Sweet Syndrome

As I’ve had it for 9 years every 3 months I don’t try and undermine me. I’ve telling the medical team that ever since I had Radiotherapy treatment I’ve had this condition it was triggered off by Radiotherapy.
The 4 x 5mg of Prednisolone for 3 days helps immensely. It stops it developing full blown the rash. It isn’t a cure, the Gold Bond was a remedy when I was having radiotherapy to stop the itching. However they haven’t come up with a cure I’m 80 in November so I’m not getting any younger.

Regards,

Martin

Back in August 2015 I was diagnosed with prostrate cancer I was transferred from my local hospital QE in Woolwich to Guy’s Hospital.
Meeting the oncologist for the first time Dr Johnson he had embarked on a new treatment for PC by having 20 sessions of RT in 25 days instead of 36 sessions in 2 to 2 and a half months. I was fairly fit at the time swimming 3 times a week, and at 69 years old I was deemed to be an ideal candidate.

I had prostrap monthly injections which was to contain the cancer, where I developed “ breasts “ to the amusement to my wife ! Through March and April of 2016 I had the the procedure going to St Thomas’s Hospital 4 times a week usually late afternoon and on Saturdays.

I found the procedure gruelling I went home I found my back was feeling like sunburnt and itchy. Eventually a friend of mine used to have a skin condition and gave me a bottle of Gold Bond cream it really helped with itching the downside it was only available from the States.

Eventually a month afterwards I saw the consultant and he said I’ll see you in September. Trying to get by to a normal life I decided to retire from working as a Lift Consultant and spend more time with my growing family the grandchildren had arrived my wife was helping out with looking after our eldest son’s child.

Buy that July a week after retirement we all went to Deal for the day and had lunch in a hotel by the sea. On the way home I felt unwell and when I got I was nauseous and was sick. I put it down to maybe it was the fish I had eaten. The following morning I got up to have a shower I noticed this patch of redness around my midriff it was slightly raised. It took 3 weeks to subdue and was still there some 6 weeks later although very faint.

When I saw the oncologist in late September I mentioned this to him and he said some patients do have a reaction to RT but over the course of 18 months to 2 years it should disappear. Secondly I noticed I don’t produce any semen anymore unfortunately he said there wasn’t a way of revolving that. I had a PSA blood test that day and it was excellent 0.1 as before it was16.7

Years past I was transferred to the dermatology department of Guy’s from 2017 with a break in the pandemic period I couldn’t attend hospital till 2023 when I then had blood tests after blood tests to find what I had. All this time every 3 months I was having these sickness and rashes coming up.

I kept telling the consultants that I never had it before RT, they kept telling me that it should’ve gone by this time. November 2023 I was transferred to the Rheumatology / Lupus department as often the case in unsolved skin conditions are treated in that department. This February after having numerous tests and a biopsy I was diagnosed in having Sweet Syndrome.

For the last year I have been taking a gastro tablet on my tongue and 4 prendisolone tablets for 3 days this helps me immensely as it subdues the rash although I feel hyper and night for the 3 days.

I love to hear any comments as this is my story.

Thanks Martin