and he gave me hydrocortisone cream to put on that when needed. A day or two after my last session, my armpit got extremely red and painful. I liberally used the Silvadene on my armpit, underneath my breast, and any other area that was red. About 12 days after my last radiation session, my skin started to get better. I am now 3 weeks post radiation and it is much better. I still use the Biafine in the morning after I shower and at bedtime just to keep the area moisturized. I never did blister or have any open skin. I had radiation in the prone position. I was very nervous about that since I never ever lay on my stomach, but it actually worked out fine. The hardest part was figuring out how to get on and off the table. It only took a couple days for me to get a system. One last thing, I used Dove Sensitive bar soap for showers during radiation and am still using it.

@marshgirl24, thanks for the follow-up and sharing what worked for you. This will be really helpful for members who read the discussion about Skin Care During Radiation.

If you are large-breasted and you have radiation directed to the underside of your breast, I would recommend wearing the ComfortSlings products as soon as you begin treatment. I wore a ComfortSlings sling nearly 24 hours a day from the beginning of my radiotherapy.
Several times during the day I lay on my back and applied colorless, odorless gel to my entire breast, including the underside. I remained in position until the gel was fully absorbed (it took seconds), then immediately tucked the ComfortSling beneath my breast. With continuous protection from moisture and abrasion, the need for other products was virtually eliminated. By my treatments' end, my skin had darkened slightly but was otherwise unchanged. By the treatment’s end, my skin had darkened slightly at the radiation site, but was otherwise unchanged. I had no pain, no broken skin.The protection the sling provided in eliminating perspiration and preventing skin-to-skin abrasion combined with the soothing gel was priceless.

My dermatologist told me that the skin of the breast(s) that received radiotherapy should be checked by a dermatologist every 6-12 months--because there is a (small) likelihood of developing skin cancer there. Also, a full body check for skin cancer every 12 months is recommended, since skin cancer is more likely once one has breast cancer. Who knew?

Yes, @peggydobbs I guess that's true. Yesterday I went to my dermatologist for something else and she said, "Do you mind if I check your whole body? Radiation can sometimes kick off other conditions." The things you don't want to know when you start this journey, right? But better to catch it early.