Recurring Cellulitis

Hey, everyone. I’m new to this site.

First of all, I wanted to tell every single one of you that whether you’re a survivor, currently going through treatment, or awaiting answers you are truly an inspiration to me. My mom is a 10 year survivor and, while I may not know the struggle first hand, breast cancer has forever changed my life.

With that being said, I reach out to you all for answers. I’m concerned. As aforementioned, my mom went through breast cancer treatment 10 years ago. My memory is horrible so I don’t want to lie and tell you how long she’s been cancer free, but hers was detected early and she had minimal complications. So after her initial rounds of chemical and radiation she was virtually cancer free. She had a lumpectomy/breast conservation surgery and in order for her radiation to take she had to have a mild breast reduction (even still her breasts are still pretty large. I think she’s like a DD or DDD). Her only complication is her wound dehisced and she developed cellulitis.

Fast forward to January of 2019. Her left breast became red, hot to touch, and she had malaise. She went to the doctor, they gave her a shot of Rocephin, and prescribed her oral Keflex. She it cleared up. I thought nothing of it. This past Saturday morning she woke up with the same symptoms. She’d been feeling like crap for a couple of days, but she said the erythema of her left breast developed almost over night. Me being a nurse, I told her she needed to go to the ED and get seen for antibiotics ASAP. She went and they gave her an other shot of rocephin and prescribed Keflex again. She’s been been onthe antibiotics going on the 5th day. The redness is starting to clear up and she said she’s instantly felt better the Sunday after getting the Rocephin at the ED. She’s following up with her oncologist on Friday.

This wait feels eerily familiar to when she’s was first diagnosed with cancer many years ago. It doesn’t help that help isn’t the most optimistic. She has this sense of doom and says her biggest fear is her cancer coming back.

My question is, is cellulitis common in breast cancer survivors? Even starting 10 years after treatment? And is it normal to have 2 bouts of it in the span of 4 months? She has diabetes and mild Lymphedema which makes her a little more susceptible as well.

Everything I’ve researched about cellulitis is related to it occurring during treatment, but not after it. I just want some reassurance because this is going to drive me crazy until we get answers.

Thanks for any responses!