Now its a PINK breast

annadou

 Does anyone still have a pink breast  2 years out of radiation ?

Is there such a think as chronic cellulitis in a lymphedemic breast?

Mine has just presented with a hard, pinker than normal  spot and a bit of redness which has only got a tiny bit bigger over 24hrs- and itching ..

Should I be thinking Inflammatory BC here.

I will get it checked out but would like anyone in a similar situation to comment.

Pink mania has started here as well!

 Anna

lrr4993

This sounds similar to me. Does the pink/red fade when you lay down for a few minutes? Mine does. One doc has said it is likely radiation. Another diagnosed breast lymphendema. My independent research suggests the latter.

Binney4

Anna, a sudden onset like that needs to be checked out RIGHT AWAY because cellulitis does that sort of thing, and it can be itchy as well. It's an EMERGENCY, so please get somebody to look at it now, and get started on an antibiotic. Here's information about why it's an emergency:
http://www.stepup-speakout.org/Emergencies_and_Medical_Care_lymphedema.htm

That said, lymphedema is an inflammatory condition, and breasts especially can develop stubborn redness from it. The treatment for that is Manual Lymph Drainage massage (and probably gentle compression afterward) to get the stagnant lymph fluid out of there and ease the inflammation. But no good lymphedema therapist is going to treat it until you get it cleared by a doctor, because massage is NOT done when cellulitis is present.

Keep us posted, Anna!

Lisa, have you been evaluated by a well-trained lymphedema therapist yet? Really important to treat it in order to avoid permanent damage (skin changes, fibrosis) and cellulitis. If not, you need a referral from any doctor on your team. Here's how to find one near you:
http://www.stepup-speakout.org/Finding_a_Qualified_Lymphedema_Therapist.htm

Be well!
Binney

annadou

Thank you Binney for your advice and the SUSO  advice was excellent .The presentation on the site is exceptionally good and I wish I had had  that sort of a wake up call about lymphedema after the operation -I may not have been so bad today if I had been jerked into reality when the cording first started instead of being told that it was nothing and would go away...

There should be films shown in the chemo room about lymphedema instead of trying to play down the fact all the time and I often wonder if the surgeon went into my axilla like a bull in a china shop and ripped out all the glands...

I too am in "eye poking " mode.

Lisa-yes the redness does tend to be better in thhe morning when I get up  so I reckon it is a chronic imflammation due to the lymphedema.

Hope all you fellow sufferers are doing well and I am SO glad I found this site and many thanks to all of you who are always ready to help and give advice

Anna