strange rash???

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Hi everyone,

I finished rads at the end of May and although I had awful radiation burn at the time, it’s all healed up pretty well (except for the lung damage but that’s another story!). However over the last few days I’ve started to develop a nasty rash that follows the pattern and shape of where I was zapped. It’s not itchy as such but quite painful.

I will be seeing my GP tomorrow and will ask him about it but I wondered if anyone else had experienced something similar?

Nymeria x

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Hi Nymeria, i haven’t had experience of it but shingles can often come up when the immune system is low & is a very painful rash. Do u think it may be something like that? x

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I must admit that thought did occur to me but having had shingles in the past I’m pretty sure it’s not that. It’s weird that it is following the exact outline of where I was zapped. All jolly strange so it’ll be interesting to hear what GP has to say about it tomorrow.

Nymeria x

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Hi Nymeria

It happened to me, I’d finished the rads and started chemo and one morning I thought my bottom is sore. I’d had rads to hip and spine for bone secs and the area’s were I’d had the rads really red and sore. My onc thought the chemo (tax) had started the rads of again, he said it was rare but had been seen before although not by him.

I see that you arnt on chemo though but it sounds very similar to mine.

Sue xx

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Hi Nymeria,

If the rash is hot as well as painful it could be an infection. Not unknown after Rads.

Good that you are seeing your GP tomorrow.

Let us know how you get on.

E

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Well the jury’s out on what it might be. My GP says it looks like shingles but he’s not 100% convinced and thinks it’s also possible that it’s an infection. So at the moment it’s a case of wait a few days and see what happens and then go back and see him again on Friday.

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If it is shingles shouldn’t you be started on anti virals as soon as possible?

I had shingles over my face and scalp in 2005 and the GP wanted me onto them asap and phoned the pharmacy for me.

I really hope it’s not shingles Nymeria. Poor old you, you seem to lurch from one thing to another- it’s just not fair. I’d take on some of it if I could, to help you out.
Big hug Diana x

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Oh thank you Diana - that’s so sweet of you! xx

Unfortunately I left it a few days before going to see the doctor so a course of Acyclovir won’t make any difference now. I wish I’d got an earlier appointment now! :frowning:

One step forward, two steps back - the wonderful life that bc gives us all!

Nymeria x

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hi nymeria. Hope the rash clears up soon- it’s probably nothing serious. But if it worsens I would defo let ur breast surgeon/ onc take a look if it is on your affected side. GPs don’t tend to have much specific knowledge when it comes to bc!
All the best x

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I’m lucky in that my GP is pretty good with all this sort of thing but he also knows when something needs dealing with by my surgeon or onc and I think we’ll be making that decision when I see him on Friday.