Forum Discussion
5 weeks post Op. New significant colour changes to breast
Hi i am travelling in the USA and feel disconnected from my medical team. For some reason i was not put into contact with a BC nurse. I have one incision just under the armpit where cancer and lymph nodes were removed. Until about 5 days ago i had a small amount of bruising and discoloration at the incision site but now the majority of my lower breast including the nipple is yellow and red. I have large breasts so this is quite significant. I was diagnosed one day and had the lumpectomy surgery the next and so i am in a catch up situation in knowing what to expect. All other pain seems to be what i have read as normal. I don't have more tiredness than before and there seems to be no unusual heat with the discolouration. I have been on my post menapausal hormone treatment for nearly 4 weeks now.
Any advise would be greatly appreciated. As i don't want to seek medical help....very expensive...... if this is just delayed bruising etc. April
21 Replies
Thank you.
I have started taking anticiotics which i always have on hand while travelling and will seek medical advise here
Thank you.
Every member of my health team told me not to cancel my trip that I would be fine to fly. If they had even a small reservation i would have cancelled. In fact they each gave their time quickly to allow me to travel.
I am going to seek medical advise.
Thank you.
Thank you everyone.
To clear itit up all if my medical team approved my travel in fact that is why every peice if my treatment was fast tracked. I have some antibiotics with me and will start them straight away and see a Medical clinic here. Thank you for your responsrs and concerns. April
OMG - sorry if it looked like I was typing in another language... I think my touchscreen has gone nuts and only realised now how nuts it all reads...
Jelena
Hi April. I agree with most other responses. See a GP asap.
I would go and seek medical help. As others have said, this could be something which a course of antibiotics will knock on its head, and free up your holiday for you. If you do nothing and it turns into something really nasty, it could also turn into something extremely expensive for you to have treated over there. I would try to nip it in the bud now while it may be relatively minor. At the very least, you will gain peace of mind about it and be able to enjoy your holiday, which will otherwise be wrecked by worry, particularly if your symptoms worsen.
Please see GP Asap regarding redness - it could be an infevtion and you may need antibiotics. Yellow is normal and some redness might beut redness is meant to be going down as time progresses and my GP advised for me.to go tomhim.if any redness occurs as it can go from 0 to serious infevtion in under 12 hours for some patients.
It is a pitty you were not out in touch with a breast care nurse and if I was tou I would go the nearest breast screen centre and ask to be put in contact with one. They are remarcable very knowledgable ladies and will help you greatly navigate these difficult waters.
Wishing you all the best :)
Hi April
I agree you should clear up your concerns with either seeing a doctor over there and your travel insurance should pay for this if your cancer was not known at the time of taking out your insurance. At the very least you should contact your surgeon and ask for a contact with a breast cancer nurse with whom you can discuss your concerns/observations. It won't matter that you are travelling..email is as good a way as communicating as any.
Try to enjoy your trip once you have sorted some of your concerns.
Jenny
Dangerous to fly just after surgery as there is the risk of blood clots moving rather than dissolving properly by themselves. I would find a Dr pronto to at least rule out a life threatening complication. If its just infection at least you can get some antibiotics and enjoy the rest of your holiday worry free.
