The information on this site is not intended or implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Content within the patient forum is user-generated and has not been reviewed by medical professionals. Other sections of the Melanoma Research Foundation website include information that has been reviewed by medical professionals as appropriate. All medical decisions should be made in consultation with your doctor or other qualified medical professional.

Vascular Tumor has awful Odor

Forums General Melanoma Community Vascular Tumor has awful Odor

  • Post
    EricNJill
    Participant

      Eric's vacular tumors have been bursting.  We've been bandaging them up and tonight I changed one of the bandages because it was seeping so bad that it saturdated his sock at work today.  When I removed the bandage the odor was so bad I almost got sick.  I cleaned it with alcohol and still the odor was from the tumor awful.  His leg has recently become very swollen and this area as well as an area on his thigh where he has other vascular tumors is red.  I outlined the redness in pen to see if it grows, but I'm beginning to think he may have an infection.

      Eric's vacular tumors have been bursting.  We've been bandaging them up and tonight I changed one of the bandages because it was seeping so bad that it saturdated his sock at work today.  When I removed the bandage the odor was so bad I almost got sick.  I cleaned it with alcohol and still the odor was from the tumor awful.  His leg has recently become very swollen and this area as well as an area on his thigh where he has other vascular tumors is red.  I outlined the redness in pen to see if it grows, but I'm beginning to think he may have an infection.  I have never smelled an odor like that from his vascular tumors after they burst.  He is also running a fever of 99.1 right now.

      I called earlier to our specialist in another state but they were gone.  What are your thoughts?  Anyone else had this happen?

      Thanks, JillNEric in OH

    Viewing 13 reply threads
    • Replies
        EricNJill
        Participant

          For some reason I am not any replies to my board posts.  I checked my settings and my notifications are set to immediately and active but I'm still not getting them.  I'll check back often to check my replies but if you want to email me via the contact, please do so.  Thanks.  If anyone knows how to fix this, please let me know.

            washoegal
            Participant

              Jill, I have not had this happen but when my lymphedema burst I went to ER for wound care.  Watch his temp, and skin around open wound that smells, I don't like the sound of that either.  If temp goes up or oder persists, or skin color is dark get to ER immediately!

              Vermont_Donna
              Participant

                Hi Jill,

                   I havent heard of this either, but I would go to the ER if you cant reach his melanoma doc or surgeon (if you have one that he currently sees).  This doenst sound right! Good for you for outlining the area as they always do that for me with a leg infection to see how fast and how much it spreads, and those can spread like wildfire!

                Good luck!

                Vermont_Donna, stage 3a

                Vermont_Donna
                Participant

                  Hi Jill,

                     I havent heard of this either, but I would go to the ER if you cant reach his melanoma doc or surgeon (if you have one that he currently sees).  This doenst sound right! Good for you for outlining the area as they always do that for me with a leg infection to see how fast and how much it spreads, and those can spread like wildfire!

                  Good luck!

                  Vermont_Donna, stage 3a

                  washoegal
                  Participant

                    Jill, I have not had this happen but when my lymphedema burst I went to ER for wound care.  Watch his temp, and skin around open wound that smells, I don't like the sound of that either.  If temp goes up or oder persists, or skin color is dark get to ER immediately!

                  EricNJill
                  Participant

                    For some reason I am not any replies to my board posts.  I checked my settings and my notifications are set to immediately and active but I'm still not getting them.  I'll check back often to check my replies but if you want to email me via the contact, please do so.  Thanks.  If anyone knows how to fix this, please let me know.

                    lhaley
                    Participant

                      I had a dear friend and also my brother in law that had tumors that were breaking through the skin and eventually bursting..  One had more issues with the area smelling than others (neither was melanoma).  They were instructed to wash the area with sterile water. I know there must have been more to the instructions but it was years ago.  They also wrapped them in gauze and then wrapped that area with ace bandages to keep the gauze in place.  Every time it was changed they washed the ace bandage.  Both found that by putting on a bandage with adhesives it would further break down the skin since this was a long ongoing process.

                      I would call the Dr. again. They must have an answering service!! If this is an infection it needs Eric would need an antibiotic quickly!

