Connie has a red blotch on her cheek

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connieprice1
connieprice1 Member Posts: 300 Member
in Head and Neck Cancer #1
Well here we go again. Connie had some redness on one side of her neck last week. This week that redness has gone but now she has a red blotch on her cheek. It kinda looks like shingles. Has anyone ever had shingles as a side effect or had these blotches and should we be concerned enough to see a oncologists or should she visit a regular doctor. We are wondering the cause. Connie runs our Pizza concession and their is no air conditioning and I wonder if this can be caused by heat. Well, if anyone has had this condition before I would appreciate your advice. She is worried about a relapse but I think it is a side effect. We are 600 miles from our home and are not scheduled to be home for 2 weeks. Thanks, Homer & Connie

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  • pattyanny
    pattyanny Member Posts: 544
    #2
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    Hi Connie
    I have a blotch also on my cheek last week.It was swollen,and red and about the size of a quarter, although not painful or tender to touch. I went to my regular MD, and he prescribed a strong antibiotic, 2000 mgs per day, and 7 days later it has shrunk. I also used warm compresses. It was scalely from the drainage. I am hoping the antibiotics take care of it, and that it is some sort of cyst. If it does not disappear,my MD wants to see me next week, as he knows my history and is very concerned. I would see your regular MD. I am glad I did. Best of luck, and keep in touch. Patty
  • Hondo
    Hondo Member Posts: 6,636 Member
    #3
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    Hi Homer
    I did not have shingles but did have a rash, or that is what I called it, it was not on my face but on my right side by my ribs and it was a little reddish in appearance,I used some Vagisil Cream on it and it went away in a few day.

    If your concerned give her Oncal man a call and ask them or just visit a local doc right there where you are. If it is shingles it is nothing to play with and the sooner you get help the better.

    Wishing you both the best.
    Hondo
  • ratface
    ratface Member Posts: 1,337 Member
    #4
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    pattyanny said:

    Hi Connie
    I have a blotch also on my cheek last week.It was swollen,and red and about the size of a quarter, although not painful or tender to touch. I went to my regular MD, and he prescribed a strong antibiotic, 2000 mgs per day, and 7 days later it has shrunk. I also used warm compresses. It was scalely from the drainage. I am hoping the antibiotics take care of it, and that it is some sort of cyst. If it does not disappear,my MD wants to see me next week, as he knows my history and is very concerned. I would see your regular MD. I am glad I did. Best of luck, and keep in touch. Patty

    Shingles vaccine
    Hi Homer. I'm sorry that Connie has to endure yet another side efect from this disease. I have no idea what it is but just wanted to reiterate to anyone who might be reading this that shingles is very common after cancer treatment. The immune system is weak and allows the dormant shingles virus to take hold again. The individual must have been infected with chicken pox as a child. The point I want to make is that we should all get the shingles vaccine after treatment ends which is efffective in preventing shingles. We got enough other stuff to worry about!
  • Noellesmom
    Noellesmom Member Posts: 1,859 Member
    #5
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    shingles
    From personal experience I want to point out shingles is a very painful condition. A serous-filled blister, very much like a chicken pox blister, forms. Shingles is usually accompanied with fever, chills and a general malaise. A general physician should be given her history and can prescribe medication - if you catch it early enough, there is a medication that can arrest the shingles quickly and prevent them from spreading. If not, prednisone can be prescribed.

    If you have concern this might be shingles and it is on Connie's face, it is very important to seek medical help quickly. Shingles will spread and it is important that it be arrested quickly anywhere on the body, but most especially anywhere on the neck or above. It is possible for shingles to spread to the eye(s).

    Hoping it isn't shingles as this can really devastate an otherwise perfectly healthy person. I cannot imagine what havoc it could wreak on someone whose immune system is compromised.

    Ratface, a note on the shingles vaccine - I believe one must be 65 years or older to receive that vaccine but it is certainly worth asking about.

    If it is shingles, serving or preparing food in a concession stand is not a good idea for her health and the health of those working around her and to whom she may serve food.
  • ratface
    ratface Member Posts: 1,337 Member
    #6
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    Noellesmom said:

    shingles
    From personal experience I want to point out shingles is a very painful condition. A serous-filled blister, very much like a chicken pox blister, forms. Shingles is usually accompanied with fever, chills and a general malaise. A general physician should be given her history and can prescribe medication - if you catch it early enough, there is a medication that can arrest the shingles quickly and prevent them from spreading. If not, prednisone can be prescribed.

    If you have concern this might be shingles and it is on Connie's face, it is very important to seek medical help quickly. Shingles will spread and it is important that it be arrested quickly anywhere on the body, but most especially anywhere on the neck or above. It is possible for shingles to spread to the eye(s).

    Hoping it isn't shingles as this can really devastate an otherwise perfectly healthy person. I cannot imagine what havoc it could wreak on someone whose immune system is compromised.

