I have recently been diagnosed with secondary BC. The skin on and around my nipple (a large area about 15cm square) is horrendously sore and inflamed and weeping. I have dressings to change every day, but it is incredibly painful, so am on strong painkillers, which help a bit.
My question is really is this going to improve/heal? I am due to start chemotherapy again soon, just awaiting some final test results.
Thanks
Hi MrsHutt,
Thanks for contacting Macmillan Cancer Support and welcome to the online community. It’s great to see that you’ve joined some of our forums already, I hope that you’re finding them supportive.
I’m sorry to read that your breast cancer has returned and is affecting the skin around your nipple and causing you so much pain. It’s completely understandable that you have questions about what to expect in terms of any improvement in your symptoms.
As nurses on the support line were not part of the NHS and don’t have access to medical records so we’re unable to give specific advice, however, we can certainly give general information and support.
Chemotherapy is often used to treat secondary breast cancer that has spread to the skin. The aim of the treatment is to relieve your symptoms, improve your quality of life and slow the growth of the cancer. Potential benefits can be an improvement to the skin and reduction in the pain the cancer is causing.
It can take some time to know whether your cancer is responding to the treatment. In the meantime it’s important that your pain is well managed. If the medication that you’re taking now isn’t relieving your pain or your skin is deteriorating we’d always advise you to speak to your team or GP as soon as possible. They can review you and adjust your painkillers. They may also refer you to a tissue viability nurse who specialises in managing cancer wounds and advising on the most appropriate dressings.
If you have an urgent concern about your symptoms and are unable to contact your GP or team you can call NHS 111 at any time 24 hours a day for medical advice.
I hope that this helps. Please don’t hesitate to get back in touch if you have further questions or would like to talk things through.
If you have a breast cancer nurse it may also help to talk to them, as they have access to your medical records and can answer any specific questions you have.
Best wishes
Rachel C.
Macmillan Cancer Information Nurse Specialist
our ref: KM
