How do you deal with wounds in or around the radiation fields?
For instance, would you treat an anal cancer in someone that has a healing perianal access? What do you look for when considering initiating treatment or what would prevent you from treating? How do you evaluate or judge if tumor could prevent adequate healing? Is there a good resource for similar clinical issues?
2 Answers
Mednet MemberInvited Expert
Radiation Oncology · AdventHealth Cancer Institute
Answered on
Agree with @Dr. First Last completely. As another example, a slowly healing drain or mastectomy wound that remains open during chemotherapy will often close during radiation, despite being within field. I monitor and continue standard wound care, but do not change my treatment fields.
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Mednet MemberInvited Expert
Radiation Oncology · Varian Medical Systems/Allegheny health network
Answered on
It is not unusal to have a sterile abscess in these patients if they have perinal sinus. Once an active infection is ruled out or treated, I would treat with RT as otherwise planned and have done so in few patinets without any major healing issues.
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