Radiation related?

Watercolor
Watercolor Member Posts: 45
edited March 2014 in Breast Cancer #1
I was diagnosed with DCIS / stage 0 in November '02. Lumpectomy and 33 radiation treatments and five years of Tamoxifen. I had very easy time with radiation. Skin only a little red and dry. Last treatment was just a year ago.

Last summer I got a spider bite on the top of my foot. Was infected. Took antibiotics for a few weeks. That took care of it. But...after a while I noticed my ankle looked a little swollen and vessels / capillaries were showing on my foot and ankle. Looked bruised, but no pain or anything. It has stayed like that. I thought it was related to spider bite.

Then I noticed my other foot and ankle look the same. (Maybe not quite as bad.) Same thing -- vessels (capillaries, whatever) show. Looks bruised. No pain. Stays like that. I'm not really concerned. Just looks bad.

I'm wondering if it could be related to radiation? Edema? Something like that? Yeah, I could ask the doctor next time I visit, but don't want to get into much of anything about it. One thing always seems to lead to another. I have insurance, but not a lot of coverage so I try to watch "things" more than I used to.

Comments

  • hummingbyrd
    hummingbyrd Member Posts: 950 Member
    #2
    Wouldn't think radiation related as that would be more of a localized reaction (reaction seen at site of radiation). Probably rule out spider bite as it is seen in both ankles, not just one bitten.
    Do you work? Stand on feet all day particularly on hard floor? Does it pit (skin/tissue stays dented in if you press on it)?
    Could be as simple as varicose veins or as complex as heart failure. Best suggestion truely is ask your doctor, especially if you have other symptoms like shortness of breath or chest pain.
    Never hurts to ask, and it's always easier to "fix" things if you catch it early. Hope this helps some.
    God bless.
    hummingbyrd

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