Skin rashes on non-radiated skin

grandcalia
grandcalia Member Posts: 1
in Breast Cancer #1

I thought I'd reach out to those of you going through a similar experience to my own.  I had a lumpectomy in October on my left breast and am in the last stages of radiation treatment. At the 3 week mark of my treatment, I developed a measle-like rash on my right breast (the non-radiated breast).  After a couple of days, the individual bumps "merged" into a slightly raised even rash that covers most of my right breast.  After about a week, although still present, it appears to be fading.  Since then, the rash has spread to my cheeks, neck, right leg (almost gone), and, most painfully, my abdomen.  It itches terribly and is exhibiting the same pattern it exhibited on my right breast, that is, after several days the bumps merge.  Nearly my entire abdomen is covered and it is spreading to my right side.

When I first noticed the increase of the rash on my breast, I went to my primary care physician to make sure I didn't have something that was contageous.  She suggested an allergic reaction to "something" and prescribed a cream "Triamcinonlone" to apply twice daily. It provides little relief.  I have brought the rash to the attention of my radio oncologist and the nurses; they suggest I contact a dermatologist.  I've read that radiation treatment can affect the liver and am doing more research to discuss with my oncologist; I had a blood test last week and nothing abnormal came up, although I will ask specifically that they test for liver function.

Have any of you experienced a rash like this? Prior to radiation treatment I started juicing and introduced a number of "new" items to my diet, like wheat grass and alfalfa sprouts as well as doTerra oils, ingesting some of them.  I don't know what to think... for the moment, I've cut back on all the "extra" stuff I added to my regimen to try to isolate the problem.  If you have had a similar experience during radiation, I'd sure appreciate hearing about it and the treatment taken.

Comments

  • Rague
    Rague Member Posts: 3,653 Member
    #2
    Possibly shingles

    Have you shown it to the Rad Techs?  Or the Dr?  From as extensive as you say it has spread to, I would think they would have notices it and at least commented on it.

    Sounds like it could be Shingles.  What ever it is, it needs to be diagnosed and get appropriate TX.  There can be MANY possible reasons for skin issues and you might need to see a Dermatologist.

    Winyan - The Power Within

    Susan

  • Jan11
    Jan11 Member Posts: 18
    #3
    SKIN

    I am going through radiation and have a type of rash over radiated area.  If you have rash over non-radiated area that seems to be spreading and cream did not work go back to your dermatologist and con't to go back to the doctor until the situation is controled.  You don't to develop a skin infection at this point.

  • disneyfan2008
    disneyfan2008 Member Posts: 6,583 Member
    #4
    I would try a

    I would try a dermotologist.

     

    Denise

  • LouisaP
    LouisaP Member Posts: 62
    #5
    disneyfan2008 said:

    I would try a

    I would try a dermotologist.

     

    Denise

    It does sound like an

    It does sound like an allergic reaction. You need to go to a dermatologist. You were given a steroid cream which usually helps. i had a terrible reaction to something in the chemo & had to try a few different creams & ointments. The dermatologist will give you something else.

  • greenhousemosaic
    greenhousemosaic Member Posts: 1
    #6
    Rash on non-radiated breast

    I also developed a rash on the non-radiated breast. Mine was not as bad as yours but one of the techs mentioned that she thought I had shingles and sent me to the radiologist. They kept telling me it was not from the radiation. I started getting it on both breasts. I stopped using the cream that they had suggested to keep my skin moisturized. I changed to a cream for eczema (Aveeno). The blisters went away. Evidently, my skin did not like something in the recommended cream. 

  • gormelli
    gormelli Member Posts: 1
    #7
    skin rash

    I am replying to your post on skin rashes. I had a lumpectomy and radiation in October of 2014. I had severe burns on the irradiated breast from radiation that finally dissipated in April of 2015. In October of 2015, I started getting a massive itchy allover rash on my back on the oppoite side of the irradiated breast (right side of back). I have never had skin rashes before). A dermatologist determined it was excema and prescribed prescription steroid crea, 3 times a day for one week. It went away, but two weeks later came back with a vengeance. I am using the topical steroid again. I will also say that since I have had radiation treatment, I have experienced severe colds at least once a month that last about 2 weeks. Prior to raditiaon treatment, I would get colds about once every three years that lasted 3 days, tops. Thus, I would say that the excema, on the surface, appears to be unrelated; however, it is strange to me that all of these illnesses are occuring after radiation treatment.

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