Auto-immune - rash and itching over entire body post radiation

Anonymous

Auto-immune - rash and itching over entire body post radiation

picklesmom

I completed radiation after my lumpectomy for DCIS last February. A month later my entire body -- not just the radiated breast, developed welts, hives and incredible itching. I have been treated with Prednisone just to control it, plus various anti-histamines and topical steroids/lotions. I've been on the Prednisone too long but every time they try to wean me off, my symptoms come roaring back. Now they have started me on Methotrexate and I am overlapping the two drugs and am tapering off the Prednisone. This has been miserable--much worse than surgery/radiation! I had problems with hives in my 20's and 30's (I am 60), and took anti-histamines and then it went away on its own. The radiation must have stirred things up. Anyone out there ever go through this and if so, how did it resolve? Also...these drugs are immuno-suppresants at a time when I want to be building my immune system. Comments on that? Thanks.

Moderators

Hi Picklesmom-

We are so sorry to hear about what you're going through! It sounds miserable, and we hope you get relief so soon. Have you checked out our thread on radiation recovery? It's extensive, lots of great info there, and there may be other members who can shed some light on what you're going through. You can find it here: https://community.breastcancer.org/forum/70/topics....

The Mods

Donnar25

Hi Picklesmom, I just ran across your post, and wanted to let you know you're not alone. I began having episodes of hives rashes on my arms, hands and feet shortly after starting radiation. I don't believe mine was as bad as yours, and rads docs put it off as being allergic reaction to lanolin I was putting on my skin for the radiation burns. But the hives continued after discontinuing the lanolin, and for the last few months. It has gotten quite a bit better now that i'm over 3 months out from the end of radiation. I still have flare ups of hives on my hands, but not quite daily anymore. I just take Benadryl when it gets really bad. Anyway, just wanted to tell you you're not alone. I wish had more answers for you. I hope you get to feeling better soon.

🤗 Hugs

Blinkie

Picklesmom - your situation may not be the same as mine at all, but, like the previous poster, I wanted to let you know you are not alone. I used aloe vera after radiation in 2007 and had no problems, but this year when I used it I had a reaction. I broke out in itchy spots all over. Drove me nuts! I stopped using it; the spots took about 2 months to go away.

By the way, I had hives in childhood, in reaction to various foods. I still get hives from strawberries.