Skin mets?

SaraD · 02-28-2007, 11:48 PM

Skin mets- these are more like firm nodules under my skin, not itchy, not painful (yet); one is kind of reddish, about 1/2 inch in size. I have 4 and they biopsied one of them. One on back, two on chest, one on scalp.

There is a pharmaceutical trial coming up soon using lapatinib with something else; you must have breast cancer in your skin somewhere to be on it. It is opening down in Oregon I think. I will write again when I get more info. A doc in Oregon is opening it at the Oregon University Hospital.

thanks for the info! sara

Taffy · 03-01-2007, 02:43 AM

I don't have IBC but have been staged as Stage 3C because I have skin mets over my affected breast. These look like little bumps under my skin ... subcutaneous nodules was how my onc described them. They are only on my chest and I have about five. I don't have any anywhere else. I am on Herceptin by itself and this has reduced the tumour I had in my right breast to nothing! I had a mammo a couple of months ago and there was no sign of cancer!

Sandy, can I ask you how many skin mets you have and where they are? Do new ones pop up or do they remain stable?

Thank you in advance.

Taffy.

Sandy H · 03-01-2007, 07:39 AM

Hi Taffy, I have had skin mets for at least 5 years now. It started out as a red, itchy, burning rash looks like a sand paper area. Now, I have three small nodules that are red and hard. Very different now. They are close to the mastectomy scar and they come from the scar although may not be visible but will appear close to the scar. They will not appear else where on the body only on the chest, now they can spread away from the chest area if they get out of control. They can start out itching and burning with no visable signs. You can type in skin mets and hit search you should find some pictures however, they pertain to IBC am not sure if skin mets with IBC is the same as with just BC. I hope this helps please feel free to e-mail if you wish. Good luck to you, hugs Sandy

Taffy · 03-02-2007, 01:44 AM

Sandy,

Thank you so much for your reply. Yes, I too had the 'sandpaper' area. I was misdiagnosed with eczema! It wasn't until they felt the lump in my breast that they jumped into action. I had Taxotere for the lump but that didn't do much at all so I was put on Herceptin alone and that cleared it up completely. The skin has also healed nicely just leaving a few bumps but the red sandpapery look has gone.

My onc is keeping his eye on the few remaining nodules (they look like the ones you described) but they're not growing or doing anything so he is happy with them. If they do grow or more appear then I will be put on Capcitabine. So far so good though!

I feel so reassure reading your posts, Sandy. They make me feel that there is hope for me. When I was first diagnosed (for the second time, I had bc four years ago in my other breast and had a mastectomy) I went to pieces but reading posts like yours make me feel much better. Thank you so much, Sandy. God bless you.

Hope to chat again to you,

love and hugs,
Taffy.

atdec05 · 03-26-2007, 07:45 AM

Hi,

I've had some red bumps on my mastectomy area. 4 were removed and 2 were cancerous. My pathology report lists it as recurrent IDC, but they are 'dermal lymphatic'. I've since had a couple of new spots, 1 on my mastectomy side and one on my leg. The one on my leg seems to be going away.

What is the difference between skin mets and recurrent IDC that is dermal lymphatic? Or are they the same?

- Anna

Sandy H · 03-26-2007, 02:10 PM

I am not sure how to answer your question. I know when ever my skin mets pop up they call it (its stated on the doctor's note)a reoccurence. Than, we have had this discussion that its always there waiting to pop up so now what do you think? I have been told by several docs there is no cure for true skin mets. There are a few people that say theirs went away and never came back. My oncologist says than they were not true skin mets. I know mine never went away completely and the people I am in touch with are the same. I can tell you they are not life threatening as long as they are kept localized in the chest wall but do need to be treated when they do pop up. They do not occur on the leg or away from the chest area. Anything that comes up away from the chest is not skin mets. Wishing tou well. hugs Sandy

atdec05 · 03-27-2007, 06:17 AM

Hi Sandy,

I'm still trying to figure out my diagnosis for my recurrence. I just talked to a dr. who gave me a second opinion. He said he would not characterize the recurrences (near mastectomy site) as secondary IBC, but as skin mets. Though he said since it was regional, he would still say it was curable, hence recommending an aggressive treatment of TCH & radiation.

I will meet with my onc. tomorrow and one more doctor on Monday.

- Anna