Could this be radiation burns or cellulitis???

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TerriD
TerriD Member Posts: 591
edited June 2014 in Radiation Therapy - Before, During, and After

***URGENT*** HI Ladies, I need a pretty quick response, so Thanks you to anyone who can help/share:  This question is for my mom. BACKGROUND: She just finished radiation. Not sure how many treatments, I think it was for 5 weeks.  She was stage 1, and this is her second cancer episode, first time was 10 years ago (me, her and my youngest sister have all had breast cancer twice each, and each recurrence was 10 years later...)

OK QUESTION:  mom just called me her radiation dr told her she has cellulitis (last week) She has been on a sulfur oral antibiotic and has had no relief, hot-to-touch rash on rad site and tenderness.

Now I have had my own issues with cellulitis, I have had many episodes (over 40) and have only had it 2x with out a fever present.  so I wonder... I also had a lot more rads then she did, so could it be radiation burns??  That she has? 

I finished rads in 2009 and lost my skin etc, I did not end up with a hot to touch rash that was from radiation - that I am aware of, I did have hot-to-touch cellulitis issues (that started way b4 rads ever did) and was usually accompanied with a 103.5 fever.

Mom  has no fever.  The rad dr gave her an oral antibiotic a week ago and it is still hot-to-touch.

COULD THIS "JUST" be a radiation burn???  (I HATE to say "just", I know how hard it is...)

If not, I have to assume it is cellulitis, like the dr said, but I know how hard it is to dx this animal.

Mom is in FL I am in MI so I cant look at it, she says the "rash" is on her chest on the radiation site. In my case my rash went up my arm, and across the chest and back...hers is not spreading...so I wonder if this is just a rad side effect and NOT cellulitis???

The problem is she has heart issues and has also had c-diff in the past, so allowing a strep bacteria unattended is a real bad idea, and having IV antibiotics would be hard too (due to her

c-diff history). 

She is ready to go to the ER, either way I told her that this should not be treated by her rad dr, that she needs to see an infectious disease dr. 

Suggestions?  comments? 

Oh, and just in case can anyone recommend an Infectious disease dr in Ft Lauderdale area?  THANKS Terri

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  • TerriD
    TerriD Member Posts: 591
    edited April 2012

    Is it usual for rad burns to be hot-to-touch?  I dont know cause I would up loosing my skin and dont rmember the middle problems...

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  • macatacmv
    macatacmv Member Posts: 1,386
    edited April 2012

    terri, I finished 6.5 weeks of rads a few weeks ago. My skin was very hot to touch and red and angry looking. My RO prescribed silver sulfa cream, it was an anti biotic cream for servere burns and it helped because it was so cooling. I also used a baby teething gel pack, put it in the freezer for a bit and then on sore areas (with cloth covering) to bring the heat down. Hope that helps, it must be hard to be so far away. Does she have a primary care dr. I am using mine to help me with the issues I have now. Remember the rad tx keeps working  for weeks after the tx part stops. Hope that helps.

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  • crazypenguinsfan
    crazypenguinsfan Member Posts: 56
    edited April 2012

    I wish I could help you, but, since I didn't have rads, I can't address the radiation burns question, but hoping someone who has will maybe respond. Maybe they have on another thread?

    All I can say about my cellulitis is that it started slightly red and hot, but there was also swelling and it was painful painful to touch (more than a regular swelling painful... hard to describe) and I had a med. fever 101- 102 .  And then by the time I got the antibiotics it was very red and very apparent it was cellulitis. And within 48 hours of antibiotics, it got slightly worse then started to improve and was clear that the antibiotics were working. But, I know that there can be some cellulitis that takes longer to respond. And the docs take the possibility of cellulitis very seriously since it can get into the blood/ spread. did she go to the ER?

    Anyway, hope you and your mom get the answers to your questions from a doc and that she feels better soon! 

    Hugs to you and your mom!

