Radiation Wound

Female, aged 42, was diagnosed with left breast cancer and had left modified mastectomy followed by a course of radiotherapy. Irradiation dermatitis appeared upon completion of the treatment. Patient complained of pain and with smelly exudate requiring dressing change two times per day.

The focus of management would be on infection control and promotion of wound healing while prevention of further breakdown of intact skin around with appropriate moisturization would be of the same importance. Special attention needed to be made on fixation of dressing as no adhesive should be put on the fragile skin around the wound. Light elastic bandage might be used for this purpose. Under no circumstance, the fragile intact skin around should be rubbed or massaged rigorously during application of skin care products or cleaning as the skin there would be damaged easily.

With appropriate handling of the wound, it healed up in 9 days with significant improvement in quality of skin around.