Pink Breast After First Radiotherapy?

Hi Dedalus welcome to the forum and sorry to hear how worried that you are.

Im wondering if you can ask to see the Breast Nurse or the Oncologist as you are so worried. I am wondering also if this could be a bit of Breast Lymphoedema beginning with the redness? Does the skin look like orange peel? The reason  I ask is thats what happened with me and my  breast was completely pink or at least one half of it was. If it is Lymphoedema it is perfectly treatable but someone does need to look at that to determine if it is that.

Breast Lymphoedema is rare but it does happen and it does need treatment as the breast can look swollen I used to call mine my little alien as it was misshapen as well. Radiotherapy will make it worse before it gets better if thats what it turns out to be but Radiotherapy does need to happen. Ask the Radiographer when you go for your next session.

I would be surprised if it was the R1 and R2 as these do seem to be recommended by folks on here as being the best cream you can get for use during Radiotherapy. 

Please do let us know how you get on and hopefully you get some answers.xxxx

Hi Gail.

Sorry for the belated reply.

There is no orange peel look to the skin.

As I said the whole lower half of my wife's breast was quite pink after surgery and this persisted for the next 11 weeks.  The radiotherapy has made this lower half of her breast pinker.

Ideally, we would have preferred a physical examination by a specialist in the weeks after surgery, but we appear to be in a new NHS reality.  

She has now had 3 of the 5 sessions and the lower half of her breast and around her wound and nipple is a brighter pink.  Thankfully she has virtually no pain or discomfort thus far and she feels well.

It is a pity that after the difficulty we had obtaining the R1 and R2 she was told not to use it after her first day of application.  They had no knowledge of R1 and R2 but suggested this could be causing the increased pinkness.  My wife has had to follow their directions so is currently not applying anything.  She is simply gently showering the treated area.

They said she could use E45 but my wife has really sensitive skin and had a reaction to the E45 when she tested it on her arm a week before the RT.  She did a similar test with the R1/R2 before the RT and there was no adverse reaction.

We now really don't know what to do if her skin deteriorates in the weeks after her RT session is finished.

D

I've done this twice and its disappeared so I'm doing this in brief.

The Orange peel appears if you apply pressure to the pink area. It's very obvious why it's called Orange peel if it appears, but you need to apply pressure with fingers flat.

I had 15 sessions, two then a weekend. The breast by Monday was very pink but I knew from past experience that it was too soon to be the Rt. The technicians agreed and sent me to a BC nurse. She was sure it was an infection and got the Doc who bowed to her experience and prescribed antibiotics. 

I've since been diagnosed with lymphedema in my breast. The fluid is literally stagnating in the breast hence the infection.

I had radiotherapy at Jimmies a centre of excellence in the treatment of cancer. Very experienced therapists.They also advised against using any sort of lotion or cream. 

This was pre C19 the therapy now of just 5 sessions must be totally different. 

I do believe that the experts are just that and I have great faith in them but if I wasn't happy I would start stamping my feet. I'd do it gently at first but I wouldn't leave the hospital until I'd seen someone else. The five session treatment is new so they are learning too but if you are worried stand your ground. Heat in an area and redness is often a sign of infection. The pain I experience is similar to pain I had when my kids slept through the night when I was breast feeding.

I hope you get sorted soon and this has helped. Now fingers crossed.

Thanks for your helpful advice Silverberg.

We tried the 2 finger pressure test, but there was no obvious orange peel appearance.

My wife doesn't like to take an antibiotic without evidence.  She is going to first ask if a blood test would indicate an infection ie through increased white blood cells.

How were they subsequently able to diagnose lymphoedema in your breast?  Did they aspirate or scan?  I ask because my wife's breast is significantly pink, tender and swollen around the areolar in particular.

Did they continue with the radiotherapy despite your infection?

Did you feel unwell or have a temperature?  My wife feels quite well with no temperature.  Her breast feels heavier, uncomfortable with moderate heat after the RT, but no significant pain.   Apart from the significant pinkness, most of the foregoing subside by the following morning, but then it is rinse and repeat!  There is a constant tightness in her axillary area when she reaches up, although no obvious swelling.

I did note that some radiotherapy units don't believe in applying creams etc.  So far there are no breaks or blisters.  We may have to try a test area with the R2 again before this happens.  Did you avoid creams or gels?

D

Hi D i have used Vaseline Aloe vera moisturiser and the cooling gel. I was very itchy and pink so have changed to aveeno and have noticed a difference so that might be an idea to try. Hope this helps  

Dragonfly1970

Your wife does not appear to have lymphedema or an infection. Radiotherapy is not without side effects but it is effective treatment for cancer. The skin is affected but it recovers. 

I've had BC twice, with a 14 year gap. I have tightness in both sides. The first time I had full node clearance. I do yoga to help and often do stretches. It's part of the new normal me.

Perhaps you need to relax a little. Having blood taken is a risk. There is no evidence of infection so why take the risk.