Itching breasts?

Methusala

Did any of you ladies have extremely ITCHY breasts or chest area before you knew you had BC?

I had a mastectomy a year ago  and the year leading up to finding my lumps, my chest itched constantly.  Since mastec. no itching at all.. until the past couple weeks.. I am itching again and it scaring the crap out of me.  It's like having a yeast infection on my skin.

I'm convinced there is a connection.

Any thoughts?

smithlme

I had an itcy left under arm for months before my first diagnosis. Since they removed 9 lymph nodes, no more itching...

Linda

Jacquio

I had itching left underarm few months before diagnosis, now that I think of it...hmmm. NO itching after removal of 10 nodes.

Shirlann

Funny you would mention this.  Both Betty Ford (wife of President Gerald Ford) and Happy Rockefeller (wife of the Veep) had breast cancer about 35 years ago, almost at the same time, Nancy Reagan, too.  And all mentioned itchy breasts.  So you are not alone with this symptom.

By the way, all the men are long gone and these three women are just fine.

Gentle hugs, Shirlann

Methusala

thanks everyone.

I have CHRONIC yeast infections anyway.. I am now convinced.. that there is a connection between my cancer and my lack of ability to fight off yeast infections..  I really think so.. I may be crazy... but I'm itching again and it's just my reality.

Shirlann

No, you are not crazy.  The connection between lowered immune systems and cancer is a subject that receives lots of attention, and it pretty much is agreed that it does play a part.

What I would do if I were you is help your immune system a little.  My husband and I and all the children I can get to do this, take:  1000mg Vitamin C a day, 100mg D a day, a good multi-vitamin for the trace elements, Co-Enzyme 10,  E about twice a week (they are arguing over this one) and see if you have better luck with your yeast infections.

I was into a circle of bladder infections, take antibiotics, cleared up bladder infection and promptly got a yeast infection due to lowered immune system due to antibiotics, then, bladder infection again, then yada, yada, went on for about a year.  Then a sweet lady doctor said, "try Vitamin C, 1000 units a day, and see what happens.  It creates an acid wash in your bladder and will keep most of the bladder infections away."  It worked, and I haven't had one since, nor a yeast infection.

Who knows, we are all so different.  But I like to think I am doing something to keep this beast away.  

Gentle hugs, Shirlann 

Methusala

Thanks I did post on the holistic board as well.

I'm really trying to come up with something more than just sitting around waiting...  I want to go the herbal route and see what shakes.

VickiG

I think there is defintely something to the yeast connection, too.  I had a history of yeast infections & finally found out I'm allergic to yeast. I went through a yeast elimination diet 10 or 11 yrs ago & have not had trouble since.  I was able to gradually add everything back again w/o problems, so I no longer have to eliminate anything.  Took care of my eczema, too.

KPolasek

Yes, about 1 1/2 yr before I was diagnosed my breast nipple itched.  When I told my doc she sent me immediately to get a mammogram ... it didn't show anything ... but I feel that it was already growing at that point.

 Blessings,
K

pinoideae

I did have the itchy too, but in both breasts and ended up with cancer in one.  No more itchy tho.  Shirlann, I found Vitamin C supplements work too in bladder infection prevention.  Cranberry juice is supposed to work well in preventing bladder infection.

SoapMaker

I did. My breast started itching in December, 2001. Itched like crazy. I was diagnosed in August, 2002. Itching went away until reconstruction...and then all hell broke loose. I, too, feel like I have a yeast infection on my skin, but it is periodically. When it flares up, however, I will scratch until I bleed...and don't care. Then it burns because I mess up the skin. It drives me absolutely mad. The flare ups were so bad that I thought I had IBC. The skin had peaks and valleys. If you looked down at my breast it looked like a mountain range and felt very rough. I went to the derm doc and he did a punch biopsy and it came back as "traumatic dermatitis", whatever that was. I've never heard of that before. He gave me a script for some really, really expensive cream and it really helped. I find, however, that 1% hydrocortisone, purchased over the counter, will work just as well. When you itch, just rub some on each day and it will clear it up quickly.

 Where is the cure

www.truefacesofbreastcancer.org