This is grim reading, probably not for the squeamish. I’ll try and keep to the salient points.
My lovely step mum (63yrs) has aggressive breast cancer and isn’t expected to see the end of the summer. The tumour is immense and sits on her chest about 1 and a half times the size of a rugby ball. She also has lymphedema in the arm on that side filled with fluid. She can still get out, take dog on very short walks, go to supermarket etc, all with help and this is very important to her while it’s still possible.
In the last few weeks the tumour has broken through the skin on her chest which was inevitable given its size and rapid rate of growth. The main problem with that is that every couple of hours the wound floods like a running tap with clear fluid completely saturating the dressing and then starts going everywhere. The fluid can run out for up to an hour and they sit there mopping it up with tissues. If it happens at night it can saturate the sheets, her PJ's etc.
The doctors think its leaking from the lymphedema, it’s not an infection and it can’t be stopped. They also haven’t seen this before so don’t know how to effectively help. So, the help we need is: how can we dress this wound so the liquid doesn’t just come through the dressing and go everywhere meaning that she can’t leave the house. The sterile dressing must be the first line of defence but then what?
She’s feeling self-conscious enough and we desperately want to help solve this issue without further humiliation. Any ideas?
Sorry this is longer than I meant it to be.