Radiation rash...spreading to other parts of body?!

jax100
jax100 Member Posts: 3
in Breast Cancer #1
I am a newbie here so bear with me if this has been asked before...I have read many posts regarding the dreaded "radiation rash" that some women report during/after treatments. I am currently about half-way through my treatments. Up until Friday the only side effect I had experienced was the fatigue and some muscle soreness in my neck and back. On Friday, however, I noticed a small patch of tiny, itchy bumps on my treated breast. Not a big deal, or so I thought at the time. It spread like wildfire over the weekend and by Monday morning the rash had spread all over my chest and even on my wrist/arm. Doctor says "no way" can radiation rash spread outside the treated area but what else could it be?! I have been using the miaderm cream on the treatment site twice a day since the first day of treatments - never had a reaction of any kind until now. I am not allergic to anything - food, pets, pollen, meds, etc. Doctor told me to apply cortisone cream on the rash and also use benedryl (orally or topically). It's helped a little bit but no sign of getting better. Has anyone else had problems with the rash spreading to other parts of the body...OR, has anyone perhaps been diagnosed with another type of skin infection while going through treatments? I am going crazy with this itch!!

Comments

  • disneyfan2008
    disneyfan2008 Member Posts: 6,583 Member
    #2
    welcome...I had radiation
    welcome...I had radiation but no side effects at all...no burning or rash or even tired...I am sure others will be able to give you some thoughts or ideas....

    Denise
  • skipper54
    skipper54 Member Posts: 936 Member
    #3
    Had a rash and
    discovered I was allergic to hydrocortisone. At least for the duration of teh rads. Also ended up burning and blistering so used Neosporin plus pain relief and then Gold Bond untimate soothing. My rads buddy developed shingles in week 2. Make sure your Dr. takes a good look at the rash not just pass judgement.
  • robang13
    robang13 Member Posts: 333
    #4
    Alveeno has an itch relief
    Alveeno has an itch relief cream similar to caladryl. I used it when my rash got out of control and started spreading to my other breast. It stops the itch and pain.

    Angela
  • Ritzy
    Ritzy Member Posts: 4,381 Member
    #5
    robang13 said:

    Alveeno has an itch relief
    Alveeno has an itch relief cream similar to caladryl. I used it when my rash got out of control and started spreading to my other breast. It stops the itch and pain.

    Angela

    Jax100
    During rads, I got the dreaded rad rash too. Nothing worked for me until my rads oncologist gave me a prescription for Triamcinolone Acetonide Cream USP 0.1%. It started working almost the minute I put it on.

    I was so relieved and so glad as it really itched, and, it was great to get something that worked so fast.

    Ask your rads oncologist about this prescription and see what he says.


    Good luck from one rad rash pink sister to another!


    Sue :)
  • jendrey
    jendrey Member Posts: 377
    #6
    Ritzy said:

    Jax100
    During rads, I got the dreaded rad rash too. Nothing worked for me until my rads oncologist gave me a prescription for Triamcinolone Acetonide Cream USP 0.1%. It started working almost the minute I put it on.

    I was so relieved and so glad as it really itched, and, it was great to get something that worked so fast.

    Ask your rads oncologist about this prescription and see what he says.


    Good luck from one rad rash pink sister to another!


    Sue :)

    ...
    Unfortunately itching is seldom, if ever, taken seriously by any member of the medical field. They think you must be making it up like for attention or something. They have just no idea how bad it truly is - worse yet, they don't want to hear about it let alone do anything about it.

    I've tried:

    Benedryl = Diphenhydramine HC 25mg
    Atarax = Hydroxyzine HCL (both 25mg and 50mg)
    Allegra = Fexofenadine HCL 180mg
    Claritin = Loratidine 10mg
    Ativan = Lorazepam 1mg
    Tagamet = Cimetidine 400mg
    Pepcid = Famotidine 40mg
    Prednisone 5mg
    Triamcinolone Acetide Cream USP, 0.1%
    Allergy Cream 2% = Diphenydramine HCI 2%
    Mupirocin Ointment, USP 2%

    As well as these OTC:
    Solarcaine spray
    Lanacane cream
    Neosporin + Pain Relief
    Bactine (has Lidocaine HCL 2.5%)
    Benadryl (large, bright pink tablets)
    Hydrocortizone, et al.
    Calamine Lotion

    I know itch all too well. Not one of these items listed above did much for me. Well, the Benadryl did zonk me and truth be told I didn't itch/scratch nearly as much being since I was unconscious and all. Ditto for the Atarax. As for the Ativan, it has its on peculiar zonki-ness to it.

