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First radiotherapy appointment plus plus
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<blockquote data-quote="Marguerite" data-source="post: 357421" data-attributes="member: 1991"><p>I'm hoping my blessing of olive skin gives me some protection. That's why I wanted the opportunity to pre-tan if it would help. I know that done wrong, it would be a disaster. I just don't know if done right, it would help. Everyone has said, "Don't do it," but currently the public attitude is to protect yourself entirely from the sun, regardless. And if I begin a summer with that attitude, I can almost guarantee a sunburn later on when the sun gets too much to handle. I also have Vitamin D deficiency and have medically ordered sun exposure.</p><p></p><p>Australia is in epidemic of Vitamin D deficiency which is ridiculous, when you consider the amount of natural sunlight we have. But we also have world records rates of skin cancer, so I understand the cautions. But I think we've gone overboard, and we need common sense to prevail.</p><p></p><p>Some people need to avoid sunlight - but then, they have such pale skins they can get enough Vitamin D with 5 minutes at sunrise in winter. Whereas I need about half an hour in summer. And the more I tan, the more sunlight I need. And I tan fast. So in recent years I've got into the habit of getting balanced, measured sunlight so I don't burn. The trouble is, occasionally we have an early sunny day or I'm out in it longer than I expected and I end up with a burn somewhere (such as burning through the car window in late winter). Once I burn, I have to stay out of the sun and use sunscreen for the next few months, or that area keeps burning.</p><p></p><p>I was warned that the 'exit' area is also going to be affected. They angle the radiation treatment so it passes through the breast and not from front to back, for example. They didn't say but I suspect in my case it will be angled more frontally because my tumour was dead central and on the chest wall. </p><p></p><p>They warned me to not put creams on my skin before treatment; no grease on the skin. And nothing with perfumes (which means no perfumed soaps on that area). This lets out my favourite essential oil blend - because essential oils are also perfumed. Aromatherapy will be problematic. </p><p></p><p>I expect something similar to sunburn, with the physical effects of bad sunburn (memories from all day at the beach in childhood, in the days before we had sunscreens). I know had bad sunburn used to make me feel - really sick. Feverish, tired, aching. And for my skin to burn that badly, my paler sisters must have been in agony. And then the family would go back to the beach all day next day!</p><p></p><p>One summer in childhood, I was on holiday with my best friend. Her parents spent their time fishing which left us to our own devices. This meant we would go out in the sun when we wanted and stay out of it when we wanted. So our own sense (and my friend's paler skin) meant we got good, healthy tans with minimal burn. That was what taught me - if I tan carefully with no burn, the tan stays into winter and also doesn't wrinkle my skin.</p><p></p><p>But damage has been done. So the radiation treatment will add on to all the damage done in my childhood.</p><p></p><p>So my plan for now (considering in radiation treatment, I'm a novice) - I'll use aloe vera gel cut from the inside of the leaf, fresh. I've been told to not even have that on my skin before the treatment each morning, I don't know why - it's not a cream, I think she was expressing a blanket ban on commercial products). So I'll take a piece of gel with me, wrapped up, to put on immediately. Also cold fresh chamomile tea in a spray bottle kept in the fridge, if the heat rash becomes a problem. They told me I can get a 1% hydrocortisone cream if the itch from the heat rash becomes a problem.</p><p></p><p>The feeling I got from the skin care nurse was that she was going through the basic instructions but doesn't really THINK about them - I got a long lecture about not having hot showers, avoid hot water bottles on the area and hot packs, avoid this, avoid that - it all boils down to "treat the area as if badly sunburned, keep it protected from heat and sun while it heals". Frankly, that's all you need to say to any Aussie with beach experience! She actually said to use a spray bottle with salt water - sorry, from my experience the salt is not great for a recovering burn. If I'm at the beach and want to speed up my tanning time, I splash on salt water. She accepted my suggestion of chamomile tea from the fridge but still had to be sure - not hot from the tea bag. (well, duh!)</p><p></p><p>I got some good suggestions on what to wear and how to pad inside an old bra so there isn't too much chafing.