Starting chemo while drains still in

Future
Future Member Posts: 133 Member
edited March 2014 in Breast Cancer #1
A friend has now become a member of our club. She had a mastectomy 2 weeks ago and the oncolgoist wants to start the chemo while she still has the drains in. Like we've all experienced - she's getting all kinds of advice on waiting/not waiting. Have any of you heard of starting chemo while the post-op drains are still in?

Comments

  • KathiM
    KathiM Member Posts: 8,028 Member
    No, but I think it has something to do with the type/stage of cancer...if it is agressive, the oncs want to get started ASAP....

    Hugs, Kathi
  • phoenixrising
    phoenixrising Member Posts: 1,508
    Sorry, I haven't heard of it either. Usually you have some time to heal. Perhaps he could explain his reasoning to her.
    jan
  • seof
    seof Member Posts: 819 Member
    I haven't heard of it either, but encourage her to ask her Dr. why and what if she did not do it that way, or whatever questions she has. In my case the Docs. all wanted to wait because the chemo could slow down the healing, but her Doc. probably has a reason for doing it that way.

    Best wishes for both of you. seof
  • 3cbrca
    3cbrca Member Posts: 206
    I haven't heard about anyone in that situation. I had Chemo before surgery so it wasn't an issue. I did have my drains put back in last week, 9 months after surgery and I do everything except swim with them, so I don't know what the down side would be.
    She
  • Thats weird. Never heard of it. I did'nt start chemo until about a month after my lumpectomy. Doc said you need time to heal. She should ask the doc for his reasoning. Maybe the cancer is more aggressive.