Skin flushing in non-treated areas

After my first radiation treatment (2/11/10) my throat (below chin bone line) and chest (but not breast area) has taken on a splotched red color that hasn't gone away. It was not there before the 1st treatment, and I have just completed my 5th treatment at it is still there.

I do not expose my skin to the sun (for over 10 years) and it feels similar to a mild exposure to sun, like a very mild sunburn, but the Radiologist says that since only my right breast is being treated that is impossible.

After the 3rd treatment (02/15/10), within three hours of treatment I felt nauseous and had a sore throat, not in the tonsil area, but literally the throat, in the Adam's Apple area, it hurts to swallow.

The sore throat is now into day 3. I had my treatment today (02/17/10) and discussed with the Radiologist, but he indicated, treating right breast, this is impossible for me to have a sore throat related to the treatment.He looked at my throat and said it looked okay, but hello, you can't see that far down!

I visited my breast surgeon on Monday and was advised the incision area from my lumpectomy is completely healed, but after the 3rd treatment (02/15/10) the end of the incision towards my armpit looks red, swollen and infected. Radiologist indicated this isn't from the radiation. I have a photograph prior to the 3rd treatment showing the condition of the right breast.

Any logical explanations out there. I don't use any fraganced cleansers, no deodorant or anti-perspirant (can't wait to use those again - tired of armpit aroma), wash with Johnson's Baby Wash, pat dry, no hot water, lukewarm showers (way too cold to do that), do not use lotions, powder, perfume, cologne and here I sit with my chest and neck that feels like I spent a little too long in the sun. I don't use fabric softeners, or fabric sheets with fragrances, or detergents with fragances in them. Can't stand the perfumy smell.

Nothing is different in my life or lifestyle EXCEPT for the radiation. I am latex allergic, and had a major battle with "office supplies" being used on me for markings - magic markers, latex bandages to keep the magic marker on my skin (marker contained latex as did the bandages),

I had instant hives (with me protesting loudly to no avail) over the pain from the magic markers, and told them they couldn't use the bandages because I knew they contained latex, which they used anyway because the marker ink had to stay on my skin for the next appointment, seven days away. After they realized the severe reaction to the markers and bandages, I was cleaned down with alcohol pads, and followed for additional markings with "Wite-Out". Seriously, make an error typing and you white it out - on my skin.

Now seriously, is this what the rest of the medical community is using?

This was followed by my permanent marking session with being drawn on with an industrial Black Sharpie pen - you know - the one with the wide tip that smells so bad and takes your breath away. The manufactuer of this product has a warning label on the actual marker stating it is a skin irritant and their website indicates it contains Xylene - a known cancer causing agent - and they are drawing with in on my cancerous breast - a huge 12 x 15 area.

I felt like a piece of paper - I thought I was a human being, but here these "professionals" are opening an office desk and just putting anything and everything on me.

I was "tattooed" with a couple of drops of tattoo ink and a lancette forced into my skin and rotated a couple of times.

My evening shower in Johnson's Baby Bath soap removed not only the permanent Black Sharpie marker, but their permanent tattoos.

This isn't a small hospital, it is in the capital of my state, a large money making facility, but they can't locate a latex free surgical marker, really?

I got on the internet, located a source of latex free surgical markers and supplied my Radiologist with three dozen, on me, so that no other latex sensitive, intolerant or allergic patient should ever have to go through the physical pain (and permanent scarring) by being treated as a piece of paper with office products.

Your comments about your similar experiences and possible logical explanations for the red splotched skin would be appreciated, since according to my Radiologist it can't have anything to do with the radiation treatment.

I'm not afraid to sign my name or my location, I am sincerely,

Cherry Horton Reidenbach

West Columbia, SC