Is This Normal?

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Lilyluv
Lilyluv Member Posts: 160
edited June 2014 in Radiation Therapy - Before, During, and After

Yesterday was day 4 of rads and my breast itched for about an hour afterward by my incision line and nipple (odd thing is I don't even have sensation along my incision - how can it itch?). Also had intermittant itching in the evening. Same thing today on day 5. The incision line has gotten a little deeper color and it's  pink and puffy around the end of it (I'm not scratching it). 

Not applying any creams or fragrance, not using deoderant soap,
and using the same unscented laundry soap I always do, and not using any
fabric softener. So that rules out allergies.

I thought skin reactions, if any, weren't supposed to happen until after the second or third week?  

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  • ziggypop
    ziggypop Member Posts: 1,071
    edited February 2014

    Hi Lilyluv - I've heard of reactions occurring early on and then going away, but the other thing is that the itching might just be from the scar itself - I've had a lot of itching in my breast both prior to and after rads & it seems to be worst along the incision line (does seem strange since there's no 'feeling' there). I would not worry too much about it - ask your RO  (if your techs were like mine you might want to ask them- they've seen everything), there might be a lotion you could use. Also - you might start feeling (if you haven't yet some sharp shooting pains (they feel kind of 'electric') those are tissues healing & nerves regenerating. 

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  • Moderators
    Moderators Member Posts: 25,912
    edited February 2014

    Lilyluv, as well as ziggypop's helpful suggestions, the Managing Skin Side Effects section of the main Breastcancer.org site has background and advice that may be useful for you.

    Best wishes.

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  • Kicks
    Kicks Member Posts: 4,131
    edited February 2014

    Talk to your DR.  Weren't you given skin care education by the DR or his/her PA/RN?  Given samples of creams to use?

     We are each so unique so there is no 'hard and fast rule' of how we will react to 'anything'.  I can only speak for myself.  I did all I was told to do to protect my skin and had no problems with skin until day 24.  Got slightly pink that day.  Day 25 (last scheduled day) I got a very slight 'sunburn'.  Next morning the entire radiated area was blistered and 'open' and it got worse with time.  Last rad was early March - last scab came off late June.   Not telling you this to scare you of what might happen but to encourage you to do all you can to care for your skin - there are some things that do help.

    How recent was your surgery?  I had 16 weeks between UMX and starting rads (3 weeks post surgery started 12 weekly Taxol and a week after last Taxol started rads).

     

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  • Lilyluv
    Lilyluv Member Posts: 160
    edited February 2014

    Thanks ziggypop, Moderators, and Kicks.     Kicks, Yikes...that's some reaction!   The nurse just told me to tell her if I need lotions along the way, and not to use anything someone else suggests. No samples though.  My surgery was mid December.  Three weeks or so after surgery I developed a bad rash and itching covering about 2/3 of my breast and running up towards my shoulder (looked I had a demi bra made out of pink itchy skin).  Surgeon didn't know what it was. (she looked at me and literally said "I've never seen anything like this before - I don't know WHAT that is!"  So she just stood there not knowing what to do).  Well that was comforting.  :-(       So she brought in another surgeon and his best guess was that it was a reaction to steri strips.  She prescribed cortisone lotion and double Benedryl 3x day.  Why a pharmaceutical co. puts floral scent in something that treats allergies is anyone's guess, but it didn't help.  Benedryl didn't do anything either.  So then it was a course of pred for 6 days.  It's hard to describe how badly it itched.  Like having your boob sunk in a bucket of mosquitos.    I had my setup a couple of weeks ago when it finally stopped itching and was looking almost flesh toned again.  What a relief not having that itching! 

    My breast has never gone back to pre-rash appearance though.  It's pink and puffed up under my nipple with big pores in that area, my nipple turns yellow when it's cold and inverts and crinkles.  My breast was still almost imperceptibly  pink when I started rads this week but the itching has been long gone until yesterday.  So it's unknown what caused the rash that wouldn't leave - steri strips, internal stitches or whatever.  I had steri strips for the vaccuum core biopsy incision and didn't have a problem, so go figure.   I'd rather get pain than than go through that 24/7 itching torture again. I didn't scratch - just sort of tucked my arm next to it and brushed my arm against it now and then.   Doc and nurse always meet with you on Mondays, so I'll ask about what to do for it. Just didn't know that you could get side effects so soon. 

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