Post op/treatment issues

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Hello ladies, I hope you're all as well as you can be... I just wanted to ask as I continue to have problems following my surgery back in August last year. After initially healing well around 5 weeks post op I developed a small red patch on my breast though nowhere near the incision site. This then spread rapidly across my breast and I then also started to have areas where the skin appeared to be breaking down which led to radiotherapy being delayed. I was admitted to hospital, pumped with lots of antibiotics and various tests and biopsies but no sign of infection. Due to time frames, though I wasn't healed and was in quite a state it was decided radio should go ahead. That ended 1st of November and months later I have 5 open wounds on my breast that I treat and dress and have a very large area of thickened tissue which appears to be spreading higher up into my chest and armpit. I've been in agony for months which I now take Zomorph for and oncology and the surgical team are baffled. Has anyone had a similar experience and if so would you have any idea what this may be? TIA xx

  • Hi  

    Hello Tracy I'm sorry to hear of all you have been through and still going through. It sounds painful. I have a different type of cancer but by replying to your message it will place it back at the top where it is more likely to be seen.

    In terms of who is best placed to treat this, is there anyone that you can be referred to? Some hospitals have a wound management nurse or sometimes your local hospice have professionals that have seen these types of events before. Your GP surgery will have a Practice Nurse that is used to treating wounds, rather than doing it yourself as she will know which dressings may get the best results. If you feel you would like advice from a nurse here at Macmillan, this is the link to contact https://www.macmillan.org.uk/about-us/contact-us

    I hope you can make some progress in dealing with this as it sounds painful and constant pain gets you down, I know it did with me. Best wishes to you,

    A x

  • Thanks so much for your response. I have seen tissue viability who tried to help then was referred to a skin specialist back in march who was concerned it may be a recurrence. Unfortunately the hospital had not received my information from the breast clinic on the day of my spot do they assured me they would chase it up and get me back in urgently.  Next thing I know is my surgeon and the skin specialist discussed me over the phone the following weekend and my referral was closed and I was supposed to be referred to plastics who would help. So far that's not happened and I'm no further forward. I've since raised some concerns as I have no idea why my referral was closed and I have a meeting with professionals at the end of this month to hopefully find out what happens next. 

    If I'm honest I just feel completely defeated and deflated right now Disappointed

  • Hi  

    I wonder if your CNS or your hospital PALS could help shed any light. It's a long time to wait when you're in pain.

    Hope you get a bit further forward. I can see how it must be frustrating.

    A x

  • Yes I've been in touch with both and it was agreed the meeting might be a way to move forward.  I'm hoping they will also be able to tell me what my options are going forward as they've also told me there is so much skin and tissue damage now that I'll need a mastectomy.  This is if I opt for recon but I'm not sure I could put myself through it.  I know they can't do recon until 12 months has passed since my last radio and that will be November so I've time to think about it all and hopefully weigh up my options going forward. 

    Thank you for getting back to me x