One month after lumpectomy breast is red and itchy

Anonymous

One month after lumpectomy breast is red and itchy

Nancykimt

Has anyone had a red and itchy breast one month after lumpectomy? I saw the surgeon 2 weeks after surgery and he said all was healing normally, but now I’m worried because my symptoms seem similar to inflammatory breast cancer. They say that can develop in weeks. I see the radiologist in a week, but want my mind eased until then.

gb2115

I did, and it turned out I was horribly allergic to the surgical glue. But it was a delayed allergy and took over a month to show up.

Nancykimt

Thanks a lot for the reply, gb2115. I hope that’s it. I read that itching was common during healing process, but not redness. Plus my nipple is slightly inverted. Well, I’ll know on Thursday if there’s a problem. Thanks again

Nancykimt

What was done for the rash? We’re you given a cream or cortisone pills or injection, or did it just go away by itself after awhile? If the latter, how long did it take? Thanks

Cowgirl13

I'd go in very soon and have it checked for infection. My breast was red as there was an infection so they put me on antibiotics. They couldn't do chemo until the infection was cleared.

Nancykimt

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Thanks. I see the radiologist for the first time tomorrow. Surgeon’s office said they would see me if radiologist couldn’t help me

Cowgirl13

Good to hear you will be seen tomorrow.

KBeee

Sounds like irritation or infection; gad it is being checked.

Nancykimt

Well, radiologist wasn’t concerned, but wrote a prescription for an antibiotic. Said to call surgeon tomorrow if no improvement. As of Sunday morning, nothing has changed. Now I’m worrying a bit. There is still a bit of blue dye coming out of nipple and there is some kind of adhesive on incision so I’m hoping it’s an allergic reaction. Won’t be able to relax until surgeon tells me nothing to worry about. Actually, won’t be able to relax until the rash is gone. From what I’ve read, many doctors are ignorant about inflammatory breast cancer

gb2115

Sorry I didn't see your reply!!

They let the allergy run it's course--all I did was keep nonstick telfa pads in my bra because it started weeping fluid as an allergic response. Eventually the skin that had the glue on it sloughed off. I was in rads and had radiation to the area during the worst of it. I think it lasted maybe 3 weeks. It's hard to remember because the rash from it spread all over the radiation field and turned into an allergy to the lotion (which did require a steroid shot after cream and a medrol dose pack failed). So as the glue allergy was resolving the lotion allergy was ramping up. I had the rad onc stumped and they kept saying I had a skin virus. It took a very smart derm to determine I was having an overblown systemic allergic response. Within 48 hours her shot had almost completely resolved it.

I had a really really bad couple of months.

Nancykimt

Thanks for the detailed reply. Sorry it took so long to get it resolved. It makes me feel better hearing from other women with rashes after surgery that do NOT have inflammatory bc. Since my diagnosis, every little pain or anything out of theordinary makes me think I have another cancer.

sbelizabeth

Nancykimt, I had inflammatory bc AND an allergy to Tegaderm--that stickey saran-wrap kind of dressing. My signs of cancer were nothing like the allergic reaction I had to Tegaderm. The allergic dermatitis made me want to scratch the skin of my breast off, and the more I scratched the worse it got. My surgeon gave me a prescription for a steroid cream that finally soothed and calmed the rash.

That being said, I think we can all relate to the feeling that every twitch, itch, or zing, has to be because of breast cancer. After my lumpectomy I had very real pain in my breast and armpit, and I was convinced it was cancer pain. My MO, bless her, tried not to laugh...she said it's just post-op incisional pain, it's not cancer. She was right.

Nancykimt

I saw the surgeon today and he was stumped. Said it didn’t look like a fungal infection, but wrote a prescription for an anti-fungal cream! Asked him if it could be a delayed allergic reaction to adhesive or blue dye used in lymph node check and he said he doubted it. I inquired about getting a topical cortisone cream and he said he doesn’t like to prescribe steroids because they are bad for healing process. When I brought up my anxiety when I google about itchy breast being inflammatory breast cancer, he just said not to worry about it. That didn’t actually make me any less anxious. I have to see him in one week. He said he may refer me to a dermatologist. What would a dermatologist do? Prescribe a cortisone cream I imagine. I’m finishing up the antibiotic that radiologist prescribed, but neither surgeon nor I think it’s an infection. All I can do is wait until I see him again. Probably will get second opinion if nothing changes. Thanks for everyone’s input.