    This itching started about 8 days after my first chemo on my palms and feet. By the end of chemo my whole body itched.
    Then it slowly subsided. But midway thru radiation the itching started again and it was much worse. Again with the entire body itch except not so much for my face/scalp. Do have bruises from your itching? I did and still do. (Mostly it just itches on my upper legs now.)

    Yes, the itching is from the radiation. But no, your radiation doctor will never, ever, admit it. No matter what. There's only been 4 (or 5?) documented cases worldwide so of course, they assume you just could not be the next documented case. No matter what.

    I say call that number they give you to report all side effects to; you KNOW nobody else is going to do so on your behalf. How could they, for they are in denial?!!

    The FDA* number to report side effects is: 1-800-FDA-1088
    The FDA is also in charge of regulating radiation emitting devices.

    Maybe one of the things I've listed will work for you. Wouldn't hurt to ask (one of) your doctor(s) to prescribe something for you.



    *Federal Drug Administration
  • jax100
    jax100 Member Posts: 3
    #7
    skipper54 said:

    Had a rash and
    discovered I was allergic to hydrocortisone. At least for the duration of teh rads. Also ended up burning and blistering so used Neosporin plus pain relief and then Gold Bond untimate soothing. My rads buddy developed shingles in week 2. Make sure your Dr. takes a good look at the rash not just pass judgement.

    Thanks
    I also thought it could be shingles and went to the dermatologist today. He said it "looked" like a shingles rash but the fact that it was on my arm as well as my entire chest area (and is now spreading to my neck and stomach) made him doubt that particular diagnosis. He did a biopsy today so hopefully that will give me some helpful answers.

    Oncologist stopped radiation for a few days to give my skin a break. We shall see what happens next...

    Thank you for your answer!
  • jax100
    jax100 Member Posts: 3
    #8
    Ritzy said:

    Jax100
    During rads, I got the dreaded rad rash too. Nothing worked for me until my rads oncologist gave me a prescription for Triamcinolone Acetonide Cream USP 0.1%. It started working almost the minute I put it on.

    I was so relieved and so glad as it really itched, and, it was great to get something that worked so fast.

    Ask your rads oncologist about this prescription and see what he says.


    Good luck from one rad rash pink sister to another!


    Sue :)

    Just got the same prescription
    I was at the dermatologist today and he gave me the same prescription. I've applied it twice now, but the rash continues to travel and the itch persists. I will continue to use it over the weekend. Crossing my fingers this helps - even just a little bit!!

    Thank you so much!
  • NJMom10
    NJMom10 Member Posts: 176
    #9
    jax100 said:

    Just got the same prescription
    I was at the dermatologist today and he gave me the same prescription. I've applied it twice now, but the rash continues to travel and the itch persists. I will continue to use it over the weekend. Crossing my fingers this helps - even just a little bit!!

    Thank you so much!

    So sorry you are suffering!
    I got the rash also, but just under and around the breast. I used Aveeno dry skin relief cream for the majority of the treatment, but was given a prescription for an antibiotic cream for the rash area under the breast. The rash made me SO uncomfortable for about 2 weeks or so. But I'm 2 weeks post radiation...no rash, no redness...and the skin is actually not that dark already. So hopefully you will have this same recovery time. Barb
  • Ritzy
    Ritzy Member Posts: 4,381 Member
    #10
    jax100 said:

    Just got the same prescription
    I was at the dermatologist today and he gave me the same prescription. I've applied it twice now, but the rash continues to travel and the itch persists. I will continue to use it over the weekend. Crossing my fingers this helps - even just a little bit!!

    Thank you so much!

    I am hoping it helps too
    I am hoping it helps too Jax. There has to be something that can help you with this.


    Sue :)
  • Megan M
    Megan M Member Posts: 3,000
    #11
    jax100 said:

    Thanks
    I also thought it could be shingles and went to the dermatologist today. He said it "looked" like a shingles rash but the fact that it was on my arm as well as my entire chest area (and is now spreading to my neck and stomach) made him doubt that particular diagnosis. He did a biopsy today so hopefully that will give me some helpful answers.

    Oncologist stopped radiation for a few days to give my skin a break. We shall see what happens next...

    Thank you for your answer!

    I didn't have any rash with
    I didn't have any rash with rads. I hope that your rads oncologist can find some med to get rid of it for you.

    Good luck!
  • Kylez
    Kylez Member Posts: 3,761 Member
    #12
    Ritzy said:

    I am hoping it helps too
    I am hoping it helps too Jax. There has to be something that can help you with this.


    Sue :)

    How is your rash? Did the
    How is your rash? Did the prescription help you?

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