Skin rash w/open sores

chipdog3

My mom was diagnosed with breast cancer and lung cancer at the same time 18months ago. Her last scan showed it is now in her lymph nodes. She had been taking a hormone since nov. about 6 weeks ago she got this rash on her right arm and back, very itchy. During the first week we saw the cancer doc they had no idea what it was. It got no better she tried, hydroxazine and pred no better. went to GP suggested maybe it was dust mite allergy. We cleaned everything including her skin from head to toe. No better. She is currently taking 6 hydroxazine a day to control itch so she is sleeping 12 hours a day. Currently stopped hormone at least 3 weeks ago. Rash getting worse and leaves behind small open sores that take forever to heal. spreading to other areas. Any suggestions would be great. Thanks in advance , Sandy

spar2

Sandy, I am at a loss, are they sure it is not skin mets?  Probably needs to see a dermatologist and get a 2nd opinion.  I pray that you find out what this is and it can be treated so she won't be so miserable.  She hasn't been in the woods to get poison ivy or poison oak has she??  Let us know how it goes.

chipdog3

Well the cancer doc has seen it and didnt seem to think it was skin mets. It is terribly itchy. We finally do have an appt. on friday with a dermatologist which is actually pretty quick for a derm doc.So hopefully this will give hr some answers. As far as being in the woods no she hasn't. sadly she never leaves her little apartment type room except to go to the doctor.Thanks for your input I really do appreciate your kindness. Sandy

debisongbird

Sandy, how awful for both of you. I would be concerned about open sores. I am glad you are going to a dermatologist. This is definitely not something to let slide. Open sores can lead to staff infections (if not treated properly) which can lead to serious consequences. I know. So, I wish you luck in finding not only the cause, but getting a treatment.

chipdog3

Thank you for your concern. It turns out the dermatologist thinks it is a very bad case of hives. He said it may have a little to do with the cancer, but is pretty sure they are hives that she has scratched open. She has cut her nails really short and is supposed to wear gloves to bed. Something we really didn't think about is they are only on the parts of her body she can reach easily. One arm and her chest and neck area, and a few on her face and eyelids. So I guess the mystery is solved now I just need to figure out how to reduce her stress (and mine) so her skin can heal. Thanks again for all the advice and input, Sandy

pheosky

I had a horrible rash too and was also scratching sores open.  My oncologist prescribed nystatin topical powder.  I doubled it up with pure zinc.  I put the zinc on first and rub the powder into it.  The rash was gone in 3 days and stopped itching by the second day.  Now I just use the zinc if I see any redness of any kind or get any itching.  Zinc is very messy, so to protect clothing and bedding, lay tissue or toilet paper over it. 

Aiguo21

I made the mistake (but was trying to be independent) of going to the campus doctor, pass4sure LX0-101 who said they were probably just bug bites from the sand in Florida. Later, they became larger and I went to a dermatologist and had a biopsy just in case. pass4sure 642-374 But he knew exactly what they were. Treated early with cortisone injections helped a lot. I let some of them go later, (they really enlarged so gradually, you just sort of live with them) then had them treated in another city. pass4sure 642-515 Mine have gone away, but I'm left with a little bit of scar tissue.