Nancykimt

Really getting nervous. I decided to call the oncologist’s office for a third opinionand was seen by a nurse practitioner. She called in my oncologist, who wasn’t sure what it could be and ordered an ultrasound. The NP said “I don’t think it’s anything really bad”. That’s supposed to put my mind at rest?

KBeee

A dermatologist could do a punch biopsy to correctly diagnose it. See if you can be seen by one to help get to the bottom of it. Hoping the ultrasound brings good news.

Nancykimt

After the ultrasound, the radiologist said the rash is probably caused by fluid build up under the skin. Later I had a follow up with the surgeon and asked him if I could have a punch biopsy and he said that wasn't warranted and that would further delay the radiation, as I'd have to wait another 3-4 weeks for the area to heal. You'd think that having 4 doctors tell me this is not inflammatory bc would ease my mind, but i still have some doubt. Yes, I feel a little better now, but..... Also, if this doesn't clear up in 5 days (not likely) it scares me to have radiation on top of an already pink breast.

Spoonie77

Have they sent you to be evaluated for Lymphedema of the breast at all? I developed Breast LE after RADs, but from what I've read, Breast LE or LE in general can onset at anytime after a trauma (surgery/radiation/etc) to the lymph system.

I had pinkness, itchiness, and swelling/pain/redness/tilting/inverting of the nipple and I was panicked like you (rightly so for both of us!) about IBC or Paget's Disease and when my SO and my MO didn't think it was anything and I was still worried, I promptly saw my Cancer Rehab dr for another opinion on the matter. She said it was definitely new cording and lymphedema of the nipple itself this time around. So I have Breast LE and Nipple LE, who knew they could be separate! LOL. Apparently the cording under my nipple was/is the reason my nipple has flattened and tilted. My PT has adjusted my therapy to take this into account and resolve the cording over time.

I'm not sure if this might be the case for you, but I would definitely ask for a referral to be seen by a Lymphedema Physical Therapist to rule that out. And honestly, if you are having issues prior to RADs I would think it would be really proacitve to have an LE assessment sooner rather than later to head things off at the pass so to speak.

Keep us posted. Hoping this all turns out to be something that can be treated and get you back on the journey asap.

Nancykimt

Thanks for the detailed response, Spoonie77. I didn’t even know there were lymphedema physical therapists. May I ask how lymphedema is generally treated by therapist? Massage? Ice?

Since no one has named my condition, I’m not sure who I would ask about this. I called my radiologist’s office and voiced my concern about having radiation before the rash has cleared and was told I would be evaluated on Monday to see if I’m ready for the treatment.

Spoonie77

My RADs Onco was the one that sent me to have a evaluation by my Cancer Rehab Physical Therapist, who then assigned me to a specific Lymphedema Therapist to see weekly, until my symptoms were more manageable. I would ask your RO for a referral when you see them on Monday.

Even if the symptoms you have are not LE related, in many cancer clinics it seems to be a common procedure to have patients evaluated for LE risk and assessment. IMO they shouldn't have any issue with it and it seems to be in your best interest, at least to rule out that what you're experiencing is more Dermatological rather than Lymphedema related.

Now that my symptoms are more manageable, I only see my LE PT when needed/once monthly, as well as I need to do manual lymphatic massage drainage at home every day for at least 20 mins, plus wear compression garments. Everyone is different though.

Here's a great resource from BCO about Lymphedema and also about the different types of treatments:

General Info...https://www.breastcancer.org/treatment/lymphedema

Treatments... https://www.breastcancer.org/treatment/lymphedema/treatments

Also, remember this is your body and your treatments, if they say on Monday that you are fine for RADs and you are still concerned, you have every right to ask for a second opinion before going forward. Both my surgeon and my rads oncologists were both in agreement that if my swelling and symptoms from surgery were not resolved before RADs was scheduled, we would delay a few weeks.

That's just my experience. everyone is different.

Let us know how Monday goes.

