Prevent and Manage Radiation Side-Effects

Before I detail out how I prevented side effects from radiation I have to make one thing clear: I am a skin care expert and snob. I held an esthetic license and spent twenty years working in medical aesthetics, so how could I not be? And in full disclosure, the majority of the products I used to prevent side effects are from a company called Avene, a company that I worked for nearly six years. I used to recommend these products to patients when I was in practice as an esthetician.

I have been to Avene, France, and witnessed first hand what makes these products so unique. The picture featured with this post is of me drinking Avene Thermal Spring Water straight from the spring at the hydrotherapy center in May of 2018. I am passionate about these products because they work; I have witnessed them make a huge impact on many people with various skin conditions.

These products are primarily dispensed in dermatology offices here in the US and in pharmacies all over Europe. You can find some of them at Walgreen’s or Ulta, but I have put links to them here.

Daily Use at Home

• I washed my body with XeraCalm AD Lipid Replenishing Cleansing Oil  and moisturized with XeraCalm AD Lipid-Replenishing Balm. These products help nourish, soothe and calm dry, itchy skin. The Balm is a sterile product, meaning, there are no preservatives, parabens, fragrances, alcohols and when product is extruded from the container, no back contaminants get in.

  
  

• Every evening I applied Cicalfate Hand Restorative Hand Cream to my hands and feet to prevent peeling and cracking from the capecitabine.

  
  

• I also applied Lena Rose Beauty Nourishing Nail Oil to my cuticles on both my hands and feet at bedtime. I fell in love with this product long before I was diagnosed with cancer. It keeps my cuticles from peeling and getting dry. I used it religiously during radiation and chemo to ensure healthy nails.

  
  

• Throughout the day I applied Cicalfate Lips Restorative Lip Cream. It nourishes and helps maintain healthy lips while defending against environmental aggressors. Ideal for dry, chapped lips, medication induced dryness.

  
  

• Both morning and evening, I proactively rinsed my mouth with a baking soda and salt solution. In a 28 ounce Blender Bottle. I mixed filtered water with 1 tbsp of baking soda and 1 tbsp of sea salt. I made a new solution every Sunday to last the week. I never developed any mouth sores.

  
  

Immediately Post Radiation In Clinic:

1. I sprayed my entire lower abdomen, hips, buttocks and entire gluteal cleft (between the cheeks), with Avene Thermal Spring Water. It pulls out heat from the skin and calms the area.

2. I then applied a small amount of mometasone cream to my entire gluteal cleft.

3. I then applied a small amount of Avene Cicalfate+ Restorative Protective Cream to my entire gluteal cleft. Cicalfate helps to restore the skin barrier.

Everyone will respond differently to their treatments. I cannot prove that without a doubt my proactive use of these products or doing the mouth rinse was the reason why I did not experience strong side effects. I do believe that being proactive did help keep side effects to a minimum. I will say that my oncology team was amazed that my hands, feet, mouth and yes, my gluteal cleft and all its parts, remained unscathed.

If you are looking for more information on skin care during cancer treatment, this book is great: Dr. Lacouture's Skin Care Guide for People Living With Cancer, a quick reference for all the changes one may see during treatment. I was given this book as a corporate gift over 5 years ago, never thinking I would actually need it for my own use. It was a helpful reference when things went awry with my skin.

Create your own skin care plan by clicking here for the Rise Survivorship for Skin Workbook