Chronic Recurring Cellulitis Treatment(s)

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Katarina
Katarina Member Posts: 386
edited June 2014 in Stage III Breast Cancer
Chronic Recurring Cellulitis Treatment(s)
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  • Katarina
    Katarina Member Posts: 386
    edited July 2012

    I'm on my 4rth visit to the hospital in a year since my BMX with breast cellulitis. I am now thinking this might become a regular thing.

     I know cellulitis is related to surgery, radiation and lymph node removal and I've also been diagnosed with Lymphedema. 

    What I don't know is has anyone successfully treated and reversed chronic recurrences?  What treatment(s) worked or at least helped reduce this event?

    I've always found this forum the best place to get experienced answers.  

    Hugs,

    Kat 

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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited July 2012

    Hi Kat,

    I have not had experience with this, but I'm sure someone here will stop in and give you some answers.  Also you might want to try the girls on the lymphedema forum.  I'm sorry you are going thru all this stuff since your BMX. Sending you lots of hugs.

    image

    Barb

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  • jennyboog
    jennyboog Member Posts: 1,322
    edited July 2012

    I'm no help either Kat, I've never had this.  It sounds terrible and annoying, I hope you get relief soon and some answers.

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  • Katarina
    Katarina Member Posts: 386
    edited July 2012

    Thank you Barb and Jenny.

    It affects 8% of breast cancer patients but can be chronic. I have seen people say they've had 10 or more trips to the hospital but nobody offering what they finally did to resolve it.

    I can't believe it would be chronic with no solution. 

    Hugs,

    Kat 

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  • jennyboog
    jennyboog Member Posts: 1,322
    edited July 2012

    Wow Kat, I never heard of this and was never told about it either.  I had one area several weeks after rads that appeared, it was red and sore but it was determined to be a "boil-like" thing and went away on it's on.  I've known some patients to have cellulitis from other illnesses and it can be tough...I truely hope this is not a chronic issue for you.

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  • Gitane
    Gitane Member Posts: 1,885
    edited July 2012

    I had cellulitis after my SNB.  I was totally wiped out by it.  I have never been so weak in my life.  My breast and side were red and hot.  After IV antibiotics and oral antibiotics it cleared up.  I haven't had a recurrence of it since, and am so grateful.  It's scary.  I'm really sorry you are dealing with this and hope they can come up with successful treatment for you.  Hugs.

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  • Katarina
    Katarina Member Posts: 386
    edited July 2012

    Thank you ladies for the support and well wishes. 

    I had a nurse come up to my room this morning (my nurse requested her help) and she said she had recurring cellulitis for years before she then decided to just lose the implants and go without.  In her case though she said she had recurrences all the time and from the git-go whereas mine are spaced out. Longest period for me free of cellulitis has been 5 months. She, being a nurse, is also able to administer IV antiobiotics to herself at home so that's one reason she endured it for years. Apparently from her experience there is no real cure other than praying you don't get a recurrence, staying clear of variables that cause it (magic), changing the recon approach to DIEP, or opting out. 

    I do wonder if opting out (going flat) eliminates recurrences though. I have read that you can get cellulitis even if you've never had any recon. The RN thought breast cellulitis was really radiation therapy driven and if you've had your axillary lymph nodes removed as the critical risk factors. Good piece of info to know. 

    I'm so grateful to find support from sisters. Angels come from everywhere and unexepectantly.

    It's all about faith too :-)

    Hugs,

    Kat 

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  • grayson
    grayson Member Posts: 12
    edited July 2012

    I'm sorry about your difficulties with cellulitis....I've struggled as well. Your best advice will come from your medical team. I don't want to imply that I have the answers for you but I'll share my experiences.

    My doc reinforced that I need to go to the ER at the first signs of redness and fever. It progresses pretty quickly. In the ER I'm put on IV antibiotics for several hours and then sent home with a prescription for oral antibiotic. They always do a culture to try to determine the type of bacteria. On 3 occasions, the ER docs admitted me to the hospital and each time I was in for 3 days on IV antibiotics and then sent home with oral antibiotics.  I met with an infectious disease specialist over the course of a few years for follow-ups. I now have an oral antibiotic with me that I begin at the first signs of infection. Doing so has helped reduce the severity of the infections.  I'm also very aware of any cuts or "knicks" and carry antibiotic cream with me to use right away. I always wear long sleeves and gloves in the garden, etc, to protect my arm and hand.  All of that has helped. Lymphatic massage also seems to help. A lymphedema therapist told me that compression wrapping and massage should not be done during an active infection. 

