Skin Rash

10-15-2005, 06:23 PM

I am 42 - three years post diagnosis. I have a rash on me which started a few days ago. It started on my stomach and was a little bit on arms and legs. I went to the Dr (yesterday) who said she thought it was a viral rash probably german measles. It has now become much thicker around my chest and neck area. It is quite itchy at times. My question is what do skin mets look like and what areas do they appear in. Thanks.

10-15-2005, 06:38 PM

Hi - I had ringworm on my cancer side breast only (of course!). I did some research. Skin mets would be most likely along your incision line. I guess they are little nodules almost like grains of rice.

Here are some examples
http://www.ibcsupport.org/pictures/skinmets.html

Take care!!!

Olivia

Lyn · 10-17-2005, 05:10 AM

Hi there, I don't think you need to worry about skin mets, it sounds very much like the rash my 34 year old son has only just gotten rid of, his doctor said it was an unexplainable rash and treated it with strong anti-histamines, and told him it should only last a few weeks and he was right. I suspect it was from stress but he says no, but a mother knows better. I believe it is a form of hives. I have had a fair amount of skin mets, and my experience has been that it first appeared just above the scar line and was treated successfully with Xeloda, the second time it appeared on the same side but on my neck and behind my ear where I had lymph gland involvement and it was treated this time with Navelbine, and now again on the remaining breast, it is confirmed with biopsy. I am still in treatment with nothing exciting to report in the way of results this time. Hives can be triggered by all sorts of things including the sun, but if in doubt have it checked out by a skin doc.

Love & Hugs Lyn

Cindi · 10-18-2005, 07:29 AM

Hello,

I agree with the other two ladies. Check it out with your doctor first. I have been dealing with skin mets for about 1 1/2 years now. Mine have all appeared in the chest area only. Never on my legs and such. Your case sounds like it could certainly be something other than skin mets. Please go and see your doctor. It's the best thing to do.

God Bless.
Cindi.

mickey · 10-18-2005, 08:55 AM

Can skin mets spread to the other breast or to organs?

Cindi · 10-18-2005, 09:16 AM

Mickey,

Yes, skin mets could spread to the other breast, to my understanding. Skin mets can lead to the spread of BC to other organs. But, so far so good for me.

It is my Onc.'s goal to stop the spread of the skin mets. The latest "cocktail" she has mixed up for me is Gemzar and Avastin. The rash is disminishing, so it seems HOPEful. I have another PET in two days, so I will know more after that.

Cindi

Sandy H · 10-18-2005, 12:34 PM

Cindy are you having PET scans to monitor the skin mets? I was told by Dana Farber that PET scans for me would be a waste of time and money because with skin involvement I would light up like a light bulb. I also have lots of scaring on my chest and I am sure that is part of the reason. Just curioius. hugs, Sandy

sherri · 10-18-2005, 11:35 PM

Sandy,
At Cure Seminar, it was a session about Herbs and Supplm. Tumeric was recommended for skin mets, it seems people had a very good response, when they put Tumeric on the skin. I knew Tumeric is highly recommended for Cancer, but this was new to me.

Cindi · 10-19-2005, 05:35 AM

Sandy,

It seems that the only time my Onc orders a PET scan is when I have progression. I was on Navelbine/Herc last fall, just in case...as I had a recurrence of 2 ancillary lymph nodes (2 years after original dx Apr of 2002). The only scan that found the 2nd lymph was a PET. Then the skin mets showed up. The Navelbine/Herc didn't work - progression. Then it was off to daily hypothermia rads for 2 1/2 months. After that Herceptin only for 2 months - progression of skin mets. Another PET to be sure it wasn't anywhere else. Now after 6 months of Xeloda and Cytoxan, I have new spot and radial plexus nerve damage that was radiating down my arm. They did an MRI and it came back "suspicious for cancer"....the radiologist couldn't be sure one way or the other (the nerve damage could have been from radiation). So, I think tomorrows PET is to take a look under my arm (where the radial plexus problem is) and again to check if there is cancer anywhere else.

