Never heard of this one!!!!

MAJW
MAJW Member Posts: 2,510 Member
in Breast Cancer #1
This is something I've never heard of....my sister in law had a bilateral mastectomy with tram flap reconstruction on Monday.....(she lives in NJ..I'm in NC) she called me yesterday...I couldn't believe what she told me.....they used leeches yes, I said leeches, on her "new" breasts to keep the blood flowing in all the newly attached blood vessels....she texted me a picture of it! YIKES! and YIKES! I googled it and was amazed to learn how often leeches are used in today's medicine...For reattaching severed limbs, fingers, etc. and in breast reconstruction....they used them for two days on her...I think I would have freaked out..she said when they told her they were going to use leeches she said "what?". ...She's one of the strongest women I know....She said that nurses and doctors came in the ICU and asked if they could "see" the leeches in action...finally she said she just left her gown open....lol

Anyway, any one else ever heard of this?
Hugs, Nancy
«1

Comments

  • AnnieTherese
    AnnieTherese Member Posts: 67
    #2
    Ummmmm, wellllll, I know it
    Ummmmm, wellllll, I know it was used many, many years ago and successfully...I know maggots are still used today...proper ones grown in laboratories, so I see no reason not to use leeches....not as common as it used to be I'm sure. Don't know that I'd agree to having it done to me though !!! As long as she's comfortable with it...why not !!
  • roseann4
    roseann4 Member Posts: 992 Member
    #3
    AnnieTherese said:

    Ummmmm, wellllll, I know it
    Ummmmm, wellllll, I know it was used many, many years ago and successfully...I know maggots are still used today...proper ones grown in laboratories, so I see no reason not to use leeches....not as common as it used to be I'm sure. Don't know that I'd agree to having it done to me though !!! As long as she's comfortable with it...why not !!

    Oh no!
    I would have a big problem with that! Yuk!

    Roseann
  • disneyfan2008
    disneyfan2008 Member Posts: 6,583 Member
    #4
    I have heard for other
    I have heard for other medical issues..but I think I would have to draw the line and say no..personally..

    I HOPE all goes well for her...speedy recovery

    Denise
  • mamolady
    mamolady Member Posts: 796 Member
    #5
    Wow
    I am so glad they did not do that for me! Also glad this was posted after my surgery!

    Cindy
  • SIROD
    SIROD Member Posts: 2,194 Member
    #6
    AnnieTherese said:

    Ummmmm, wellllll, I know it
    Ummmmm, wellllll, I know it was used many, many years ago and successfully...I know maggots are still used today...proper ones grown in laboratories, so I see no reason not to use leeches....not as common as it used to be I'm sure. Don't know that I'd agree to having it done to me though !!! As long as she's comfortable with it...why not !!

    Laboratory Leeches and other...
    Dear Annie Therese,

    That is the key words "proper ones grown in laboratories" not the kind you find in lakes and rivers. I use to give tours in a historical home and one old general had been a physician (a founder of Mass General Hospital) and I often mentioned that he did use leeches in his practice along with a lot of alcohol. However, big difference in the kind they use today versus the kind that was used in the 1790.

    I never like the looks of leeches but if it was medical warrant, I would say yes. I would avoid looking at them. Some old remedies remain timeless.

    Doris
  • salls41
    salls41 Member Posts: 340
    #7
    I have heard this
    but soooo glad I didn't have to do it! Best wishes for speedy recovery to your SIL.
    Sandy
  • missrenee
    missrenee Member Posts: 2,136 Member
    #8
    salls41 said:

    I have heard this
    but soooo glad I didn't have to do it! Best wishes for speedy recovery to your SIL.
    Sandy

    Heard of using leeches years ago
    but not recently (like in the last 100 years!). Looking at the surgery site was gross enough for me--if I saw a bunch of moving leeches, I think I would have been moved to the coronary care unit! For me, the yuk factor is over the top. But, hope they are gone now and she is doing well.

    Wow.

    Hugs, Renee
  • VickiSam
    VickiSam Member Posts: 9,079 Member
    #9
    missrenee said:

    Heard of using leeches years ago
    but not recently (like in the last 100 years!). Looking at the surgery site was gross enough for me--if I saw a bunch of moving leeches, I think I would have been moved to the coronary care unit! For me, the yuk factor is over the top. But, hope they are gone now and she is doing well.

    Wow.

    Hugs, Renee

    Like so many others .. I heard both
    .. leeches used years ago, and have been brought back in the 21Century ..

    Altho, it would gross me out, I guess I would grow to love them, and eventually
    give them all ... names.

    If I am not mistaken .. alloderm .. which is something .. many, many, many
    of 'us' breast cancer mastectomy (including myself) have all alloderm inserted
    into our reconstructive site or sites ..

    here's a few sentences regarding alloderm:


    Jan 3, 2012 – Implants, Soft Tissue, AlloDerm. AlloDerm is a soft-tissue implant fabricated by a proprietary method of processing cadaveric skin....

    AlloDerm® is created from donated human skin. LifeCell’s patented process removes all of the cells from the donated skin, while retaining all of the important biochemical and structural components. This makes AlloDerm® an acellular tissue product which will not result in rejection. Since AlloDerm® is derived from human tissue, there may be a concern that it might harbor disease carrying viruses. However, with more than one-million implants and grafts to date, the safety of AlloDerm® has been proven, as there has never been any evidence of viral disease transmission to any patients. Tissue donors are screened and tested for transmissible diseases, and a comprehensive review of each donor is completed by a medical director before allowing the tissue to be processed

    Yes, cadaveric skin

    Vicki Sam
  • lynn1950
    lynn1950 Member Posts: 2,570
    #10
    Reading about leeches dredged up a memory. I grew up in Chicago and there used to be (maybe still is) a pharmacy on Wabash in the Loop that displayed a big jar of leeches in its store window. I remember staring at them as a child. xoxoxo Lynn
  • rallendorfer
    rallendorfer Member Posts: 244
    #11
    This is a joke right?
    Nancy, is this like the pink tutu thing? You wouldn't be pulling our legs would you?
  • rallendorfer
    rallendorfer Member Posts: 244
    #12
    VickiSam said:

    Like so many others .. I heard both
    .. leeches used years ago, and have been brought back in the 21Century ..

