Open wound and radiation?

Mama1416

Hi, I had oncoplastic surgery done in May, completed A/C T three weeks ago and starting radiation tomorrow. I had a chronic open breast wound that required a wound vac and just healed (so I thought) a few weeks ago. Tonight I felt wetness on my shirt and discovered the wound has opened up again. It is draining clear fluid. I am in tears because I'm afraid my radiation will now be delayed. I feel like my rock bottom has just been hit.

gb2115

I don't know what they will do with you, but my surgical incisions were weeping clear/yellow fluid and slightly open and they still did radiation on me as scheduled. I was weeping serous fluid as a severe skin reaction to the surgical glue. During radiation my incisions spit out a few stitches too. The radiation didn't appear to affect my rate of healing negatively though. It was just sticky for a long time and I blew through telfa pads.

You might be a very different case though, since you already had a non healing wound. Is it open open (like you can see down into it) or is a bit open and leaking? Maybe you have fluid from a seroma that needs to go somewhere?

See what they say at radiation (make the doctor look, even if they are busy). They might still move forward but I think if you have to wait a bit longer you are still within a safe timeframe. I know after surgery it's up to 12 weeks. I don't know if the after chemo window is the same. Your rad oncologist will know.

Please let us know what happens.

Mama1416

Thanks for the reply. The wound was an incision that opened after surgery. It became a 3.8 cm tunneling wound. I had to use a wound vac all through chemo to heal it. Now it looks slightly open, but might be deeper than I can see. Have simulation today at 4. Trying to reach surgeon all morning. So over it

gb2115

Sorry you have to go through that. Hopefully it won't throw you off track too much. :-(

Marchz

I had a wound develop half way during Radiation treatment. I did complete the Radiation course and then went to the wound center. At one point it was 7cm deep and requires a surgical debridement. 8 weeks of a wound vac it has finally healed and left quite a deformed breast. I believe mine stemmed from a seroma/hematoma because my incisions /stitches were fine. I pray it never reopens. I was finally able to have a Mamo (8 months) and was petrified to compress that area.

Mama1416

My RO was on vacation the day of simulation, so her resident examined me. He sent a picture of the wound to her. She wasn't that concerned, but is having me start treatments on Tuesday. I don't know what will happen to the wound with radiation. I'm terrified of being delayed.

Marchz, so sorry you went through that.

Marchz

I’ll be praying for good things for you during your Radiation. I too was worried about stopping the Radiation midway and don’t know if it made my wound worse. I do think it hindered healing and that’s where the wound vac helped. During my Radiation my wound had slough on top so we couldn’t see the depth until they debrided it after radiation. It always had fluid throughout its course.My RO said my boosts were adjusted to miss the wound at the end, if that makes sense. I hate this disease. Hope you sail through now with no more complications.

Mama1416

I've now had two treatments and the wound is not getting worse. We are keeping an eye on it and will continue radiation. It is still leaking clear fluid. I can deal with this just like everything else that's come along. I keep repeating.....this too shall pass

Marchz

Yes and you’ll be done before you know it!!