I had a double mastectomy due to invasive breast cancer on 9/17/14 with chest expanders. A month later I lost the left expander due to an infected wound that was a result of poor condition of skin flaps that were closed in a bruised state at the initial surgery & I believe the expanders should have been delayed- never mind inflated. It's November & I am too scarred on the left & still draining to ever have an implant placed- my pectoral muscle just lay inside useless. The right side had a superficial wound that just wouldn't heal- and a week ago An "AG" dressing that was started; ate through that tissue like acid in just 3 Days & the smell was awful! I had to stop it. Being a 25 yr nurse- and not being able to get into see my Plastic Surgeon till yesterday & realizing the wet-dry was only making things worse- I decided on Dakin's & kept the infection at bay- actually debrided & kept the wound moist at the same time. Upon her assement yesterday-she was impressed &no debridement by the doc was needed. My main problem whether I can keep this expander or not; is fighting these wounds has kept me from getting the chemo I was told I need in the 6 week window from surgery. Now I am only in the "case study" group if I can heal these wounds- I call it "The crash test dummy" group- because if you know much about case studies...that's just it- you are uninformed. My sentinel node was + for mets & to date I have not been offered ANY TREATMENT for my ER+ cancer. I had my ovaries out as soon as I was diagnosed to try to reduce my growth because it took so long to get a surgery date from diagnosis in July. I'm angry- and it seems the doctors that call themselves a team here have no idea what teamwork is. Lymphedema of the trunk is another issue...nobody had me prepared for. Do your research!
Comment Reply
I had a double mastectomy due to invasive breast cancer on 9/17/14 with chest expanders. A month later I lost the left expander due to an infected wound that was a result of poor condition of skin flaps that were closed in a bruised state at the initial surgery & I believe the expanders should have been delayed- never mind inflated. It's November & I am too scarred on the left & still draining to ever have an implant placed- my pectoral muscle just lay inside useless. The right side had a superficial wound that just wouldn't heal- and a week ago An "AG" dressing that was started; ate through that tissue like acid in just 3 Days & the smell was awful! I had to stop it. Being a 25 yr nurse- and not being able to get into see my Plastic Surgeon till yesterday & realizing the wet-dry was only making things worse- I decided on Dakin's & kept the infection at bay- actually debrided & kept the wound moist at the same time. Upon her assement yesterday-she was impressed &no debridement by the doc was needed. My main problem whether I can keep this expander or not; is fighting these wounds has kept me from getting the chemo I was told I need in the 6 week window from surgery. Now I am only in the "case study" group if I can heal these wounds- I call it "The crash test dummy" group- because if you know much about case studies...that's just it- you are uninformed. My sentinel node was + for mets & to date I have not been offered ANY TREATMENT for my ER+ cancer. I had my ovaries out as soon as I was diagnosed to try to reduce my growth because it took so long to get a surgery date from diagnosis in July. I'm angry- and it seems the doctors that call themselves a team here have no idea what teamwork is. Lymphedema of the trunk is another issue...nobody had me prepared for. Do your research!
November 8, 2014 - 6:58amThis Comment
Reply