Breast redness and swelling 8 months after radiation therapy

LMS

I finished my radiation therapy (I received 7 weeks of treatment in 3-1/2 weeks). I went for my first mammogram (DX Bilateral). A week later I followed up with my oncology radiologist who noted that my breast was pink and warm to the touch. He put me on Keflex and told me to follow up with my surgeon. I saw my surgeon who scheduled an ultrasound. My surgeon said I had cellulitis (no fever though). The ultrasound showed fluid where they removed the tissue during the lumpectomy. It also stated "maybe an abscess or a cyst". My primary doctor told me it needed to be drained. Went to my surgeons partner (surgeon was, of course, on vacation). He tried 5 times to extract fluid (without novocaine). He sent something out to be cultured. Kept telling me that it was "normal" for fluid to build up. I can't get a straight answer from any of the doctors. My assumption is that it was probably a cyst on the lumpectomy scar and the mammogram broke it open. I am at my wits end now. Am seeing the surgeon on Tuesday, the 17th. When I lie down on my back, my breast gets cooler and the fluid drops down to the bottom (where the lumpectomy scar is). Has anyone ever experienced this before? I was also told my mammogram was good and to follow up in 6 months. I received the report and I noticed it said "birad 3 (nothing was checked off) probably benign - followup in 6 months". I am on an emotional roller coaster right now. I was told it could be a seroma as well.

Bootscootin

I had breast cellulitis last week for the first time since finishing radiation two and a half years ago. I didn't have fever either, just redness around the nipple and lower half of my breast. My oncologist prescribed Doxycycline and I am going back to see him on Thursday. So scary not knowing how this happened and how to prevent it from happening again. I read somewhere that if you have it once, you are more likely to get it again in the future

gb2115

Does the redness and heat look kind of like it did during radiation?

LMS

Yes it did, but my breast was getting better until I had the mammogram. I thought it to be very strange. I don't feel any heaviness in the breast. My nipple is "trying to come out" now. I think the radiation really cooked me.

LMS

I googled that as well. My surgeon diagnosed it as cellulitis and am wondering if that's what it really is. Am hoping the culture came back from the lab for him to look at the results. I was put on Cephalexin and it didn't do any good. (I'll be on it 20 days on Wednesday). I'm seeing him tomorrow. My ultrasound report wasn't in when the surgeon went on vacation so he'll have it tomorrow. My problem is "googling" too much and coming up with Inflammatory BC, but the other surgeon said I didn't have all the "symptoms" of it. No one ever told me what to expect. My daughter had Stage 3 with lymph node involvement and she never got this (I know we all react differently to it). Thank God for this forum. I had ER/PR+0 nodes Stage 1a grade 3. They only took out the sentinel lymph node which was clear. Am taking my Exemestane every day (hoping that helps).

sdianel

LMS: I had radiation in May 2017. 5 days 2x a day accelerated radiation. I wish I had never had it. It has been a nightmare! 2 weeks after radiation all the skin fell off my breast. Excruciating pain!! The RO said "we never see this" -- he either lied or is incompetent. (I think lied). He acted like he didn't know what to do. He finally prescribed pain meds, antibiotics and sulfadine cream. I had to apply it 2x a day and wear a bandage. I was basically bedridden for 6 months. I kept going back to him but he didn't know what to do. Recommended oxygen chamber but the closest was a long drive and I had other medical problems and the pain and there was no way I could tolerate that. I asked him could it be cellulitis (I had it before in my elbow). he said he "didn't think so" I said how to you know? He couldn't answer that. He referred me back to the surgeon's office!! the NP in the surgeons office asked why was I calling them?? She called the RO and chewed him out and made him see me. He then referred me to the Infectious Disease Clinic where I saw an NP. After 2 weeks and another round of antibiotics, a Dr looked at it and said it wasn't cellulitis but was radiation inflammation and lymphedema. Referred me back to the RO. I asked for a different RO. Got a woman Dr who put me on Pentoxifylline and Vitamin E for 4 months, which worked in about a month. She also referred me to physical therapy which helped a great deal. I had already ordered one of the lympedema pad to wear in my bra but the PT was going to give me one. I was only wearing it during the day. She said wear it 24x7. I was wearing it under my arm but she said move it to the front where it covers the entire breast. That also helped. Within 4 months it it was much better but still red, swollen and sore but more tolerable. I also have fibrosis. Massaging helps. Stretching my arm back behind me also helps. I can feel the tissue stretch. It seems to help drain the fluid. I also have swelling in my arm and hand. I keep it elevated as much as possible. The only way for them to know if it's cellulitis is to do a punch biopsy. Hope this helps. I know how you feel. I would rather have had a mastectomy than radiation. I will never had radiation again. My choice based on my reactions to it. It is widely know as a side effect with certain groups. I found the info online. Tens of thousands of women experience it. The woman RO said that she doesn't do the accelerated radiation because of the side effects. I just wanted to get it over with and had no idea about the risk groups. If I remember, it was older women, large breasts, overweight, with anemia, diabetes or immune disorders. It will be a year the first week in May and my breast is still swollen, hot to the touch, still sore, but not as red. Sore but I can at least live with it. Ibuprofen helps but I can only take Tylenol because I have an ulcer. I also got severe pain in my ribs and they tried to tell me it was "referred pain" from my breast. Not true. I found it online. It's damage to the rib cartilage. I had that for 3 weeks and couldn't get out of bed without hold a pillow to my chest and screaming. She gave me nothing for that. I had a terrible year but did have a clear one-year mammogram so I'm trying to remain positive. Hugs!

LMS

sdianel - I had a biopsy done this past Monday (under anesthesia). They had the results yesterday but the receptionist said she was too busy to get any incoming faxes (grrr). To make a long story short, I called my primary doctor and got my results over the phone. No cancer - and I was told that what I have is caused by radiation. I never agreed to double the dosage of my radiation to begin with. My surgeon said 3 to 4 weeks and the OC wanted to do 7 weeks, so what he did was do 7 weeks in 3-1/2. I had no idea he was going to do that!! Then, with the mammogram (more radiation) this pops up. I will demand they do ultrasound from now on instead of a mammogram. It has cleared up a little bit. I'm sorry you have to go through this too. I am not good at playing "The Waiting Game" either. I was a total basket case. It was only a year ago that I had the lumpectomy. We've got to be our own advocates. To the doctors, we're just another patient. I have a follow up on Tuesday (got a 2 inch incision and am stapled right now).

Am so grateful for this site. I hope you're doing better.