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Dr. Andrew Rynne
MD
Dr. Andrew Rynne

Family Physician

Exp 50 years

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Have Metastatic Breast Cancer To Liver, Done Mastectomy, On Chemotherapy, Swelling Temple Area. Is This From Steroids?

My mother is 63, stage 4 metastatic breast cancer to liver and lungs. Post double mastectomy in January 2013. Chemo for the past 6 months. Steroids post chemo for 3 days. Chemo every week. New problem, swelling of her temple area. Never had this before. Headache(dull) in this area. Looks like a quarter size area bilaterally. raised about 1/2 inch or so. Can this be from chemo or steroids or is it likely to be something totally separate?
Tue, 8 Oct 2013
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Oncologist, Surgical,  's  Response
Hi. Considering the picture that you have portrayed, there are two possibilities. One is a chemotherapy and steroid related swelling that is a normal occurrence and will subside with time. If it is painful, then you can give her painkillers ( Tab Paracetamol 650mg SOS), else you dont need to do anything. Second possibility is a soft tissue metastatic deposit under the skin of this area from her breast cancer.If it is a discreet hard swelling and not a diffuse soft one then it is more likely to be cancerous. Definitive diagnosis is with a needle test (FNAC). In a patient like your mother, who already has metastatic disease, the development of new metastases means only one thing, that the cancer is not responding to the ongoing chemotherapy in which case she will have to be put on another regime after consultation with your oncologist.
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Have Metastatic Breast Cancer To Liver, Done Mastectomy, On Chemotherapy, Swelling Temple Area. Is This From Steroids?

Hi. Considering the picture that you have portrayed, there are two possibilities. One is a chemotherapy and steroid related swelling that is a normal occurrence and will subside with time. If it is painful, then you can give her painkillers ( Tab Paracetamol 650mg SOS), else you dont need to do anything. Second possibility is a soft tissue metastatic deposit under the skin of this area from her breast cancer.If it is a discreet hard swelling and not a diffuse soft one then it is more likely to be cancerous. Definitive diagnosis is with a needle test (FNAC). In a patient like your mother, who already has metastatic disease, the development of new metastases means only one thing, that the cancer is not responding to the ongoing chemotherapy in which case she will have to be put on another regime after consultation with your oncologist.