    It helps to recognize the earliest signals that an infection is beginning and start treatment before it progresses. I know how very discouraging this can be but don't give up.  I am managing so much better now and I hope you will be too.

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  • Katarina
    Katarina Member Posts: 386
    edited July 2012

    Wow, thank you Grayson, great advise.

    I too have an oral antibiotic but it wasn't strong enough to help me out on this one. I didn't have a fever or any real symptoms other than my breast turned red and was tight and tender pretty fast. I got in to see my PS right away. I'm bad however when it comes to nicks and cuts (very naturally clumsy) and don't take precautions on limiting my arm movements. I guess I need to be more careful here too.

    Hugs,

    Kat 

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  • everyminute
    everyminute Member Posts: 1,805
    edited July 2012

    I have had issues with cellulitis. 

     My first flare up was in my breast right after radiation.  Wasn't bad, just pink and wasnt really sure if it was a lingering radiation reaction or cellulitis.  10 days on antibiotics

    3 months later an episode - same breast (6 days iv antibioics and 6 weeks oral)

    a few months later an episode on my arm (iv and oral)

    again in my breast

    again on my arm

    Last episode was april of 2010. 

    My plastic surgeon thought it was breast implant related but I ended up with an infectious disease doctor (because no one else knew what to do with me) who said sometimes bc survivors get it repetatively but that episodes start spacing out further and further. 

    That being said, the last time I had it he thought I was going to need implant removed.  Adn that was over 2 years ago.

    His advice - which seems to work for me

    Always use antibacterial soap in shower (like dial bar soap) on whole body.  It cuts down on overall bacterial load.

    Once a week use a antibacterial soap like they give you for pre surgery (I have never done that). 

    Take oral antibioitic at the first sign of "not feeling well"

    He felt /feels it takes your body some time to figure out how to reroute bacteria and infection after surgery (and in my case lymph nodes removed)

    PM me if I can be of any other help.

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  • everyminute
    everyminute Member Posts: 1,805
    edited July 2012

    Honestly I think the dial soap is the key.  Our body has little micro openings all the time and that area is not very well protected because it is compromised from surgery, radiation, lymph node removal, lymphedema.  So keeping the bacterial load down helps.

    Also keep hands clean, use sanitizer, watch any cuts, etc

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  • Katarina
    Katarina Member Posts: 386
    edited July 2012

    Thank you everyminute. It's nice to know you didn't need to have your implant removed and your occurences have stopped.

     My situation is similar to yours: 

    1st attack immediately following radiation (6 days in the hospital)

    2nd attack 2 months later (hospital/IV)

    3rd attack 4 month after 2nd (hospital/IV)

    4th attack 3 months after 3rd (hospital/IV) 

    5th attack 5 months after 4rth (hospital/IV)

    My last stay was the longest. I believe my body is building up a resistance to the Vancomysin and Zyosin.

    Would you share what IV and oral antibiotics worked for you and did you have to switch?  

    I am going to any length now to avoid a 6th attack.

    I agree with your ID doctor. 8% of us get this on a recurring basis and it's lymphatic drainage and bacterial in nature.

    Hugs,

    Kathleen 

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  • everyminute
    everyminute Member Posts: 1,805
    edited July 2012

    Do you wash daily with antibacterial soap?  and once a month for a week with rx strength surgical soap?  Prevention is the key.

    I was on levoquin the first time (bad tendon damage - and I am a runner) 

    I have a standing Keflex oral and I think they gave me vanco also the last time for IV.

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  • Katarina
    Katarina Member Posts: 386
    edited July 2012

    I don't wash everyday with an antibacterial as my physician said it would lower your resistance over time. If it works for you though then that's what matters. Have you had a recurrence since using it?

    Keflex wasn't strong enough for me. Augmentum works and so does my new drug which I can't spell or pronounce.

    I do you use a surgical cleanser on occassion.

     Hugs,

    Kat 

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  • everyminute
    everyminute Member Posts: 1,805
    edited July 2012

    I use dial antibacterial soap in the shower every day.  Have not had a flare up since I started using it but that could be coincidental.  I don't know if dial antibacterial soap is strong enough to build up resistance to or not but I guess anything is possible.  Growing up my dad always used dial in the shower too - think he just liked the smell!

    I have never used the surgical cleaner - dr. prescribed it, I just never filled the script.

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  • Katarina
    Katarina Member Posts: 386
    edited August 2012

    I've just gone back to Dial antibacterial soap. I think the old tried and true products are better than the new fufu stuff we can buy anywhere. Thank you for the suggestion. I feel cleaner than body gels and other new generation products anyway.

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