"Symptoms of LE can include:

• achiness, tingling, discomfort, or increased warmth in the hand, arm, chest, breast, or underarm areas
• feelings of fullness or heaviness in the hand, arm, chest, breast, or underarm
• tightness or decreased flexibility in nearby joints, such as the shoulder, hand, or wrist
• "bursting" or "shooting" pain sensations, or pins and needles
• tenderness in the elbow
• slight puffiness or swelling in your arm, hand, chest, or breast, with a temporary indentation of the skin when you press on it with your finger (this is called pitting edema)
• veins or tendons in the hand are harder to see, and/or the knuckles look less pronounced, or once-wrinkled skin looks younger or smoother
• trouble fitting the arm into a jacket or shirt sleeve that fit well before
• bra feels tighter, does not fit the same, or leaves an indentation on the skin
• noticing that the two sides of the back look different in size (asymmetrical)
• difficulty getting watches, rings, or bracelets on and off
• changes in skin texture or appearance, such as tightness, redness, or hardening
• rash, itching, redness, pain, or warmth of the skin
• fever or flu-like symptoms"

Nancykimt

Well, it turns out you were probably right. After being told I might have a fungal infection by my surgeon and prescribed a cream, an infection by my radiologist and prescribed an antibiotic, a hematoma by another radiologist who interpreted my ultrasound and told it would improve in a month, and a ”Don’t worry about it, some women take a long time to heal” from oncologisfor the past 3 months, the Nurse practitioner for the oncologist now says she thinks it might be lymphedema and has referred me to one. I don’t have an appointment yet. My faith in doctors is at an all time low.

ctmbsikia

Hi Nancy. Are your symptoms any better now? Good luck with the LE therapist.

I used to break out in random rashes after radiation. Upper chest mostly and then my left arm. It would flip flop. I think the arm rash was after a blood draw so don't let anyone stick you or even take your BP on your treated side, especially if you have LE.

My GP's NP saw me last year and I finally said, look at this! She called in a steroid cream and it worked like a charm. No more rashes.

I had a 3 week post op seroma. Thankfully it did not deter getting rads done. It resolved in a few moths (like they said). This past March I bumped that breast and have a 1 cm seroma in another spot of the mutilated breast. It is not resolving and drives me a little crazy at times. Anxious to see if it will ever go away, or what these radiologists, and BS think about when it's still there next time!?

Our bodies do some crazy whacky things once traumatized by surgery and treatments.

Nancykimt

Guess what? About 5 days after I was told I had lymphedema my breast got a huge hard painful lump near the incision site. It was excruciating when I got up in the morning or changed positions during the night. I was out of town when this happened, so I made an appointment with my surgeon for when I returned home. My (incredibly dumb) surgeon told me it was a side effect of radiation and I should keep my appointment with the lymphedema therapist. I saw the lymphedema specialist the next day and she didn't think I had lymphedema and that the lump was probably an infection. She said she would contact my oncologist (the NP who said I had lymphedema) and ask for an antibiotic. I didn't hear anything for 4 days so I called the radiologist to ask if a hard painful lump was a side effect of treatments and was told definitely not. I got an appointment that day. I was told I have an infected 5.6 cm seroma. I had this seroma before (what was supposedly causing the redness), but it was not infected and did not hurt. On day 4 of antibiotics. No change yet, but we’ll see. My family and friend’s eyes seem to glaze over when I talk about this stuff, so I thought I’d come on here to vent.

KBeee

How frustrating that none of your docs took this seriously. Your surgeon should have recognized the infected seroma. If it is not improving, call. Infections are nothing to mess with.

Glendacog

hi,

Like Nancy, I also have 1/3 of my breast very red and tender a month after lumpectomy. The redness is at and below the nipple, nowhere near the incisions and thus just started a few days ago. I have an appointment with the radiologist on Thursday, so far my visits post surgery with the surgeon and oncologist have been over the phone. Just wondering if others experienced this and how it ultimately resolved.

Cowgirl13

My breast was redish all over but I really didn't think much about. Wasn't so bad in the am but towards end of day would get redder. My surgery was early June (a long time ago) and my infection was caught 6 weeks later when I was at the oncologist's office for a check-in a week before chemo started. I was immediately started on antibiotics and was fine by the time chemo rolled around.

Glendacog

Thanks Cowgirl! Was your infection identified as delayed breast cellulitis? That is what the radiologist said yesterday and he put me on a course of antibiotics, so I am hopeful that this is the correct diagnosis and course of treatment. It also sounds like it could be lymphedema, my breasts are on the large side (38DD). The general sensation is like that of a sunburn and like you, the color seemed less intense in the mornings and more pronounced in the evening.

MinusTwo

Take a look at the posting on this thread.

https://community.breastcancer.org/forum/64/topics...