Internal Infection - Lumpectomy

TXandAZRealtor

It has been almost 3 months ago since I had a lumpectomy performed and then targeted radiation for DCIS. All going well and pretty much healed.

HOWEVER, last Friday I was out working my real estate business. Had to return to the passenger side of my car to get some information. As I opened the door, I kinda slipped off the curb and hit the door frame with my breast at the site where surgery was performed. Did not hit very hard. On Saturday night and Sunday the breast seemed to swell. By Sunday night, I was in extreme pain and the breast was huge, red and hot to the touch. Monday morning the breast was so swollen it looked as though it would explode. Skin so tight and so much pressure!

I called the surgeon's office, but he was in surgery and they were in the process of moving offices. They gave me a time I could see him, but impossible for me to get there that fast. So, I called primary physician. When she saw it, she gave my antibiotic injection, ordered an ultrasound STAT, and told me to call surgeon again and see ASAP.

I acquired the surgeon's cell no. by Monday afternoon and sent him a photo. He said I should have called him. Evidently, his office staff did not stress the urgency of the situation. He told me to meet him next day (Tuesday) at noon. Although not comfortable with his answer, I agreed. THEN, immediately after talking with him, fluid began flowing out of the side of my breast! I immediately let him know. Infection had to go somewhere! So, it burst through the weakest spot, the incision where the radiation tube had previously been placed.

Surgeon met with me within the hour and told me that he was going to drain it the next day by inserting a needle. However, since the incision had already opened up, he could not do anything but prescribe antibiotics and monitor it. He said he could not close the incision. It will need to close on it's own and will take approx. 6 weeks.

He told me that the infection was caused by the slight bump of the car door. Since that breast had been radiated, cells cannot fight the infection and the lymph nodes could not filter. Also, told me that even picking up a baby and it bumping against that site could do the same thing. Surprises me that this infection would be caused by something like this and would immediately take place.

Curious if any of you have ever heard of such a thing?

Thanks.