Incision still seeping after 10 weeks
I'm new to this forum but I have to ask some questions and maybe someone else has gone through this. I was diagnosed on March 11 with DCIS, had a lumpectomy on April 8. Initially, no problems at all. After the drainage tube was removed (a week later), my breast became very swollen and hard. Went to the ER and they gave me antibiotics although didn't see any evidence of infection. The next day, a part of the incision busted open and began to drain (a lot). I went to my GP and he said to keep it clean but allow it to drain. Well, it drained for a long time and was not healing. I went back and the doctor had to manually squeeze the breast, saying that I had a hematoma. The drainage was thick (like jelly) but again, he assured me it would heal over time. Well, last week it finally closed over (10 weeks later). I had my appointment with Oncology and had a simulation for my radiation treatments (4 weeks of treatments). The treatments will likely begin in the next two weeks but today my incision is once again seeping! It isn't a lot, but there is a yellow discharge. The breast isn't red and I don't think it is infection but it really has to stop. Does anyone have any suggestions? I have been showering regularly--maybe I should keep it dry? I'm tired of having to put a small dressing in my bra every day. I'm anxious to get the radiation started and I'm hoping this won't delay things.
Comments
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Hi Caper, welcome to BCO.....sorry you need to be here. If it were me that was having this problem, I would ring the surgeon or better still go and camp on his doorstep until he saw me. It is not normal to have a weeping wound for that length of time. I know you want to get going with your rads, but you really need to be healed before that starts. Good luck with everything.
Love n hugs. Chrissy
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I am not sure why you didn't call the surgeon right away. Since he/she is did the surgery, that person should be responsible for your follow up care and issues regarding the lumpectomy. Please call your surgeon's office, report all your symptoms and make an appt. I would even right down the timeline of events, dr's, treatments,etc. so you can report them to the surgeon at the appt. I find that my mind doesn't always work so well, especially when stressed and I always write down everything I want to tell her about.
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I have seen the surgeon several times since then but he says that it is healing fine but it will take time. He didn't want to suture it after it opened because he said that there would be a high chance of infection. It is healing nicely, just taking forever! I received my call to start radiation treatments with my first appointment this Tuesday...a few days away. I hope the incision dries up by then...will they still do the radiation if it isn't completely healed?
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Caper- insist on seeing your breast surgeon before you start rads. If he won't see you insist on seeing your med onc who can then page your surgeon directly. Rads can cause additional healing problems with the skin so make sure everyone is on the same page first. A message from your surgeonb doesn't cut it - he needs to see what is going on.
Best wishes...
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