allergic reations related to BC?

gobuster
gobuster Member Posts: 21
edited June 2014 in ILC (Invasive Lobular Carcinoma)
allergic reations related to BC?
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  • gobuster
    gobuster Member Posts: 21
    edited November 2009

    I was wondering if anyone else has had any allergic reactions since being diagnosed.  I had a bilateral mastectomy Oct 26th, 2009.  Hours after surgery I developed a rash on my face and body. I also redness around my IV on my hand and a red line running up my arm.  I had a new IV started in a different location.  I also reacted with itchiness and redness and continue to react to bandages. Prior to surgery the only other strange thing that happened was that my silver watch turned my wrist black.  I've had this watch for years and never had a problem.  I feel like my body is possibly in fight mode and reacting to anything foreign.  

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  • Kleenex
    Kleenex Member Posts: 764
    edited November 2009

    I had a non-BC friend who would get reactions to bandaids - a latex allergy is what she had. She'd had it forever. I suppose you can develop a new allergy after a lot of exposure to something - perhaps you experienced a lot of latex in the tape and bandages, etc. I always thought the red line running up a limb indicated blood poisoning - is that an old wives' tale? And it also sounds like perhaps you're allergic to one of the medications they gave you, such as an antibiotic, with the rash on your body and face. Also - there's the relationship between cancer and a weak immune system: whether it's that cancer weakens your immune system or whether a weakened immune system will allow cancer to grow is still being debated. I'm just theorizing. The ILC thread can be a little slow to respond because there aren't as many women with ILC... I'm sorry you're experiencing these annoying things in addition to having BC and having to have surgery in the first place. Hopefully, you'll find out what's going on!

    Coleen

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  • gobuster
    gobuster Member Posts: 21
    edited November 2009

    Thanks for your response.  I guess what I'm experiencing isn't a common problem related to BC.  It seems like such a coincidence that now I'm having reactions to so many things.  I've never had allergies before.  I thought it was odd that suddenly my watch turned my wrist black as well.

    Also, I got my pathology report and I will need more treatment...I think I better head to an allergist!  

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  • Sue-61
    Sue-61 Member Posts: 599
    edited November 2009

    Gobuster, oh I hear you loud and clear! I was on IV Ancef during and after surgery. My kids told me they never saw me look so good with such good color. I was discharged from the hospital on oral Keflex. I still was in awe of the rosy cheeks.........the ones of my face :)............then I developed a rash all over my abdomen. DUH! I am a registered nurse and it took me about a week to figure out that I am allergic to those antibiotics!

    I am also able to use only paper tape these days. I get itchy and rashy with even the cloth tape. Thanks goodness the 40 steri strips that were on my incisions (bilateral mastectomies) caused no problems. I wonder if this stuff started because there was just too darn much tape all over me. I hardly even use a band aid for goodness sakes.  

    So look up the antiobiotic you must have been on and see what the side effects are. 

    HEY, isn't it nice and sunny here in MA today???? You are so lucky to live where you live. IT is beautiful there.........Sue 

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  • gobuster
    gobuster Member Posts: 21
    edited November 2009

    Hi Sue,

    Thanks for your response.  Sorry you had to go through a similar experience!  I was just sitting outside soaking up the some of that sun!  It's good timing b/c I'm just feeling well enough to get outside.

    I think I might be having a reaction to the adhesive on the bandages and maybe plastic too.  I did react to the steri strip on my biopsy site.  I mentioned this to the plastic surgeon prior to surgery.  She did a test with her bandages just before the surgery and I did NOT react to her bandages at that time.  However where the drains were I have a rash and redness around the entry site.  Those look to be the same bandages I have over my implants.  She pre-treated the area of the implants with anestetic (I think) prior to putting those bandages on.  So maybe this prevented and will prevent a reaction.  I do have some redness on the lower left implant which we are keeping an eye on.

    After surgery I was told I had tape over my eyes and a plastic oyxgen mask on.  This would explain the face rash.  I was itchy everywhere especially my upper back.  I had an epidural. I guess a plastic or latex allergy could explain that too.  Today is the first day my upper back doesn't feel itchy. Yeah!

    I reacted to the paper tape on the second IV.  Plastic and Glue or Adhesive allergy?? Right now I am using a cloth, latex free bandage on the drain site.  This will probably be the last day I will need a bandage there.  Since I already have an existing rash I don't know if this bandage is ok.  I am going make an appointment with an allergist!

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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited November 2009

    I found out that I react to adhesive tape when the skin under the tape holding the dressing over my core biopsy site blistered.  Even some paper tapes cause problems for me.  I think that it will be a matter of trial and error to find out what causes reactions.  

