Itchy rash after lumpectomy

oh I had a rash after lumpectomy. I was allergic to the surgical prep, and then had a delayed allergic rash to the surgical glue they used. It took a long time to run it's course, like 3 weeks to a month maybe.

I also have a rash. It started near the lumpectomy incision and has now spread elsewhere on my breast. I had a lumpectomy and sentinel biopsy July 23, 2019, reexcision on August 10, and second reexcision on August 26. It has now been 3.5 weeks since the last surgery and the rash just appeared. The incision had been very itchy before that but I just assumed it was due to healing. I didn't have it with the first two surgeries although with each, I did notice a place between my breasts where it looked like I had contact dermatitis. I assumed they put something there during the surgery that caused it.

I am supposed to start radiation in a few days. It is disturbing to read that this rash has been pretty persistent in some of you.

oh wow! I’ve been having rash issues now for 2 months and now the dermatologist wants to do a biopsy and I’m like it’s a rash! I’m going crazy! It comes and goes and now it’s back and it’s been horrible wondering what the heck is going on! Looks like you posted a year ago. How’s it going now? I did do 2 rounds of radiation but stoped because I didn’t like how I was already feeling. Lumpectomy was feb 11.

Three of my sisters were recently diagnosed with breast cancer. All of their cancers were different. All of their genetic testing was negative. One of my sister's cancer was only seen on MRI. Even though I had a negative mammo, I felt it was important to get an MRI just to be sure and they found something so I went ahead and had it biopsied and had a titanium clip placed. The procedure went very well with minimal pain/bruising during and after and requiring no pain meds or anything. I have been a medical surgical nurse for 20+ years and fully understood and followed all the post op instructions taking care and being very watchful of the poked area. On the 4th post op day, I started to get a small rash on the top of the biopsy breast. By this time I was able to take a shower and I thought it might just be a delayed reaction to the disinfectant that they covered my breast with before the biopsy and that when I took a shower, that would wash off and take care of it. The steri strips were still on the poke spot so I gently removed them during my shower also thinking maybe I was having an allergic reaction to them even though the rash was several inches away. So, I showered and gently but thoroughly cleaned the whole front and sides of my torso including both breasts with the same soap I have used for years without any problems. Then, I sort of forgot about the rash, assuming it would disappear. But when I went to bed on Friday night, I realized it had actually spread to my whole breast, right side of my chest up to my shoulder and slightly onto my abdomen and it was starting to itch. It was then that I made my first call to the medical facility where I had the biopsy. Long story short, the rash continued to spread and get itchier over the weekend and after multiple calls, someone finally returned my call on Sunday afternoon only to tell me to go to urgent care/call the breast clinic on Monday morning. I did both and now I am getting push back from the facility as they still insist that a reaction to the clip would be rare and highly unlikely. I know the clip needs to come out ASAP. I never wanted it in there in the first place and I expressed that and my concerns were readily dismissed. I was not fully informed of the risks prior to the biopsy/placement of the clip, only that adverse reactions were extremely rare. With so many people here on this site and in other places describing this symptom who have probably also received a clip placement, I cannot help wondering if the clip is the cause of the rash and itching for many. The problems with titanium joint replacements are well known and documented. Literature says that the metal ionizes and metal ions enter the bloodstream. I have to ask that, in the presence of all of this information and lawsuits related to complications of implanted titanium joint replacements, why anyone in their right mind would think that it was so safe to implant a seed of titanium in highly vascular and traumatized breast tissue!!! Cancer is associated with failed titanium joint replacements so why on earth would it seem rational much less safe to put a fragment of it in an area highly vulnerable to cancer?! Where are the studies of these implants placed into healthy breast tissue?! What is the probability that a titanium clip is actually the cause in of breast cancer?! Of course, if you developed it after the placement, it could always be dismissed because you were being evaluated for suspicion of cancer so it must have just developed there with no relation to the titanium. Right? Or, since I have three sisters with breast cancer, I was high risk for developing cancer myself so, no relationship to the titanium clip being there. In my opinion, there is at least as much of a risk of getting cancer or having other problems related to titanium implanted into the breasts as it is with joints. More unbiased research must be done to evaluate the adverse effects of titanium clip implants now. The use of them should cease until the research is completed and anyone being asked to have these implanted should be well informed of the risks/benefits before going ahead with an implant.

Thanks for taking the time to read this! I welcome and look forward to your responses. Be well! ✌️❤️

My rash story. lumlectomy a June 3. Healing nicely then I started itching two weeks later. Breast started getting red. Had an appointment at radiologists. He said it looked like poison ivy. I had been working in the yard and agreed. Told me to take Benedryl. Rash grew over the weekend and was unbearable. Showed the pharmacy. It was all over my breast. He said poison ivy and gave me Zanfel. Days later, had appointment with surgeon, oncologist and radiologist all in the same day. Rash was bright red and all over breast and climbing up neck and under arm. Radiologist said I should tell surgeon. Oncologist was unmoved. Surgeon said he would give me extra strength hydrocodone.
Used it a few days and nothing happened. I googled lumpectomy rash and found many are allergic to the surgical glue. Read petroleum jelly will remove it. I had small pieces still in the cut area and made sure to rub all over in case some dripped. It immediately felt better. I am still inflamed and cannot begin radiation until it’s gone, but hoping the hydrocodone will fix it. Seems to be getting better slowly now that the glue is gone.

Hi - I just had a lumpectomy last week and a few days later broke out into an itchy raised rash all over my stomach and one breast and my neck. My dermatologist thinks its a contact dermatitis from perhaps the Hibiclens or the Betadine they use in the pre-surgery washing and prescribed a topical steroid cream. The cream isn't really doing anything. Does this sound familiar to others? The NP who works with my surgeon didn't seem to have any ideas. Thank you.

I recently had a lumpactemy in two areas of my breast .about 3 days post op I developed a horrible itchy burning rash .It went on for about 10 days before I finally said I can’t do this anymore I wasn’t sleeping and it was intolerable.It was all over the surgical areas and my upper stomach only on the surgical side though .The doctors were unsure if it was a allergic reaction to the prep they used as the rash was present all over the areas I was prepped on with the iodine solution .Also he said it could have been a reaction to the glue but again unsure .Imaskes for a steroid pack cause that’s the only thing that works he was hesitant because tedious lower the immune system and slow healing but he gave me it and the rash was gone within 24 hours . It’s weird cause I’m so numb and it’s so itchy at times but I can’t feel certain parts .I suggest prednisone if ur rash doesn’t go away I’m praying I don’t get dermatitis during my radation I start it next week 🙏🙏🙏🙏.Happy healing my breast cancer warriors u are all so strong and beautiful 💓

Just be sure to stay away from any sick people when on the prednisone especially because we are immune compromised