    Ratface, a note on the shingles vaccine - I believe one must be 65 years or older to receive that vaccine but it is certainly worth asking about.

    If it is shingles, serving or preparing food in a concession stand is not a good idea for her health and the health of those working around her and to whom she may serve food.

    Not true
    about the vaccine. I'm 52 and my family doctor is the one who insisted I get it. So far it has worked.
  • Ingrid K
    Ingrid K Member Posts: 813
    #7
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    ratface said:

    Not true
    about the vaccine. I'm 52 and my family doctor is the one who insisted I get it. So far it has worked.

    Connie
    Homer: Good advice from all, but since you are on the road, I would take Hondo's advice and see a local doc (maybe one of those 24 hour immediate care places). If it is shingles, they should be able to recognize it and prescribe antibiotics.... the sooner the better is definitely the key. Good luck to both of you.
    Hope it's just a heat rash.
  • Noellesmom
    Noellesmom Member Posts: 1,859 Member
    #8
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    ratface said:

    Not true
    about the vaccine. I'm 52 and my family doctor is the one who insisted I get it. So far it has worked.

    I stand corrected
    Just passing on what my doctor told me - and he definitely does not know everything!

    Thanks, Ratface.
  • Greg53
    Greg53 Member Posts: 849
    #9
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    Noellesmom said:

    I stand corrected
    Just passing on what my doctor told me - and he definitely does not know everything!

    Thanks, Ratface.

    Hey Homer
    Hi Homer

    Hope everything is getting better for Connie!

    Noellesmom and Ratface,

    When I first heard about the shingles vacine I asked my GP about it. He told me the same thing as Noellesmom said she heard - no shingles vacine til I'm 65. The more I looked into it, the more I want the vacine so last time I talked to ENT, he said yes it would be a good idea to get one. So next time in, my GP is going to get one for me or I'll be looking for a new GP.

    As usual you're right-on Rat. (someday someone will catch a mistake by you)

    Greg
  • DrMary
    DrMary Member Posts: 531 Member
    #10
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    Doug too, but the doctors disagreed
    Doug had something that sure looked like shingles to me - on his lower left cheek and jaw. It was not that painful, he said, but this was just after he'd been swallowing glass shards for weeks (or so it felt) not to mention all the barfing. He got the rash, it got patchy and then localized into small red bumps that oozed and crusted. He had some tingling that sounded virus-like, also.

    Anyway, by the time doctors saw him, he was in the crusty stage and they leaned more towards some kind of skin irritation or allergy.

    If it's shingles antibiotics won't help (won't hurt either) - antivirals will help, but I think they have to be in the first 72 hours.

    If it's not overly painful, then it could just be a mild case of shingles and lack of treatment won't hurt. If it looks more like just a circular red patch (slightly raised) with a bit of dry skin around the edges, then I'd lean more toward a fungus. It could go away by itself, but a dermatologist might be able to help speed that with stronger cortisone creams than you can get OTC.

    I don't think it's a relapse - she might just be experiencing the world of hypersensitive skin. I hope it clears up soon.
  • connieprice1
    connieprice1 Member Posts: 300 Member
    #11
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    Of course, I want to thank
    Of course, I want to thank everyone for the replys. Honestly, I don't think it's anything serious but after c. we take nothing for granted. Connie will see a GP on Monday just to be on the safe side and when we get home we will schedule an appointment at MD Anderson if needed. I did learn something about shingles though. That Ratface is a pretty smart cookie, huh! I think Connie should check on the vaccination also, I had a friend who had the shingles and they just drove him crazy. Connie did have a slight fever & chills last week but no blisters. Hopefully it is nothing, Homer& Connie
  • staceya
    staceya Member Posts: 720
    #12
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    connieprice1 said:

    Of course, I want to thank
    Of course, I want to thank everyone for the replys. Honestly, I don't think it's anything serious but after c. we take nothing for granted. Connie will see a GP on Monday just to be on the safe side and when we get home we will schedule an appointment at MD Anderson if needed. I did learn something about shingles though. That Ratface is a pretty smart cookie, huh! I think Connie should check on the vaccination also, I had a friend who had the shingles and they just drove him crazy. Connie did have a slight fever & chills last week but no blisters. Hopefully it is nothing, Homer& Connie

    More info..that you probably already know
    Age to get vaccine
    The CDC says 60 (see below-also lots of other good info) but I have heard of variations down to 50, seems to vary by provider discretion.

    CDC link

    Also, shingles lesions, may look blistery, may feel stingy, sometimes people feel a funny stinging/prickly sensation even before the blisters and the rash usually only appears on one half of the body and does not travel to other side. For example if it was on your back and shoulder blades, it mostly will not cross over an imaginary line in the middle of your back.

    I would always rec a doctor visit as soon as possible, shingles can come back (some people say they cannot, but it happens) and they really can be serious.

    Good luck with everything
    Stacey

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