Cutaneous metastases (spread to skin): What treatment works?

Cutaneous metastases ("CM") is a symptom of any metastatic cancer. In breast cancer, it usually appears on the chest near the area of the initial cancer.
CM--on me--consists of about 10 small (1-2 cm) painless nodules just under the skin on my chest/waist below my mastectomy scar. CM appears in about 18-30% (depending on which study you read) of metastatic breast cancer victims.
I have metastatic breast cancer (invasive lobular carcinoma, triple negative) to the contralateral breast, lymphatic system, lungs and retroperitoneum.
There are a number of medical journal articles about CM but no generally recognized path for treatment.
Has anyone dealt with CM? What treatment worked for you?

Hi @olivia7850, welcome. I'm tagging a few members like @ginny100 @pavo5 @juliabode who have experience with cutaneous metastases or breast cancer that has spread to the skin and can share the treatment options they discussed with their cancer team.

While we wait for them to jump in, you might be interested in these related discussions:
- Breast Cancer spread to the skin! https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/breast-cancer-spread-to-the-skin/
- Recurring breast cancer and rash that is spreading https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/recurring-breast-cancer/

Olivia, what treatment plan is your cancer team recommending? This news must be hard. How are you doing?

Hello Colleen:
Thank you so much for the info. I really appreciate it. I will read the other comments that you suggested and look forward to learning more about CM. Thank you again!

Hi there, yes , my breast cancer reappeared in the skin around the mastectomy scar and where the sentinel node was removed. approx. 10 years after ops. The doctors didn't recognize it as they say it is very rare! I insisted on a biopsy and unfortunately it turned out be be " locally advanced" breast cancer. It took me about about a year to accept radiation for it. I don't think that was a good decision as it has affected my Ulnar nerve and given me a partially numb hand as well as lymphodema. It didn't seem to help the cancer. What really has helped is getting on Exemastane. It,almost magically, is reducing my cancer burden. After six month on it I am feeling fine. This AI was not offered to me before the radiation, which I find odd.?
Hope this may be of some help to anyone with similar situation. If there is anything else you would like to know , please just ask. All the best to everyone 🙂

Hello Ginny100:
Thank you for the info! I appreciate it!
I am sorry to hear that you were affected by lymphedema and problems with radiation.
Unfortunately I would not benefit from Exemestane or any AI as I am triple negative. It's great that it is a benefit to you.
All the best back to you too!

I had a spread to my skin between my breasts years after a lumpectomy & radiation. Subsequently had a mastectomy and more tissue between breasts removed with a graft and it removed the skin involved. But was very invasive surgery. HoweverI feel it saved my life.