Open Wound

Faith in Him · 06-03-2009, 07:15 PM

Anyone have a open wound after radiation?Mine is a long, long story. I had rads up front and then hypertermia rads for a recurrence. I had breakdown of the skin in several chest wall areas. Two stubborn wounds were left. Onc. recommends going to the wound nurse who cuts the two wounds into one. Now I have a 6 cm by 3 cm open wound on my chest wall. Rad onc see this and totally freaks out. He writes letter to my surgeon explaining this is not how to treat rad. wounds. Wound nurse is told not to debris any more on chest wall. Well that was way over seven months ago and at last measurement wound was 7 x 4 cm. Now wound has a staph infection even though I change dressings every day and use a special cream on it. I didn't want to post this for the longest time because I know others are dealing with so much more. But, I am beyond frustrated with this issue. Any thoughts would be appreciated. On a positive note, I no longer have a cancer rash anywhere that can be seen. Xeloda has been good to me.

Laurel · 06-03-2009, 07:21 PM

Faith in Him,

I know of a woman who had poor wound healing after radiation. It took a very long time to resolve and that breast has more scaring than the non-radiated side. I wonder if you should seek a second opinion?

I do not think your problem a small one. Staph is not simple matter, and 7 months is a very long time. I'll be watching to see what others post. I hope you will receive some helpful information.

Believe51 · 06-03-2009, 07:38 PM

Sweetie, first let me start by expressing the smile on my face as I read the Xeloda working magical wonders for you...Excellant!

As far as the wound and infection goes, personally I would get a second opinion. Not only should the wound be adressed but you will probally need an antibiotic internally to help. Staph is a stubborn infection to rid oneself of and can take up house in the body for a long time before it is ready to leave. This is an easy infection to contract and a bugger to shed.

Please keep us posted with an update of your findings. Sending you a smile and wishing you a good night's sleep.>>Believe51

06-03-2009, 07:41 PM

This sounds terrible! I see you are in Northern California. Have you tried seeing a specialist at Stanford or UCSF? I am not sure what kind of specialist would be appropriate. Hopefully, someone else will chime in. Are there wound healing specialists?

Jill

BarbM · 06-03-2009, 07:44 PM

I am in a similar situation. I finished RADS/hyperthermia in November which resulted in 3 wounds. The pain for the deep wound started the first day of hyperthermia....warning sign! At the current time, one wound has closed up, but I'm still dealing with the 2 others. I have been seeing a wound care doctor for 6 months and it's getting better...very slowly, but better. I use Iodosorb and dress it daily. He and I talked about starting hyperbaric oxygen as soon as I get off Doxil. Chemo slows up wound healing as well. He seems to think hyperbarics would really help....he is researching the effects of hyperbarics and cancer and Herceptin, etc. Looks like another daily committment for 4-5 weeks for hyperbaric oxygen, but I am willing to do whatever it takes. I'll keep ya posted....having a PET scan on the 16th....hopefully will discontinue Doxil.
~Barb

Bill · 06-04-2009, 01:10 PM

Hi Tonya! I'm sorry to hear about this "wound" situation, but I'm glad to hear that the Xeloda is working. I hope this helps. Nikki's first port. site (upper left chest) began turning red over a period of time and the port. became more pronounced. Eventually, it actually broke through the skin and had to be removed. The surgeon said it was because the rads. to that area had "compromised" the area, or soemthing like that. Anyhow, he installed a new power port on the other side, but the original site was extremely slow in healing- like not at all! Weeks and weeks went by- no healing. Eventually, she had to be admitted to the ER for a different issue and when they admitted her, they checked her glucose level, and for the first time in her life, she was diabetic. They gave her insulin during her stay, and the "wound" healed up in no time! After she left the hospital, periodic checks determined that she was no longer in a diabetic state and no longer needed insulin. I hope this might help.

Lien · 06-04-2009, 01:33 PM

THat's a real long time! And why would you not speak up here? There are no small problems. We are all at different places on our cancer journey and nothing is unimportant.

I think Bill may be on to something. I know of at least one other woman who dealt with large open wounds that wouldn't heal, who turned out to be a diabetic. Something worth getting checked out, I think. And IV antibiotics may be called for now that you have a staph infection.

