RT SE: calendula cream

T_C

Hi all,

Just wanted to share my experience with radiotherapy for DCIS with the hope that one of my SEs can shed light on SEs a few others may experience. I had 16 full breast treatments prone, and 4 boost doses supine to the lumpectomy site.

About a week into treatment, I developed a deep cough and shortness of breath, similar to what I get if I have a bad case of bronchitis. My skin was turning red, but by the end of treatment, I had a full blown, very itchy rash; absolutely covered in thousands of tiny itchy bumps. RO blew it off as folliculitis and said it would subside after week after treatment. It only become worse and started to spread outside the immediate radiated area. My cough also worsened. They sent me for an xray, which did not show any radiation induced problem.

I saw the RO again a week post-treatment with the worsening rash and cough, he said to continue to put the calendula cream on, with over the counter hydrocortisone. Told me to just deal with the cough. (On the first day of RO treatment, they told me to buy calendula cream, as it has been shown to reduce incidence of radiation burn. I bought it and started it without hesitation.)

Still no rash relief nearly two weeks after RT ended, I went to see my dermatologist, who is a BC survivor. She thought it looked more like a radiation burn and prescribed an ointment. I applied it, but rash was still spreading, not improving.

When I began treatment, I had patch tested the calendula cream on my forearms to make sure I was not allergic (I am allergic to so many things, so this is a normal process for me.) It was fine that time. After this rash kept getting worse, I decided to re-patch test on both forearms with a liberal amount of the calendula, and sure enough within 20 minutes, I had many small bumps forming. Immediately washed off the cream on my chest and forearms.

I then read about calendula cream allergies and the first warning is that those who are allergic to ragweed may experience reactions to this cream. I am extremely allergic to ragweed. While on allergy shots, a nurse accidentally mis-measured my injection and gave me a little too much and I had to be pumped full of injected steroids to control the reaction. It was awful.

Once I realized this caused my skin reaction and quit, my rash is now slowly going away. The deep cough I developed is an asthmatic one and a response to my body's attempt to fight the allergic reaction to the calendula cream. Ironically, my eyes had also turned blood shot red during RT. I went to an ophthalmologist because I've never had this, she stated it was dry eye/allergy. I attributed to stress, no idea the cream could cause a systemic reaction.

It has been upsetting, because I have worked very hard stay on top of my job as a professor at a major university, take care of my children, manage DCIS treatment, and try to figure out why I have a tight awful cough and awful rash. I am also beyond frustrated with my RO who never told me those with severe pollen/ragweed allergies should not use the calendula cream. I can't even wear a shirt and have been working from home when I am not teaching so I can have my chest exposed to avoid the very severe rash irritation. The cough has made it very difficult to even walk because it aggravates my wheezing and coughing. I generally research everything, but I failed to do so with the cream because there is just too much thrown at us in our most crucial times of need. I trusted my medical practitioners too much, and now I am starting months of high dosage oral prednisone to control the severe asthma it has caused, also now have two types of inhalers, and systemic allergy treatment.

I apologize for the rant. I have kept it together pretty well through biopsy, surgery, and even through RT. But now knowing this was a preventable severe SE from recommended cream known to cause problems for those with ragweed allergies has just been too much.

TC

star2017

So sorry you are struggling with this, but I am glad you discovered the cause of the rash!

My doctor didn't mention the calendula creams specifically, but I asked about it at one point, specifically Miaderm. My RO said, make sure to do a patch test because you wouldn't want a reaction in the treatment area. It hadn't even occurred to me that this could be something I'm allergic to, but the doctor was aware of the possibility.

Anyway, I hope you heal soon. All the best.