    Yet another good reason to be done with surgeries (I hope).

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  • Rose_wood
    Rose_wood Member Posts: 48
    edited November 2009
    until now, I had been what I thought was reasonably healthy.  Still, since dx I have found I'm allergic to several things I would never have known; such as, antibiotic sulfa (penicillen I knew), latex tape, lanolin alcohol used in Aquaphor, I got dizzy spells during radiation treatments, and I think my meds are making me, well, heavier.  Wink  I guess it's trial and error, and I'm not sure that once things settle if these allergies will remain.  But, just tread lightly, gobuster.  Everyone reacts differently.  Good Luck!
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  • gobuster
    gobuster Member Posts: 21
    edited November 2009

    Followed up with the allergist with no results found.  

    The surgeon is going to use as little bandages as possible for my lymph node surgery tomorrow.  I might do a home test (much later) with different brands of bandages.

    Thanks for all of your comments!

    Mary 

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  • ImpatientPatient
    ImpatientPatient Member Posts: 41
    edited December 2009

    gobuster: I thought I was the only one. I didn't react at first but as everything stayed on longer, my reaction came on faster and more severly. I reacted to the adhesive on any of the tape or steri strips we tried. I reacted where the drain tubes touched my skin. And I just had a second surgery to remove an expander because inflammation was so bad. I only had the drain in for 3 days and I have a red scab where the tube was against my side and I have a rash anywhere my compression bra was really tight. I'm not allergic to much so all I can think is that my body is more sensitive with everything that is going on.

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  • gobuster
    gobuster Member Posts: 21
    edited December 2009

    Hi ImpatientPatient  

    I don't know if I'll ever know for sure, but it seems connected to me.  My surgeon was able to do my second surgery bandage-free.  I had a gauze pad that was held in place by my bra.  The drain tube was held in place with stitches.  After 4 days the drain site was getting red and sore. I took it out the next morning. (Thanksgiving....very fitting)  I continue to react to bandages.  My implants are okay now, but there was concern with redness around them for the first few weeks.  When those bandages came off.  I had to use bacitracin b/c it was sore and looked inflamed. Some of my jewelry will turn my skin black as well. 

    When I needed some blood taken they used some strechy fabric-like stuff that adheres to itself.  I've seen it sold at sports stores and Claire's.  Good luck!!

    Mary 

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  • rreynolds1
    rreynolds1 Member Posts: 450
    edited December 2009

    If your jewelry is turning your skin black that may be due to acidity in your system.  You can buy strips at a natural food store to check your saliva.  When I was diagnosed I checked mine and it was very acidic.  Since then I have read some info that suggests that acidity is not good.  You might want to check it out.  They also sell drops to counter the acidity as well as some foods like organic yogert which can help.  Don't really know if I believe that it makes a difference in preventing  cancer (although my chiropractor sais it does) but it could help with the jewelry issue.  My chiro sais that cancer grows in an acid environment.  That's controvertial.

    Roseann

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  • everyminute
    everyminute Member Posts: 1,805
    edited December 2009

    I am now allergic to bacatracin, neosporin and bandages - had fairly severe reaction to bacatracin.  Most definately was not prior to diagnosis. 

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  • Leah_S
    Leah_S Member Posts: 8,458
    edited December 2009

    Something to consider with the development of allergies - how old are you? It's not unusual for allergies to develop during perimenopause (years leading up to menopause) and the extra stress of cancer/diagnosis/surgery etc. could exacerbate the problem.

    When I was in my late 40's I began developing a lot of allergies. Wasp and hornet stings, dates strawberries, tree nuts, peanuts, penicillin. Also, my mild dust and pollen allergies revved up to allergy-induced asthma. Nothing to do with bc - that diagnosis came almost 10 years after the allergy problems.

    Leah

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  • gobuster
    gobuster Member Posts: 21
    edited December 2009

    Hi Leah,

    Leah, I'm 40...soon turning 41.  I haven't had perimenopausal signs that I'm aware of.  Extra stress makes sense.  I just developed shingles too.

    rreynolds1....Interesting info.  I did read something in the crazy sexy cancer tips book about acidity.  Although I've always had a healthy diet, I made some adjustments....very little sugar and flour.  Lots of veggies.  I use my juicer for a daily dose of good stuff.  

    everyminute....sorry to hear.  Any alternatives to bacitracin and neosporin? 

    .   

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  • ImpatientPatient
    ImpatientPatient Member Posts: 41
    edited January 2010

    I'm not sure if it would work in all situations but bactin spray might be an alternative to the antibiotic ointments. My surgeon mentioned that a lot of her patients developed reactions to neosporin but recommended bacitracin or polysporin as a replacement but it sounds like that isn't an option.

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