Lymphedema and itching?

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kdholt
kdholt Member Posts: 229
edited June 2014 in Lymphedema

Hi Ladies! It's been a long time since Ive been on the forums. I have a question for you all. I have mild to moderate LE and truncal LE. I have been plagued from time to time with itching of my breast and nipple on the effected side. I am 4 years out and have had these itching problems for at least 3 years. They seem to flare at times and I don't know what causes these episodes. If it weren't for the fact that I've had them so long, I'd be worried about paget's. Anyway have any of you truncal LE sisters ever had issues with itching? Could there be a connection?

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  • mrsnjband
    mrsnjband Member Posts: 1,409
    edited January 2012

    I used to have itching on the nipple off & on over the years.  So it may just be a milk duct itching.  Do you have other symptoms? Hot, red etc? If not, it may just be one of those things. You might mention it to your doctor on your next visit. If it gets red, hot, swollen don't wait, get an appt. a.s.a.p.

    I have LE in my arm & it itches occasionally. So it may just be related to that.  If in doubt contact your doc. NJ 

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  • vlnrph
    vlnrph Member Posts: 1,632
    edited January 2012

    Dry skin can be itchy, especially in winter. Are you using a moisturizing lotion?

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  • snorfia
    snorfia Member Posts: 47
    edited January 2012

    I had constant but mild itching after my lumpectomy ten years ago.  My breast area now itches following mastectomy.  When my truncal in my back flares, sometimes it itches.  The Curel sensitive skin lotion seems to take care of it - that and getting busy with something else.

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  • kdholt
    kdholt Member Posts: 229
    edited January 2012

    Thanks ladies! No, I have no other symptoms- just the itching mostly on the bc side. I did try vitamin E and that seems to be helping. I also am experimenting with bras.  I am trying a different size and style to see if that helps - and i did notice that the truncal LE doesnt bother me as much so maybe it's all related. Who knows!

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  • kira66715
    kira66715 Member Posts: 4,681
    edited January 2012

    kdholt--I have had itching on the treated breast, and attribute it to radiation--which smacks the sebacous glands and causes chronic dryness. It's only an issue in winter--with dry skin.

    Kira

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  • lionessdoe
    lionessdoe Member Posts: 780
    edited January 2012

    I have systemic yeast. Verified by a bloood test and have been fighting it for years. Ended up in urgent care over a respiratory virus. Gave me a Z-Pack. Have new insurance and was waiting for appoitnemnt with new PCP. 3 weeks later, by the time I finally saw him my breast and nipple were itching like the dickens, not to mention my eyes, my ears my face, my nostrils. New PCP gave me 7 diflucan, after the third symptoms have finally subsided. I just want to make sure that those of us who are using antibiotics to stave off full blown cellulitis or worse, if you've had a lymphedectomy your lymphadema affected part of your body can't cleanse candida albicans any better than bacteria. And yes it included a red nipple. BTW, while I'm on the subject why do warning signs for breast cancer usually use the term "Angry red nipple"? We have to assign an emotion to the female breast? Just putting it out there!

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  • Sukiann
    Sukiann Member Posts: 310
    edited March 2012

    I just googled lymphedema and itching and I found you all! Last week we finally got snow so I was outside shoveling the heavy wet stuff. Bad mistake! I have very mild breast and truncal lymphedema and it made it flare something awful. Thankfully the pain has gone since I moved the fluid on my own but I have an itchy breast and nipple. I also have a small red mark near my nipple. I'm starting to worry but I think it's from the lymphedema. I'll try lotion and see if that helps. Y mind has been going to Ibc lately though. Lionessdoe, I don't have an angry red nipple yet!

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  • Sukiann
    Sukiann Member Posts: 310
    edited March 2012

    Weird that my last post didn't have my diagnosis on the bottom?

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  • kira66715
    kira66715 Member Posts: 4,681
    edited March 2012

    Sukiann, glad the flare is mostly gone--keep an eye on that itchy breast, and if it spreads or hurts give a doctor a call. I'd worry more about cellulitis than IBC. But, breast LE can be red.

    I live south of you, and we got rain.

    Kira

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