Itchy, Burning Skin When I Get Hot

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TheTallGirl
TheTallGirl Member Posts: 5
edited March 2015 in Chemotherapy - Before, During, and After

I am new to posting to the boards, but I followed them through my treatment. I was diagnosed in January 2013, double mastectomy Febuary, AC/T started and of Febuary, chemo completed June 3, radiation completed end of July. All during chemo when I would get hot my skin would itch and burn. I thought it would go away after the chemo was out of my system. I know it probably isn't totally out, but I thought I would see progress. I don't sweat like I used to just get a little clammy. I'm wondering if I just can sweat enough to get it out of my body. I have tried everything I know of to detox.

Has anyone else had this problem this long. I have read about people having rashes and itching, but I've never had a rash. I came through treatment pretty well. This is one of the most aggravating side effects I've had that has lasted long term. I need to make it stop. I am looking forward to summer and being out with my boys. I don't have time for this. Does anyone have any suggestions or been through this before? I am trying my best to take as few meds as possible. Thanks

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  • Charlottesmommy
    Charlottesmommy Member Posts: 36
    edited March 2015

    Have you tried using fragrance and paraben free skin and haircare pproducts? Those sound like my skin symptoms, but they started a few yeare before cancer.

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  • TheTallGirl
    TheTallGirl Member Posts: 5
    edited March 2015

    I have cut out all fragrance and paraben products. I only use home made goats milk lotion and no longer wear my perfume. It seems to itch worse down the middle of my back and my chest. It's like little ants stinging me.

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  • Moderators
    Moderators Member Posts: 25,912
    edited March 2015

    Welcome to joining BCO as an active member. We often wonder how many people read this forum without joining, but the forum is still a valuable source of information for those too. We hope someone can help with a suggestion that works as sweating or even just feeling clammy is very uncomfortable.

    All the best

    The Mods

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  • Beatmon
    Beatmon Member Posts: 1,562
    edited March 2015

    sometimes when I get a little hot I feel like needles are sticking into my skin.


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  • TheTallGirl
    TheTallGirl Member Posts: 5
    edited March 2015

    Bearmon that is one way of explaining it. I see I finished chemo about a month and half before you. I was hoping it would be better by this summer. I live in Oklahoma too. I was very thankful for our mild summer last year. I'm certainly not looking forward the the hot humid temps that are coming. I hope someone has some insight on when it might go away.

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  • tangandchris
    tangandchris Member Posts: 1,855
    edited March 2015

    Hi there :)

    I have to noticed the tingles, needles and burning sensations when I get warm/hot as well. I mostly feel it on my arms and it feels very strange.

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  • Jenwith4kids
    Jenwith4kids Member Posts: 635
    edited March 2015

    sounds a little like neuropathy, no? Have you asked your doc?

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  • TheTallGirl
    TheTallGirl Member Posts: 5
    edited March 2015

    I was taking Metanex for the neuropathy in my feet and now it is completely gone. This is a totally different feeling than that. I haven't asked my doctor. It seems like I always forget that one because I am usually freezing sitting there in my little paper top. I don't think about it much until I get hot. He would just have another med he wants to put me on. He and I butt heads a little.

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  • Deblc
    Deblc Member Posts: 479
    edited March 2015

    I had the same regimen as you, plus Herceptin during the 12-week taxol phase. During this time, I started to get hot flashes with awful prickling skin, like I was being stuck all over with needles. So uncomfortable!!!! I finished chemo end of May 2014, so this is almost 10 months later. I STILL have it, though not as bad, it is definitely decreasing in frequency. Where it used to be many times a day, it is now once in a while, not even once a week, usually when I get very hot. I read somewhere that others have experienced it from the taxol phase and that it does take a while to go away. I believe it is related to the neuropathy somehow, as I still have dryness/stiffness in my hands from the taxol; that's also gradually decreasing.

    I also still have very itchy skin, on my back mostly.

    I have read that it is not unusual for the neuropathy to last years, so I figure these are all se's from the taxol, although it could be from the Herceptin, who knows!!!

    Sorry that I have no recommendation for reliefas my MO claims this is not a se, so basically has ignored me, and has not recommended any meds for it. I'm just hoping in time it will all disappear.

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  • TheTallGirl
    TheTallGirl Member Posts: 5
    edited March 2015

    I love how the doctors say that our crazy pains, feelings and other off the wall stuff is not a side effect. If they haven't been through it themselves they need to have a more open mind. Just because it's not written in a book somewhere or on an IPad ap somewhere doesn't mean it's not a side effect. If it wasn't there before treatment I feel like it is a side effect.

    I read an article the other day that doctors compare us to dead people, and we should just be thankful we are still alive. We compare ourselves to our normal selves, and we just want that back. There is a big difference.

    I asked my doctor to feel under my arm because it was hard and very tender still. My surgery was over a year ago. He told me that's just your anatomy now to get used to it. My radiation oncologist told me it was scar tissue and her massage therapist could help. So now I see her once a week, and she is trying to break it up. I wonder if part of the difference is my MO is male and my RO is female. Sometimes I feel like the men have no clue. Sorry that is my rant for the day.


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