Ulcerated cancer help please

[maggie22]

Ladies,

I need some advice/ help please

I had oc in 2011 with one recurrence since then but three different types of chemo, radiotherapy and a drugs trial over the past 2 years. Unfortunately none of this has been successful. My oncologist is putting me forward for another trial in February. My next appointment with her is not early Jan. My cancer has come through my skin under my breast and is ulcerated and extremely smelly. My oncologist is aware of this but says nothing can be done for this and gave me antibiotic gel to reduce the smell. I have to change the dressings daily. Now the external lumps are growing and more lumps are growing on the larger lumps all of which is seeping and bleeding. I find it extremely distressing and have to see it and clean it daily.

Has anyone experienced this and what can anyone suggest. My oncologist says the practice nurse at GP will help me. The nurse is kind and does her best but will anything stop it growing or dry it up.

Thanks for reading this and some suggestions would be very helpful.

Good luck to all with their own battles against this disease .

Maggie22

[Mommoo65]

Hi Maggie. My goodness. This disease just keeps giving, doesn't it? It must be painful and a bit frightening. I had an open wound I had to take care of so I can attest to the smell! I had never heard of your condition so did some research. I did find this that might be some help to other Teal Warriors who hadn't heard of this happening either.

cancerresearchuk.org/about-...

I hope you can get some help to cope with this. It seems absurd that you aren't getting some kind of treatment to alieve the pain and odor Keep pushing for it, tho. I am thinking of you! Hugs Jill

[maggie22 in reply to Mommoo65]

Thank you Jill for your very quick and kind reply. I am seeing the practice nurse next week just to ensure its not infected. Thanks for the website address which helps.

All the best to you & thanks

Maggie 22

[Jud15]

Hello Maggie22,

Am so sorry to hear about your predicament. I think you might find it useful to get your GP to refer you to the district nurses as they tend to have considerable expertise in wound care. It would also save you having to go to the practice for your dressings. Or they might work in conjunction with the practice nurse. Wishing you well Judith

[maggie22 in reply to Jud15]

Thank you for your reply and advice. I think I will do as you suggest.

The very best to you

Maggie22

[KiwiGirl04]

Hi Maggie, sorry to hear you are having to go through all of this !!

I do know that you can have radiotherapy to these lesions which will shrink them and dry them up.

Also you can use charcoal infused dressings that help absorb the odour.

All the best to you .

[maggie22 in reply to KiwiGirl04]

Thank you for your reply. I will ask about further radiotherapy sessions as I cannot believe it can just keep growing. I hope all is well with you

[Lindaura]

Dear Maggie,

I don’t want to alarm you, but your breast situation already sounds pretty alarming.

Your current condition sounds more like Inflammatory Breast Cancer.

My sister, like myself, is BRCA1 positive, and had a similar condition with the presentation of a recurrence of Breast Cancer two years ago.

It was horrible and painful, and like you, she had to change the dressings all the time, which she found horrifying and could not stand to look at herself.

She had to wait for biopsies before she could have treatment and it was torture for her.

However, pretty soon after treatment started, which was Taxotere, the sores began to heal and gradually fade away, but she was in agony for about two months.

just in case this is Inflammatory Breast Cancer, I urge you to have your GP make an urgent referral with your local breast clinic.

They are pretty alert to breast cancer and should see you ASAP.

Gyney and breast cancer are two different specialties, so I urge you to look into this.

But do get that District nurse to help you with your breast care.

Don’t be frightened.

Once you get the right treatment, you will heal.

Best wishes,

Laura

[maggie22 in reply to Lindaura]

Thank you so much Laura I too am BRCA 1 and the cancer under my breast is behind my ribs and my oncologist says it is secondary ovarian . I will follow up and do as you suggest and thank you. Hope is a wonderful thing.

Wishing you and your sister well

[Lindaura in reply to maggie22]

Please let us know how you are doing.

Hugs,

Laura

[maggie22 in reply to Lindaura]

Will do Laura and thanks so much. XX

[Rlenesue]

Oh my, Maggie. I am so sorry for you to have to go through this. I agree with lindlaura about breast cancer and I would take myself straightaway to the hospital or get a doctor with breast cancer knowledge. I had an open wound myself for a year and had to change dressings daily. I used a saline solution daily and that would take care of the odor. I also tried the hyperbaric chamber for 22 sessions which helped with the seepage. Please keep us sisters updated.

[maggie22 in reply to Rlenesue]

Thank you so much for your reply

[AlaNtO]

Other types of cancer do sometimes present like yours does. As the cells grow they have to find space and ulceration occurs. Soft tissue cancers react like this as well. Bearing in mind that any long term chemo with a single drug may lead to resistance it is also good to change. Oncologists are still trying to find what causes resistance and how to overcome it. Just never give up, life is too precious. Your sisters on this blog have some great input so keep in touch with them and thinking of you.

[maggie22 in reply to AlaNtO]

Thank you so much for your kind words. Wishing you well