Sign-in to Ask A Doctor - 24x7
OR
Sign in with Google
Developed Tiny Dots Over The Chest That Are Spreading. Had Breast Cancer, Had Skin Melanoma. Did Radiotherapy. Reason?
Question: Thanks
I have developed a lot!!!! of tiny red dots over my chest, back, arms and thighs in the last year. I was diagnosed with breast cancer 18 months ago,had surgeries, got radiotherapy(33) and have been on tamoxifen for over a year. My blood tests are fine and so is my liver profile. The marks,senile angiomas I have been told by dermatologists, bother me esthetically and I am afraid all my skin will be covered by them. I am 59 years old and generally healthy.
My questions are: how can I stop them from occurring?
Why did I develop so many so abruply?
How can I treat them so that most disappear?
I have consulted several doctors but I am not satisfied. Is there anything else? another area of medicine I can consult? A hematologist once told me to take thalidomide and I wouldn"t. Scares me.
!3 years ago I had skin melanoma in situ.
Please answer me
Thanks
XXXXXXX
I have developed a lot!!!! of tiny red dots over my chest, back, arms and thighs in the last year. I was diagnosed with breast cancer 18 months ago,had surgeries, got radiotherapy(33) and have been on tamoxifen for over a year. My blood tests are fine and so is my liver profile. The marks,senile angiomas I have been told by dermatologists, bother me esthetically and I am afraid all my skin will be covered by them. I am 59 years old and generally healthy.
My questions are: how can I stop them from occurring?
Why did I develop so many so abruply?
How can I treat them so that most disappear?
I have consulted several doctors but I am not satisfied. Is there anything else? another area of medicine I can consult? A hematologist once told me to take thalidomide and I wouldn"t. Scares me.
!3 years ago I had skin melanoma in situ.
Please answer me
Thanks
XXXXXXX
Dear XXXXXXX,
Thanks for writing in.
I would agree with your dermatologist that these small multiple red lesions that you are currently experiencing are angiomas.
These are common in patients taking any cancer drugs, on radiotherapy or chemotherapy and in patients with an altered liver profile. A deranged liver profile is not the only reason which can cause these lesions.
The only way you can stop them is by stopping your drugs ( if it occurring as a side effect of the drugs). This should be done only after speaking with your physician. They might increase in number over a period of time. These are not carcinogenic and should not be thought of as something critical.
I would suggest that you stop worrying about them at all.
There are very few options to treat them. Most of the times, they do start to regress on their own but only if very small in size.
Radiocautery and cryotherapy has been tried with limited results. I am afraid another consultation will also provide you with the same answers.
Hope this helps.
Regards
Dr.Rohit Batra
Thanks for writing in.
I would agree with your dermatologist that these small multiple red lesions that you are currently experiencing are angiomas.
These are common in patients taking any cancer drugs, on radiotherapy or chemotherapy and in patients with an altered liver profile. A deranged liver profile is not the only reason which can cause these lesions.
The only way you can stop them is by stopping your drugs ( if it occurring as a side effect of the drugs). This should be done only after speaking with your physician. They might increase in number over a period of time. These are not carcinogenic and should not be thought of as something critical.
I would suggest that you stop worrying about them at all.
There are very few options to treat them. Most of the times, they do start to regress on their own but only if very small in size.
Radiocautery and cryotherapy has been tried with limited results. I am afraid another consultation will also provide you with the same answers.
Hope this helps.
Regards
Dr.Rohit Batra
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Aparna Kohli
could you please specify the rate of this side effect among cancer patients? In Israel most doctors failed to see the connection between the drugs (tamoxifen) and angiomas.
Thanks again
XXXXXXX
Thanks again
XXXXXXX
Dear XXXXXXX,
Thanks for the follow up query.
Tamoxifen is not known to cause angiomas as a direct side effect. Other drugs used in treatment of cancer are sometimes associated with angiomas directly. Angiomas arise as a result of liver metabolism abnormalities. Now Tamoxifen does affect the liver, rather it can even cause hepatitis (inflammation of the liver)
Though your liver profile is normal but still the drug affects the metabolism and hence might have caused these lesions which are common in liver diseases.
Hope this helps.
Regards
Dr.Rohit Batra
Thanks for the follow up query.
Tamoxifen is not known to cause angiomas as a direct side effect. Other drugs used in treatment of cancer are sometimes associated with angiomas directly. Angiomas arise as a result of liver metabolism abnormalities. Now Tamoxifen does affect the liver, rather it can even cause hepatitis (inflammation of the liver)
Though your liver profile is normal but still the drug affects the metabolism and hence might have caused these lesions which are common in liver diseases.
Hope this helps.
Regards
Dr.Rohit Batra
Note: Hope the answers resolves your concerns, however for further guidance of skin related queries consult our Dermatologist.Click here to book a consultation
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Aparna Kohli
Answered by
Get personalised answers from verified doctor in minutes across 80+ specialties