    Steph

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  • itsjustme10
    itsjustme10 Member Posts: 796
    edited April 2012

    I think it would be unconscionable for anyone on a message board to attempt to diagnose your morthef without seeing her.  All I can offer is an anecdotal story...After I finished radiation, there was one area that HURT, and was red and hot.  They said it was normal for the radiation burns to get worse for about 2 weeks after finishing treatment, and to soak it with saline every so often to help cool it down.  As soon as I started to peel, the pain went away, as the heat was released.

    It's now after 9AM on the east coast.  Why not call her RO who prescribed the original antibiotic (and who would be in the best position to tell you whether the latest problem is the same or different and whether it looks better or worse).  Or call her internist or primary care physician.  But, if there is that much of a medical concern, call someone who can see her - and make sure they see her today..  I think if it were my mother, I would start with the RO - bully him into an emergency appointment.

     Good luck, hope its nothing but post-radiation discomfort.

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  • TerriD
    TerriD Member Posts: 591
    edited April 2012

    Thank you all. She is seeing the RO today and I told my dad to set up an infectious disease dr appt for next week. I advised him to get her to an ER of she gets a fever or bad body aches-like the flu-a cellulitis symptom. My mom is panicky about cellulitis cause I have had it so bad for so long...I am GLAD she "listens" though. I will keep you advised. Gotta love my BC - survivor -sisters! hugs terri

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  • cookiegal
    cookiegal Member Posts: 3,296
    edited April 2012

    I was dx'ed with cellulitis just before I started rads. I was very red and swollen during rads. I asked...how would you know if the cellulitis in the breast came back. 

    They said they would not know. Untill it moved out of the breast area. 

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  • TerriD
    TerriD Member Posts: 591
    edited April 2012

    My cellulitis always always started on my arm and travelled across my chest and back, all the way down to my waist.  So I always knew when it came and went. Mine was being aggravated/instigated by lymphedema and my sugar was out of wack. Once I got those things undercontrol (which is not easy to do) the cellulitis has been "at bay" since November 2011, I began suffering in Jan 2009... every other week... Cookie I had several outbreaks during my rads, and was very sick, I hope you get thru it OK...hugs t

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  • TerriD
    TerriD Member Posts: 591
    edited April 2012

    Cookie, the good thing is your Dr recognized the infection, mine did not...did he give you antiobiotics??? The thing is no matter how sick I was (103.5 fevers) they NEVER considered stoppingthe rads. My last day I was so very sick and didnt want to go, I said I am done! They were like, get in here, or we will come to get you.  I was so ill I couldnt even drive home...ah...memories...I am so glad ot be done with that...so naturally my mom was very intuitive when she saw the "rash", and she knew what to do...but...I am suspecting it is alot more rad burns then cellulitis, her fever broke a few days ago... hugs t

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  • Kindergarten
    Kindergarten Member Posts: 4,869
    edited April 2012

     So glad you started this thread, TerriD!!! Just saw that your mom's fever broke, good news!! I also posted to you on the other thread on cellulitis. You have been through so much and I am so glad to hear that you  have not had an outbreak since November. I will pray for continued healing. Hugs to you!!!!

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  • TerriD
    TerriD Member Posts: 591
    edited May 2012

    My mom took a few days off from Rads, she is up to the last 4 boosters (I thought she said she was done) anyways, she started boosting again today and sure enough the "rash" reoccurred. They told her she needed to complete her treatment, she had to persevere (and I agree, although I know that is her choice), NO FEVER though. 3 more days of boosting.  hugs t

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  • Kindergarten
    Kindergarten Member Posts: 4,869
    edited May 2012

    Hi, TerriD, Wow, it has got to be frustrating for you and your mom, that the rash reoccurred, but thank goodness no fever. Is it possible to have an allergic reaction to the boosts. It has been almost 8 years since I had radiation, so I am not sure what the new procedures are, but it is sad that your mom has to suffer like that. Countdown for 3 more!!!! Prayers are coming and Hugs!!! Kathy

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