    Altho, it would gross me out, I guess I would grow to love them, and eventually
    give them all ... names.

    If I am not mistaken .. alloderm .. which is something .. many, many, many
    of 'us' breast cancer mastectomy (including myself) have all alloderm inserted
    into our reconstructive site or sites ..

    here's a few sentences regarding alloderm:


    Jan 3, 2012 – Implants, Soft Tissue, AlloDerm. AlloDerm is a soft-tissue implant fabricated by a proprietary method of processing cadaveric skin....

    AlloDerm® is created from donated human skin. LifeCell’s patented process removes all of the cells from the donated skin, while retaining all of the important biochemical and structural components. This makes AlloDerm® an acellular tissue product which will not result in rejection. Since AlloDerm® is derived from human tissue, there may be a concern that it might harbor disease carrying viruses. However, with more than one-million implants and grafts to date, the safety of AlloDerm® has been proven, as there has never been any evidence of viral disease transmission to any patients. Tissue donors are screened and tested for transmissible diseases, and a comprehensive review of each donor is completed by a medical director before allowing the tissue to be processed

    Yes, cadaveric skin

    Vicki Sam

    ...and just when I was getting my appetite back
    without a burnt up tongue. Makes ya think about that word "harvesting" doesn't it? Becky feels like heaving.
  • Pam5
    Pam5 Member Posts: 232
    #13
    rallendorfer said:

    This is a joke right?
    Nancy, is this like the pink tutu thing? You wouldn't be pulling our legs would you?

    Yes
    While not having had them myself, I did hear that they were using them again in many cases. I guess it's like anything else - what goes around comes back around.
  • MAJW
    MAJW Member Posts: 2,510 Member
    #14
    Pam5 said:

    Yes
    While not having had them myself, I did hear that they were using them again in many cases. I guess it's like anything else - what goes around comes back around.

    Not pulling your leg!
    She actually texted me a picture.....eeeeeeewwwww! She named them "Larry the leeches"....eeeeeeewwww! It was either try the leeches or go back into surgery, after already under going 11 hrs. Of surgery....but still......

    Hugs, Nancy
  • debsweb18
    debsweb18 Member Posts: 191 Member
    #15
    MAJW said:

    Not pulling your leg!
    She actually texted me a picture.....eeeeeeewwwww! She named them "Larry the leeches"....eeeeeeewwww! It was either try the leeches or go back into surgery, after already under going 11 hrs. Of surgery....but still......

    Hugs, Nancy

    YuK
    and Yuk!
  • RE
    RE Member Posts: 4,591 Member
    #16
    YUCK!
    Oh I am afraid I would have to politely decline, I would surely be freaked! Your sister in law is quite a strong gal, I hope she is doing well! Sending her PINK hugs!

    RE
  • AngieD
    AngieD Member Posts: 493
    #17
    debsweb18 said:

    YuK
    and Yuk!

    It is true. My daughter is
    It is true. My daughter is a pharmacist at a large university hospital and the pharmacy department takes care of the leeches orders. I knew they were used in re-attaching limbs, but did not know about breast surgeries.
    Angie
  • Bella Luna
    Bella Luna Member Posts: 1,578 Member
    #18
    Interesting
    That is amazing. Let us know how your sister in law is doing. I am curious to hear the results of this treatment. I am not a fan of bugs, but if they can help with the recovery process, why not.
  • CypressCynthia
    CypressCynthia Member Posts: 4,014 Member
    #19
    I have heard of leeches
    I have heard of leeches being used in many medical procedures, but not breast reconstruction. Interesting. I know they are efficient for removing blood congestion and their saliva contains a substance that prevents clotting, so should keep blood flowing. thanks for the info. I learn something new every day!
  • Rague
    Rague Member Posts: 3,653 Member
    #20
    There are leeches and then there is 'leeches'!
    I've heard of using leeches to stimutate blood flow and/or removing clots. Many years ago a friend contracted an infection or 'something' in Nam that was totally resisting all treatment until a nurse who had been in a Pacific Thearte POW camp saw him. Long story short - she got in touch with a Dr who had also been in the camp and maggots were used - he's still 'here' and did not loose his arm, though at the time he had been 'given up' on and shipped stateside to die.

    There is a lot to be learned from 'medicine' that did a lot over many years when modern medicine doesn't work. Mold on bread is where penicillen came from. Turpentine and sugar will iften heal sores.

    'Leeches' can also refer to a plant protien the lives in stagnant water in tropical/subtropical water that can invade via a skin opening in horses, dogs and humans - it has no retationship to the animal called a leech. Wish I could remember more about it but one of the best Vets I've had did his Doctoratal Thesis on it back in the '70's.

    Winyan - The Power Within

    Susan
  • gagee
    gagee Member Posts: 332
    #21
    Yikes...
    Have heard of the use of them but don't know if I could do it. Guess if it works why not. Don't think I would even want to look at them on someone. Not into worms and things either. Look at what hey used to use and people are still walking around to tell the stories.

    Hugs,
    Diana

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