Currently undergoing treatment for oral cancer. I have been told to use Natural care gel to my face.
ONLY AFTER RADIATION TREATMENT. My healthcare providers do not allow any makeup, oil, face cream to be used 3 hrs. prior to treatment. I have completed my first week on radiation and chemo, I was instructed to use the gel on my off weeks also. Also instructed to stay out of the sun. Also when washing face use sensitive skin soap (Dove, Ivory) only pat dry your face and radiated areas.
Cindy B
DX; 4/05
Trt. Induction Chemo, 10 weeks radiation and chemo.

I will be starting radiation in about 3 or 4 weeks. (after my surgery) Any tips on preventive things I can do now to minimize side effects?

I wonder if I started putting the Aloe on the skin now if it might have a buildup effect (elasticity? Resistance to burn? etc)

Also, I heard Beta Carotine is excellent to avoid sunburns. Surfers drink raw carrott juice everyday sometimes to avoid burning. I wonder if it might have a benefit for this?

Will it harm any other portion of my tx? I've read something about Beta Carotine being bad to have while doing chemo or something..?

Also, I read an article about a patient who did physical therapy exercises for 2 weeks prior to a RND and had no adverse effect on his arm/shoulder or smile muscles since he'd been exercising them so much. Any ideas?

My radiology nurse gave me a huge tube of Biafine on the second day of treatment. I am to use it three times a day until the treatments are over. Once when I get home in the morning after treatment, once in the early evening and once before I go to bed. Next morning I wash it off with a soft cloth using a mosturizing soap such as Dove,rinse welland pat dry. It has water in it and 45% of the water content is contained once it is applied keeping the skin moist and smooth.

She says they stock all of it there so when I get low just tell them and they will give me another tube of it. Also if my throat gets to sore to eat they stock all the Boost, Insure and other health drinks and will supply those as well.

All I can tell you Michael from my standpoint is make sure your shoulders are strong. Holding those stretch cords down at my knees for over and hour almost sent me to the nut house. My shoulders are just now feeling better. TG I only have to do it for each rad treatment now which is 10 minutes or less.

Bless you,
Barbara~

Michael
Bob used Biafine in much the same way way Barbara did...make sure it washed of before radiation....fair skinned irishman that he is he came through without much worse than he can get a bad day at the beach without sunscreen and in the long run I swear I am going to use it as moisturizer since his skin now looks better than mine.., using gentle soap like Dove is also key Ivory is 99%pure but harsh as heck..shaving too is an issue electric razor is the way the go with shaving cream for sensitive skin..I would talk to the nutritionist at your treatment center ours were pretty knowledgable about what to take and not to take as supplemental therapy regarding vitamins etc. As a fitness person exercise of muscles moderately prior to surgery surely won't hurt but you should discuss your concerns upfront and bluntly with your surgeon..Bob was assured he would have no muscle involvement unless something was more advanced than anticipated and his surgeon was brilliant had no adverse effects from his neck disection except for the occassional tingle but his case seems rare from reading the boards..Good luck and keep us posted on your progress
Denise

Hi Michael,

Biafine, besides being used as a cream for radiation, is a deep wound dressing. I used it on my scars after both neck dissections. It was very new and very expensive 8 years ago whne I had rx so I wasn't given it for radiation until the very end, but I think the instructions said that it could be started BEFORE radiation to help prevent burn. Ask your surgeon about using it on the scar and RO about using it now.

Another thing to do is bulk up on food unless you are already overweight. Keeping weight loss to a minimum during radiation is a big problem.

PT is something you will need after the neck dissection both to build up strength in arm and help with fluid drainage during rads. Also to teach you how to massage scar to it heals properly.

What side of the business at this lodge do you handle? If it involves lifitng anything that weights more than a pound you will need to find someone else to do that for you. No lifting for about 8 weeks after the surgery.

Make certain that RO prescribes something to help save saliva glands. Do you know if what type rx you will be receiving? And if some dentist suggests that they remove all your teeth, RUN, DO NOT WALK, and get a second opinion.

That's all I can think of now.

Good luck on the surgery. Will be sending good vibes you way.

Take care,
Eileen

Aquaphor was the creme I used three times a day. My skin never blistered very much and the creme kept it from peeling too. I think my reaction to 35 rad treatments was different because I must of tolerated it better than most. Good luck!!

Brian

Michael, take heed of the advice above! I so wish that I had had the time to read all of this before John"s surgery and rad. He lost all but 5 teeth-the surgeon did not give him any options- he was not offered any type of cream at the beginning of rad tx- we finally had to ask for something 1/2 way through. It is SO true that the more proactive you are, the better. It's the squeaky wheel deal. Amy