Breast redness and swelling 8 months after radiation therapy

I had breast cellulitis last week for the first time since finishing radiation two and a half years ago. I didn't have fever either, just redness around the nipple and lower half of my breast. My oncologist prescribed Doxycycline and I am going back to see him on Thursday. So scary not knowing how this happened and how to prevent it from happening again. I read somewhere that if you have it once, you are more likely to get it again in the future

LMS: I had radiation in May 2017. 5 days 2x a day accelerated radiation. I wish I had never had it. It has been a nightmare! 2 weeks after radiation all the skin fell off my breast. Excruciating pain!! The RO said "we never see this" -- he either lied or is incompetent. (I think lied). He acted like he didn't know what to do. He finally prescribed pain meds, antibiotics and sulfadine cream. I had to apply it 2x a day and wear a bandage. I was basically bedridden for 6 months. I kept going back to him but he didn't know what to do. Recommended oxygen chamber but the closest was a long drive and I had other medical problems and the pain and there was no way I could tolerate that. I asked him could it be cellulitis (I had it before in my elbow). he said he "didn't think so" I said how to you know? He couldn't answer that. He referred me back to the surgeon's office!! the NP in the surgeons office asked why was I calling them?? She called the RO and chewed him out and made him see me. He then referred me to the Infectious Disease Clinic where I saw an NP. After 2 weeks and another round of antibiotics, a Dr looked at it and said it wasn't cellulitis but was radiation inflammation and lymphedema. Referred me back to the RO. I asked for a different RO. Got a woman Dr who put me on Pentoxifylline and Vitamin E for 4 months, which worked in about a month. She also referred me to physical therapy which helped a great deal. I had already ordered one of the lympedema pad to wear in my bra but the PT was going to give me one. I was only wearing it during the day. She said wear it 24x7. I was wearing it under my arm but she said move it to the front where it covers the entire breast. That also helped. Within 4 months it it was much better but still red, swollen and sore but more tolerable. I also have fibrosis. Massaging helps. Stretching my arm back behind me also helps. I can feel the tissue stretch. It seems to help drain the fluid. I also have swelling in my arm and hand. I keep it elevated as much as possible. The only way for them to know if it's cellulitis is to do a punch biopsy. Hope this helps. I know how you feel. I would rather have had a mastectomy than radiation. I will never had radiation again. My choice based on my reactions to it. It is widely know as a side effect with certain groups. I found the info online. Tens of thousands of women experience it. The woman RO said that she doesn't do the accelerated radiation because of the side effects. I just wanted to get it over with and had no idea about the risk groups. If I remember, it was older women, large breasts, overweight, with anemia, diabetes or immune disorders. It will be a year the first week in May and my breast is still swollen, hot to the touch, still sore, but not as red. Sore but I can at least live with it. Ibuprofen helps but I can only take Tylenol because I have an ulcer. I also got severe pain in my ribs and they tried to tell me it was "referred pain" from my breast. Not true. I found it online. It's damage to the rib cartilage. I had that for 3 weeks and couldn't get out of bed without hold a pillow to my chest and screaming. She gave me nothing for that. I had a terrible year but did have a clear one-year mammogram so I'm trying to remain positive. Hugs!