[Westcoastgirl]

To tell you the truth I had a harder time with radiation than with the chemo, even losing the hair part, but probably only because by then chemo was behind me and behind one is always the best place for chemo to be. It bothered me to see my chest burn a little more every day. I had that thing you describe every second day to keep the radiation close to the skin. They could not get good margins on a surprise tumor and it was close to the skin and chest wall. I was fortunate in that I did not need any lymph radiation. I was a 50/50 call for my radiation but I could not say no to it even though I sure did not want it. They told me to do saline compresses and that gave me the greatest relief of all and I think helped not to hurt the skin so much but it got worse to tell you the truth up to a week after the end of radiation. There is a residual affect. But I must say a month later my skin was pretty much back to normal. It was like getting over a very bad sunburn. I am quite fair. I did not wear my compression sleeve during radiation. I just used the saline compresses, made my own saline the night before and then left it at room temperature but you can put it in the fridge for added cooling. I was shocked at how many facecloths were in our household. I just used Glaxol Base as my cream. That was it. I was not prepared for the size of the radiated area and I had a hard time with laying still, always had to stifle a cough or lived in fear of a sneeze and fought the urge to kick my feet and fling my arms around once everyone ran from the room. I just have a little bit of a tan left. Try not to sleep on your radiated side for a while as the extra heat generated makes the radiation burn worse, my theory anyhow. Take care.