Hi folks, I have a new thing happening and I'm not sure if it's related to radiation or not. In the last month and 1/2 or so, on three different occasions, I have felt my neck and chin get kind of hot and itchy, and when I go to look in a mirror, the skin on my neck, chin and sometimes my cheeks, has suddenly become very pink (color oif a bad sunburn) and inflamed (slightly puffy). Its not really a rash where there are spots of this, it just sort of takes place over a large area of skin, going down to about my clavicle and sometimes up to my cheekbones (though that has only been this time on one side, last time it stopped at my chin and lower jaw).

In short, the red, swollen skin looks kind of like what it looked like when I was getting radiation and it covers roughly the same area, though usually not exactly the same ending points. It's very itchy while it stays red and inflamed and I've put hydrocortisone cream on it for the itching, as well as aloe vera, and then it goes away in a day or two.

At first I thought it was some kind of allergic reaction (and it may be) and I've been trying to figure what what it was a reaction to and it's a little hard to know because on the days when it's broken out I haven't handled or worn anything differnt from the usual stuff--at least that I can recall. Since I feed myself through a PEG tube, my diet is kind of limited although I do ad a lot of fruit and veg juices, all the ones I had before these outbreaks are ones I've ahd at other times with no reaction. So it's unlikely to be a food allergy. And I haven't used any new soaps or shampoos or anything either.

So I'm really stumped. I haven't been to the doctor while I had it because it seems to go away so quickly, not ever get worse that it seems like it must be due to some kind of irritation or allergy. But I do wonder why it is only on the previously radiated neck/chin/jaw/cheek area. It's been almost a year and 1/2 since I had radiation there, though! Has anyone else had something like this?

Nelie

Hello Nelie

Yes, I have a similar rash now and then. It didn't appear until 2 yrs after radiation and is only on the radiated area, like yours.

I have been given a cream, Elocon, which gets rid of it in a flash. I have no idea why it appears - there seems to be no pattern.

Lots of love from Helen

Thanks, Helen. I knew if this were really something to do with radiation I couldn't be the only one! Do you have any idea what sets the rash off for you?

Nelie

I have no idea what sets it off Nelie. I have it today - it is very hot here. The rash isn't itchy, just there. Now that I have the Elocon I just wack that on when needed. I need a script from my gp to get it here in Oz. Love from Helen

Well, I saw my medical oncologist who talked to the RO at the hospital (A new person since I was treated there). The RO said he didn't think it could be related to the radiation. Perhaps it's an interaction--somehting else starts it up but the skin that was radiated ois more sensitive. The MO said to try benedryl (an antihistamine) the next time, because for me it definitely itches and drives me crazy. So I guess I'll do that.

As long as it goes away quickly and I can control the itching I giess I'll have to live with it if I can't figure out what's causing it.

Nelie