How much does radiation slow wound healing?
I previously posted about my incisions not healing, and I did end up with a second surgery to fix the incisions. The left side is now completely healed, but the right side still has a few spots that haven't completely healed. I am scheduled to start radiation on Tuesday -- after many delays -- and based on a photo the radiologist and surgeon (or at least their staffs) have said it is OK to get started. I am wondering if I should push back on this? Or just trust them and get going? I generally really trust the doctors, and just go with all of their recommendations, but this is giving me pause. The surgeon has said radiation will impeded healing -- and what if this never properly heals? The other side is great, so I know it can be so much better. And I do want to get this radiation underway so that I can be done! Anyone have any advice? Just get on with it or push the pause button?
Hi! I'm sure you're antsy to get started. It's hard to have things hanging over your head. I have a few questions for you:
1. You said your radiologist said it was OK to start. Did you mean your radiation oncologist? If the radiation oncologist said it was OK to start and has seen your tissue in person, I might feel better about it. If it was a photo and the doctor didn't review it personally, I'd be less sure. I'd want someone who is an expert in wound care to weigh in. You really do want to be healed first in order to prevent future complications. (I'd be surprised if they would actually go forward with radiation on Tuesday if you show up with incisions that don't look healed.)
2. You mentioned you'd had many delays. Radiation can be delayed for a good while after surgery, but maybe you're bumping up against the safe limit and they want you to get started? It's a balancing game. If you wait too long, you risk raising chances of recurrence. (But again, I wouldn't think they'd want you to start when you're not healed.)
I'd encourage you to advocate for yourself if you know you're not done healing. You're the one who will deal with the consequences if there's a problem. Ask for expert eyeballs on this. I know you are eager to get it over with, but I doubt you will care a year from now whether you started in early June or late June, or whatever.
Best of luck, and keep us posted!
@janedoe7 Thanks for your response! The last any of the doctors saw the wounds in person was two weeks ago. The radiation oncologist saw it when we did the simulation. We scheduled my start three weeks out instead of the customary two weeks out at that time. Yesterday when I sent a photo they said they thought it looked better than when they saw it two weeks ago and we should be good to go. The other delay I mentioned was from the second surgery. Originally I would've started radiation around the first of May. I was diagnosed in January. So I don't think I'm out of time. Would you ask for more time to heal if you were me?
I know sometimes I just want to be told what to do, and I wish so badly I could give you that. Unfortunately I'm not a doctor and I haven't seen your body, so it's not the right thing to do. I do want to point out that it sounds like they are only extrapolating your healing based on past healing. Like, they are saying, "Based on what we've seen so far, we think that X amount of time will be sufficient to be fully healed." Right? They've not confirmed with their eyes that you ARE fully healed, just that Tuesday SHOULD be enough time to be healed. I would want to have the radiation oncologist confirm before starting, and I assume they would.
@janedoe7 I would hope so! I think I'll message asking for that. I agree that they are hopeful, but in my experience the healing is never as fast as they are anticipating. Thanks so much for "listening."
You bet. Don’t forget to moisturize! You’ve got this!