Radiotherapy Skin Care

[Beatless]

I have sensitive skin & start Radiotherapy next week.

I'm intending to use E45 Moisturiser cream if my skin burns, will this be OK?

[Stamfordbridge]

I had radiotherapy as part of breast cancer treatment back in 1996 and my skin became inflamed and sore. The treatment, amongst others, clearly worked as I’m still here! Suggest you talk to the specialist radiotherapy staff when you go for treatment but preparing your skin with a good, non-perfumed, moisturiser, like E45, is bound to help. I wouldn’t wait until you have a problem before using the moisturiser but it may be counterproductive to use it directly before the treatment. Staff will be able to advise you about that. Hope your treatment goes well.

[Beatless in reply to Stamfordbridge]

Thanks for advise.

[sassassas]

Hi Beatless I'm sorry I have no experience of this but just wanted to say I hope it goes well and does the job for you. Sarah x

[Beatless in reply to sassassas]

Sarah,

All support helps!

[Cctumble]

There is a specialist gel you can get called flamigel, it’s expensive- around £30 for 250 ml but maybe worth asking your team if e45 will be enough or if it’s worth investing. I used flamigel for breast cancer radio and it worked really well. My mum is currently using it for lung cancer radio.

[Beatless in reply to Cctumble]

Again many thanks have noted it.

[RoyCastleHelpline Partner Ask the Nurse Roy Castle]

Hi Beatless

The radiotherapy staff will advise on the best skin care routine to adopt during your radiotherapy sessions, which is usually after every treatment and at home.

Cancer research UK have some good information on this: cancerresearchuk.org/about-...

This is our booklet on radiotherapy and what to expect: roycastle.org/app/uploads/2...

You may find cool cotton garments are best worn next to your skin and perhaps consider non biological washing detergent, which you may already use if you have sensitive skin already.

If there is anything else you would like to discuss you can either email us at [e-mail] or call our free phone nurse led helpline number on 0800 358 7200 Monday to Thursday 0900-1700 and Friday 0900-1600

Hope all goes well with your treatment.

Kind regards

The Roy Castle Support Team