Sandy, I read your messages in earnest. You are a longtime survivor of skin mets. I admire your courage and I try to learn what I can from your experience. My original dx was not for inflammatory ca, but my skin mets certainly have that component. I do not have nodules, just red areas that are "under the skin" in the dermal layer of the skin, so I've been told.

God Bless
Cindi.

Lisa · 10-19-2005, 05:43 AM

I had a similar rash (VERY ITCHY) when I was on Taxol/Herceptin/Zometa a few months back. Primarily on chest and stomach. No one (including dermatologist) could figure it out. I took little anti-histamines when it would start. After several weeks it finally disappeared.

Love and light,

Lisa

Lyn · 10-19-2005, 06:18 AM

To Cindy, Hi there, your scenario seems very much the same as Lolly's and mine. Only been having repeated node involvement and skin mets.My onc told me that skin mets won't kill me, that was reassuring, but still a pain in the butt. At the moment I am dealing with skin mets to my remaining breast as well as solid in breast. After having radiacal rads for this it is hard to tell if my new combo of Xeloda and Cycloblastin is working, still early days but it would be nice to be able to tell if this was making a difference.

Love & Hugs Lyn

Cindi · 10-19-2005, 10:37 AM

Lyn,

Yes, our stories are similar. I surely hope that your latest treatment will do the trick and give you a break for awhile. You SURELY deserve one. I haven't been at this as long as you, but I plan to be, if need be!

God's Healing to you,
Cindi.

Lyn · 10-20-2005, 07:07 AM

Hi Cindy, you are right there, I look at the trips to my oncology unit like going to one of those lady's parties, tupperware, you know what I mean, someone usually brings along a cheese cake or chocolates to have with our cuppas and we all chat and catch up, a bit different now I am back to three weekly treatments, but the weekly ones well that was something, I am cutting back on calories now, damn those sugar withdrawls they are worse than the treatment, and they all look forward to up dates on the latest treatments and the results of our members, we are so behind and backward in Australia I have to be proactive with treatments so all of the other patients are given the latest combinations without the Herceptin as well, I am still the only patient to be on Herceptin at our hospital, and it has just about been this way for the last 3 years, it is hard to believe I am so different to the rest, but then again I have alwasy said I am weird, keep smiling I always say.

Love & Hugs Lyn

Cindi · 10-24-2005, 06:00 AM

Lyn,

Got my PET scan results on Friday. Thankfully it has not spread outside the breast. Same old skin mets (can see one area although it didn't show on the PET). The PET picked up something "soft tissue in the pectoral muscle". I won't have the actual report until later this morning (going to ask my Nurse Prac. to fax it to my office). We needed it (as I thought) to have a baseline for my new treatment of Gemzar and Avastin. It is very scary doing without my Herceptin. Although I was told that it stays in your body for about 3-4 months. I am now gathering the data on the clincial trial of Herceptin AND Avastin and will take that to my Doctor to see what she thinks. Maybe she can check on the results thus far? They couldn't prove that Herceptin wasn't doing SOMETHING good for me, but it wasn't clearing things up that's for sure (even in combo with chemos). But, I am very happy for the current PET results and especially happy for such a good weekend. My sister whom I talk to most everyday, lives about 600 miles away, came and spent the weekend. Oh such fun!

God's Healing to all.

Cindi.

Sandy H · 10-24-2005, 06:25 PM

Cindi thanks for the info on tumeric. I have never heard using it on skin mets. I did know it was good for cancer. I will ask my supplement consultant about this. I have started using essential oils mixed with aloe creme but it needs to be 100% aloe. hugs, Sandy

Lyn · 10-25-2005, 03:26 AM

HI Cindi, does the PET show up radiation damage?

Love & Hugs Lyn