Itching & Cancer

I was having a problem with itching on my ankles and lower legs before my diagnosis. 

At some point after my mastectomy and while going through chemo, I realized that I no longer itched but I never connected it with the BC.  It wasn't until I came across articles about BC that talked about itching (ankles were specifically mentioned) that I realized that my itchy legs may have been due to BC.

Sorry, I don't remember where I found the article online.

I also had issues with itching! Both of my breasts, my armpits and occassionally my face itched like CRAZY. All of it stopped immediately following my surgery/chemo until a recent issue with my DIEP breast...I suspect this is a nerve ending issue because I had reconstruction. It's very weird how they body can get thrown off balance.

I have always had sensitive skin that can break out in itchy rashes if I use a new detergent or shower gel. I had itchy ankles and lower legs before being diagnosed with bc. I assumed it was an allergy to something and tried various creams with little success, when I stopped using the cream it came back. I have never found doctors to be particularly helpful with skin rashes etc. I noticed that after my surgery the itching almost disappeared. I have had my first chemo session and it seems to be completely gone now. Looking back I do think that my itchy legs and ankles were related to my bc, although I have had other itching in the past that I don't think was anything to do with it.

just a thought, I read that one of the symptoms of menopause is itchy skin, due to lack of estrogen, so skin becomes drier and itchier.

Fairy49 - I lived in Seal Beach and Bellmont shore for 10 yrs.  Miss it out there!

Girls, I enjoy your post very much. I'm much older than you all, but I never itch, but my breast broke out in little pimples, and underneath they would, if not treated turn into a yeast infection. I tried everything to stop the pimples for getting bigger, and when they did I had to get an antibotic to get well. I finally, have some hope now when it happens, you just spray Lotiumn, its for jock itch, and my pimples clear up, its a powder spray.. No thanks to the doctors. Could this be from Breast  cancer?  I had a MX, and I still get pimples on the other breast. Anyone out there with this problem?

HI all! 

 Fairy49:  Serenity is everything!  I like your "if god brought you to it, he'll get you through it!"  I miss the coast - Have many friend in HB, LB, SB...

I do the Omega's, Source of Life, and xtra calcium (as I cracked my ribs by pushing down on a hole punch during Chemo treatments).  Emergence - C as well for electrolytes and VC replacement.

 The itch...again I did notice and complain to doc's prior to dx last June, but all I can recall is that it was located in breast and nip area.

Be well!

I had itchy shins, and had been to see my PCP for it before I was diagnosed.  It had been bothering me for a couple of years.  I saw him in March (2008) and he told me it was something, but he didn't know what and told me to take Zyrtec.  I didn't.  I was diagnosed in Oct. Mx in November, no more itching, I was premenopausal when diagnosed, and I had a hyster/ooph in May, so now post, my skin is fine, not dry, still no itching.  No chemo, staying on Tamoxifen even after ooph. I really wonder after reading what everyone else has experienced if it was the cancer.  I would scratch until I bled sometimes.  Not once since November.

Good thread.

Karen

http://rfcp.convio.net/site/TR?team_id=42052&fr_id=1110&pg=team

I was diagnosed with IDC last week. The tumor is in my right breast, right behind my nipple. I am having a mastectomy in 2 weeks. The nipple on my right breast itched so badly it drove me bonkers! The itch lasted about a year and then faded. The symptoms that caught my attention were a sharp, shooting pain down the side of my breast and a flat nipple -- both of these started in May. I'm certain that the itchy nipple was an early sign. My right palm also itches like crazy, and still does today.

Thanks for this topic, I had forgotten how I bought antihistamines & zinc powder etc months before I was diagnosed with BC.  It was to try to stop the terrible red welts on my lower legs, across my back and under my breasts.  As it was mid summer & very warm, I thought it might have been a heat rash, but I do recall now having red itchy marks anywhere that I had anything against my skin with elastic or synthetic in it (top of socks, bra line, tags on pants, shirts etc.  I guess it was my immune system telling me it was struggling with something nasty.  I don't even recall when it disappeared, too focused on surgery & treatment.  I do wear long pants still as the grass seeds itch my legs and a rash on your chest is mentioned as a sign of reoccurrence ... so makes sense. I find that most doctors are still pretty ignorant about the day to day things involved with this disease.  They are more interested in treating the symptoms but not looking for the underlying cause.  Probably because of all the medicines available on the market.  Even my oncologist looks at me like I'm going crazy mentioning these little things, but I'm the one suffering here and she is asking how are things going, so I'm just saying ...

Now that I think about it I did have localized itching - a lot!  I was pregnant when I noticed my right boob just itched like crazy - and it still itched after birth.  I thought it was due to the skin stretching from 40 pounds of weight gain during pregnancy as well as the milk coming in.  And the itching was only on the cancerous side. 

hi linda, surely, all itching cant mean you have cancer? I was diagnosed nearly 4 years december, have regular mamograms and checkups and am well, at least i think i am. I have a regular itch in my hairline, and sometimes it drives me crazy especially at night when i have a hot flush or when i drink alcohol. Do you think i have a cancer lurking somewhere? Interested to hear your reply and others. Take care.x judiqueen20