[Sandra in GA]

Vicky,
That rubbery pad is a bolus and like you said, it is supposed to bring the radiation to the skin. They began using one on my chest and under my arm when those two sites were radiated about half way through my treatment. They also radiated my supraclavical nodes from the frot and back and did not use it there. My radiation oncologist down at Mayo in Jacksonville (she does all the breast cancer patients) told me to put pure aloe on after to prevent burning. I wonder why you dr wants you to burn. I also applied cold packs and she was very impressed with the condition of my skin and even wanted to know exactly what I did to keep my skin in such good condition. I got the impression that she was going to suggest this to future patients.

I also had visits with a lymphedema therapist who had me measured for the compression sleeve and taught my husband how to do the massages. The massages seemed to really help whem I felt a fullness in my arm or chest area. I wore the sleeve during these times also. No one told me to wear it during radiation. My main problem during radiation was staying in that position with my arms over my head. I had had rotator cuff surgery about six months before finding my lump so not moving that are during the x-ray sessions really made my arm hurt. I did have the x-rays every week. I think they were to make sure everything was lined up as it should be.

Good luck. All will heal with time and you will be grateful for the security of knowing that radiation gives you a 50% better chance of having any local recurrances. Since I had 21 positive lymph nodes, not having radiation was not an option I could live with even though I came close to not having it.

Sandra