</p><p></p><p>Oh, this is going to be fun (not).</p><p></p><p>Marg</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Marguerite, post: 357421, member: 1991"] I'm hoping my blessing of olive skin gives me some protection. That's why I wanted the opportunity to pre-tan if it would help. I know that done wrong, it would be a disaster. I just don't know if done right, it would help. Everyone has said, "Don't do it," but currently the public attitude is to protect yourself entirely from the sun, regardless. And if I begin a summer with that attitude, I can almost guarantee a sunburn later on when the sun gets too much to handle. I also have Vitamin D deficiency and have medically ordered sun exposure. Australia is in epidemic of Vitamin D deficiency which is ridiculous, when you consider the amount of natural sunlight we have. But we also have world records rates of skin cancer, so I understand the cautions. But I think we've gone overboard, and we need common sense to prevail. Some people need to avoid sunlight - but then, they have such pale skins they can get enough Vitamin D with 5 minutes at sunrise in winter. Whereas I need about half an hour in summer. And the more I tan, the more sunlight I need. And I tan fast. So in recent years I've got into the habit of getting balanced, measured sunlight so I don't burn. The trouble is, occasionally we have an early sunny day or I'm out in it longer than I expected and I end up with a burn somewhere (such as burning through the car window in late winter). Once I burn, I have to stay out of the sun and use sunscreen for the next few months, or that area keeps burning. I was warned that the 'exit' area is also going to be affected. They angle the radiation treatment so it passes through the breast and not from front to back, for example. They didn't say but I suspect in my case it will be angled more frontally because my tumour was dead central and on the chest wall. They warned me to not put creams on my skin before treatment; no grease on the skin. And nothing with perfumes (which means no perfumed soaps on that area). This lets out my favourite essential oil blend - because essential oils are also perfumed. Aromatherapy will be problematic. I expect something similar to sunburn, with the physical effects of bad sunburn (memories from all day at the beach in childhood, in the days before we had sunscreens). I know had bad sunburn used to make me feel - really sick. Feverish, tired, aching. And for my skin to burn that badly, my paler sisters must have been in agony. And then the family would go back to the beach all day next day! One summer in childhood, I was on holiday with my best friend. Her parents spent their time fishing which left us to our own devices. This meant we would go out in the sun when we wanted and stay out of it when we wanted. So our own sense (and my friend's paler skin) meant we got good, healthy tans with minimal burn. That was what taught me - if I tan carefully with no burn, the tan stays into winter and also doesn't wrinkle my skin. But damage has been done. So the radiation treatment will add on to all the damage done in my childhood. So my plan for now (considering in radiation treatment, I'm a novice) - I'll use aloe vera gel cut from the inside of the leaf, fresh. I've been told to not even have that on my skin before the treatment each morning, I don't know why - it's not a cream, I think she was expressing a blanket ban on commercial products). So I'll take a piece of gel with me, wrapped up, to put on immediately. Also cold fresh chamomile tea in a spray bottle kept in the fridge, if the heat rash becomes a problem. They told me I can get a 1% hydrocortisone cream if the itch from the heat rash becomes a problem. The feeling I got from the skin care nurse was that she was going through the basic instructions but doesn't really THINK about them - I got a long lecture about not having hot showers, avoid hot water bottles on the area and hot packs, avoid this, avoid that - it all boils down to "treat the area as if badly sunburned, keep it protected from heat and sun while it heals". Frankly, that's all you need to say to any Aussie with beach experience! She actually said to use a spray bottle with salt water - sorry, from my experience the salt is not great for a recovering burn. If I'm at the beach and want to speed up my tanning time, I splash on salt water. She accepted my suggestion of chamomile tea from the fridge but still had to be sure - not hot from the tea bag. (well, duh!) I got some good suggestions on what to wear and how to pad inside an old bra so there isn't too much chafing. Oh, this is going to be fun (not). Marg [/QUOTE]
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