Tips for Starting Radiation Treatment

Hi, I just completed six weeks of radiation after mastectomy and surgery. Cotton button up shirts are your best friend. My armpit was too sore for regular shirts around them,so a bigger shirt was great. Miaderm lotion was a savior to me. Suggested by the dr and saved my skin. I’m very pale skinned and you cant see a thing today. Good luck to you.

Thank you Jill. I will look for that lotion. Big shirts and button ups are already in my closet!

Miaderm comes with lidocaine, really helps if you get dermatitis my last

I used aloe gel and Cerave cream. On some days I used plain Vasoline. I brought cheap soft cotton T-shirts to wear under my clothes. This helped with greasy stains that creams and ointments caused. I made sure the T-Shirts were “soft” cotton.

Thank you for the tips! A t-shirt to absorb the grease! Aloe (what brand did you use)

I found a brand in local beauty supply store. It is by True, 99% aloe gel.

I used grass fed tallow ~ no added other chemicals or byproducts and have zero regrets. Soft, loose cotton or bamboo t-shirts. My advice is rest when you can. For me, the fatigue was like none other.

Calendula cream

Don't forget to have a high protein diet and exercise.

@Cat thank you! I have been working my way back up to working out. My PT said I could walk, and slowly start to weight train… until my skin turns pink. I am aiming for 95-105 grams of protein a day, I get close

Manuka honey is the ticket for skin burns. My breast surgeon wrote me a prescription.

See a lymphedema therapist to help with the cording - will help down the road.

@marsh thank you, I am seeing PT with Lymphedema right now… and pretty sure that my cording has turned to lymphedema 🥺. Did you put the honey on your skin? I have been told to eat some before and after my treatment…. Did you put a bandage over it? Or hang out topless with it on?

Starting radiation can feel overwhelming, but this community has so much collective wisdom to share about comfort strategies, skin care routines, and clothing choices that work best during treatment. Many members have found success with gentle, fragrance-free moisturizers and soft, loose-fitting clothing, so hopefully others will share their specific recommendations and experiences to help you feel more prepared and confident going into this next phase of treatment.