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Re: Post radiation breast cellulitis - risk of reoccurance?
I saw the breast surgeon today - routine followup - and he told me it is quite rare, so they don't have a lot of data on reoccurance. However, he thought it is unlikely to reoccur again, especially as I get further and further out from radiation and surgery and as my post-radiation immune system recovers. You are right @fairydust that the infection needs an entry point and I'm not expecting any trauma to the breast from gardening, etc. I finally finished the oral antibiotics today and can start probiotics. I can't imagine anything is alive in my gut!17ViewsSign in to react to this post0CommentsRe: Post radiation breast cellulitis - risk of reoccurance?
Thanks fairydust and Marg for your reassurance and kind thoughts. I know that broken skin is the route for bacterial infection, and I had a raw and very sore nipple. It has healed now and I have no reason to expect further breast or nipple injury - long since finished breastfeeding! I friend has lymphoedema in her arm following mastectomy and node removal. She has had several episodes of cellulitis in her arm and has been told that the impaired lymphatic drainage puts her at risk when she has e.g. a gardening injury. That's what made me wonder about my breast being more susceptible.ViewsSign in to react to this postCommentsPost radiation breast cellulitis - risk of reoccurance?
I had a lumpectomy for early breast cancer in February, one sentinel lymph node removed and clear, and finished 23 sessions of radiation about 3 weeks ago. Chemo is not necessary. I had Mepitel film on my breast throughout the radiation and it was great at preventing burns and minimising skin damage, although a nuisance to have to keep dry. I managed to keep in in place for nearly 2 weeks after finishing radiation, as recommended, and that gave the skin layers underneath a chance to heal. When it was first applied, my nipple was bent/squashed down sideways and there it stayed for about 8 weeks. When I took the film off, the skin on the underside of the nipple and the areola under it was white and macerated, and smelt like rotten feet. I gave it a few days to heal in the air, but it didn't heal and was very sore. I showed it to the oncologist as I had an appointment. She had it swabbed as she didn't want to prescribe anything till she knew what bugs and/or thrush it grew. Before I could get the results, I came down with breast cellulitis, which they said was caused by an infection (from the nipple) getting into the irradiated breast. Four days in hospital having IV antibiotics and now another week on oral antibiotics. Fortunately the bugs we not nasty, resistant ones. My questions are - would the removal of one lymph node predispose me to developing breast cellulitis, and am I at risk of getting it again? If so, is the risk forever, or just in this post radiation period?ViewsSign in to react to this postCommentsRe: Radiation and Mepitel Film to prevent Burns?
Be aware that the viscose bamboo bras above are 75% nylon and 22% viscose from bamboo. The latter has recently been exposed as having been made with highly toxic chemicals that are really bad for workers' health. I thought these bras looked good, but having read up on viscose I would not consider using them against my skin, especially after radiation. Once bamboo is made into viscose, it does not have trhe health-promoting properties of bamboo. See: http://www.abc.net.au/catalyst/stories/3251919.htm and numerous other reports about the viscose industry.ViewsSign in to react to this postCommentsRe: Radiation and Mepitel Film to prevent Burns?
The clinic at the Royal Hobart Hospital (our only radiotherapy option here is public) did not mention Mepitel by name, but did mention during my pre-radiotherapy appointment that there is something they can stick on the skin to protect it. They said it does not stick well on women who sweat more, which is not me. It sounded like an option I could try if I wanted, so it is useful to come across this thread. It sounds like it is worth trying.ViewsSign in to react to this postComments
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