Take care of yourself. Get plenty of rest, eat healthy foods and drink lots of fluids. Stay away from sugary drinks and starches for a while. See if that helps.

Love

Jacqueline

Becky · 06-04-2009, 07:21 PM

A woman in my local support group had sores that wouldn't heal. She too experienced a local recurrence. However, she had a masectomy the first time (no rads then) and the new tumor formed on the scar. After additional surgery, she had rads that they "intensified" them by having her take 1000mg of Xeloda a day.

She burned intensely and had several open wounds the size of quarters that wouldn't heal for months. She took prophylactic antibiotics to prevent infection. I could ask her what else she did if you would like. Let me know.

Joan M · 06-08-2009, 07:24 PM

Tonya,

I'm glad that the Xeloda is working.

You've been through a lot and I hope that the wounds will heal soon.

Joan

schoolteacher · 06-09-2009, 05:07 AM

Tonya,

Glad to hear your good news about the Xeloda. I am sorry to hear about your wound. My dad had to go the hyperbaric oxygen chamber to heal a wound in his throat after taking radiation in his neck.

Amelia

GemmaG · 06-09-2009, 06:26 AM

I do have an open wound on my upper right breast. This is where the tumor is and it's growing. The surgeon took sample of the tumor in 2006 for my her2 testing. it opened in October of last year during Doxil time. It's getting worse and bleeds and smells (gross!) The wound care nurse suggested peroxide and water and sterile gauze to clean it wet to dry. I change my dressing 3 to 4 times a day because of the bleeding and...
I'm going to have a right rad mastectomy in two weeks since the lympnode in my right axilla is growing and swelling and it's very painful.
I hope our wounds will heal asap. You are in my prayers.

Hugs,
Gemma

Lani · 06-09-2009, 08:25 AM

where in Northern California do you live and where do you get your cancer care?

Plastic surgeons (especially those in the academic setting, not yet tempted by/failed to have been tempted by the $$$$ in cosmetic surgery and still dedicated to helping those who need help in medically necessary areas) are excellent in prescribing the best wound care and then deciding whether it is prudent to try to transfer healthy skin, subcutaneous tissue, fat, muscle , whatever to try to cover the site. I know pre-irradiated areas are more difficult, but I bet those at Stanford have lots of experience as they get the most difficult cases transferred in. (Years ago I remember Stanford was where J. Paul Getty's grandson had a new "ear" created where the kidnappers had cut his off)

Are you far from there? Whether you should be seen by one of their breast radiation therapists and they should refer you to the right plastic surgeon or whether they could upfront find out who would be the best plastic surgeon to refer you to is the question.

First thing is to get rid of that infection! Good luck!

Believe51 · 06-10-2009, 09:37 PM

Hey My Sweet, wondering how you are making out with the infection?? Thinking about you and sending a smile.>>Believe51

Faith in Him · 06-11-2009, 11:25 AM

Sorry- it's long.
It was so nice to log in and see all of your kind replies. I have been busy helping my ten yo daughter recover from a bike accident. Luckily, after x-rays and such, it came down to a broken front tooth and a pretty skinned up chin. Thanks goodness she was wearing her helmet.

The infection, I believe, has gone away. I have a lot less pain in the wound area so I am using that as an indicator that the infection is gone. The antibotics has caused me great stomach pain. The dr said all the good bacteria was killed off by the antibotic leaving only bad bacteria. So I traded pain in the wound for pain the the stomach. I have been eating a ton of Activa and it is helping.

Thank you all for your suggestions. I am going to bring them to my onc next Monday.

Gemma, it was nice to hear from you. I am praying for you also.

Becky, thank you for your offer to talk with your friend about her open wound.

Lani, I am very fortunate to live about 30 minutes from Stanford and about 45 minutes from UCSF. UCSF did the hythermia rads and it was a rad onc there that freak out over how the wounds has being treated. I am with Kaiser so I was referred to UCSF. When I change insurance in July, I can go anywhere and that what I plan on doing.

I don't know what I would do without a wonderful group of people who help me navigate this journey.

Praying for everyone.

Tonya

Believe51 · 06-12-2009, 09:21 AM

Tonya, I am so ecstatic that the infection seems to got the hint and moved on. What really makes me happy though is that you were able to kiss your daughter's boo-boo's better.>>Believe51