                      Sending hugs,

                      Linda

                      lhaley
                      Participant

                        I had a dear friend and also my brother in law that had tumors that were breaking through the skin and eventually bursting..  One had more issues with the area smelling than others (neither was melanoma).  They were instructed to wash the area with sterile water. I know there must have been more to the instructions but it was years ago.  They also wrapped them in gauze and then wrapped that area with ace bandages to keep the gauze in place.  Every time it was changed they washed the ace bandage.  Both found that by putting on a bandage with adhesives it would further break down the skin since this was a long ongoing process.

                        I would call the Dr. again. They must have an answering service!! If this is an infection it needs Eric would need an antibiotic quickly!

                        Sending hugs,

                        Linda

                        EricNJill
                        Participant

                          I left a message for the Specialist in Pittsburgh this morning.  They said that they did rounds until 12 p.m. and then one of the doctors should call me back.  I haven't heard from them yet.  I called Eric's local oncologist this morning as well and he said it could either be cellulitis or the tumor dieing.  He said he'd call in an antibiotic but since Eric is in a clinical trial in Pittsburgh he didn't want to call it in and mess something up for the trial.  So right now I'm waiting for Pittsburgh to call me back.  Hopefully I'll hear something soon.

                          EricNJill
                          Participant

                            I left a message for the Specialist in Pittsburgh this morning.  They said that they did rounds until 12 p.m. and then one of the doctors should call me back.  I haven't heard from them yet.  I called Eric's local oncologist this morning as well and he said it could either be cellulitis or the tumor dieing.  He said he'd call in an antibiotic but since Eric is in a clinical trial in Pittsburgh he didn't want to call it in and mess something up for the trial.  So right now I'm waiting for Pittsburgh to call me back.  Hopefully I'll hear something soon.

                              washoegal
                              Participant

                                So Jill, what's happening now?  And tell me why do these things always happen on the weekends.

                                washoegal
                                Participant

                                  So Jill, what's happening now?  And tell me why do these things always happen on the weekends.

                                Jill,

                                My brother had a One Very Large Tumor on his upper thigh that used to seap and smell….the ultimate fix was grinding up flagyl and sprinkle it  on the tumor….it fixed the smell.

                                Jill,

                                My brother had a One Very Large Tumor on his upper thigh that used to seap and smell….the ultimate fix was grinding up flagyl and sprinkle it  on the tumor….it fixed the smell.

                                killmel
                                Participant

                                  Jill,

                                   

                                  I am so sorry for what Eric has had to go through. I do not have much experience but why not just have those tumors removed if they are causing problems for Eric??

                                  killmel
                                  Participant

                                    Jill,

                                     

                                    I am so sorry for what Eric has had to go through. I do not have much experience but why not just have those tumors removed if they are causing problems for Eric??

                                    Brandi
                                    Participant

                                      Hi I read your post. I hope you have gotten in contact with the doc. If not go to the ER you may have an infection brewing. Depending on the wound it may need cultured there are many different strains of infections due to antibiotic resistance. If the wound has any black areas you will need a topical and specific type of dressing to debride the wound. You were smart to measure the area. I hope you get this straightened out.

                                      Brandi
                                      Participant

                                        Hi I read your post. I hope you have gotten in contact with the doc. If not go to the ER you may have an infection brewing. Depending on the wound it may need cultured there are many different strains of infections due to antibiotic resistance. If the wound has any black areas you will need a topical and specific type of dressing to debride the wound. You were smart to measure the area. I hope you get this straightened out.

                                        EricNJill
                                        Participant

                                          This Melanoma thing is a life-long roller coaster ride that you can never get off!  We did get a returned call from a physician at the cancer center that Eric's specialist works at.  Unfortunately he knew nothing about Eric so to be careful he told us to go to the ER.  The ER doctor told us that he thinks the treatment is working and the tumors are dieing and that's the cause of the swelling and foul odor.  He gave Eric and antibiotic and sent us home.   So we were on cloud 9 thinking this treatment is working, but in the back of my head I can't understand because his tumors on his thigh are growing.

                                          So I called the Clinical Trial Nurse and she says no, that doesn't mean that this treatment is working and that the decaying of tissue is just one of the phases these type of tumors go through.  She was concerned to hear about the other tumors growing so she had me take photos last night and I sent them to her.  Currently Eric's Oncologist is reveiwing the photos to determine if he should continue with the treatment.

                                          I'm exhuasted and depressed.  I see the changes that happen so fast to Eric's leg and all I can do is worry about what is going to happen when this cancer starts showing up in other places.  It grows so fast!  He's done so many treatments.  I'm just really sad today. 

                                          EricNJill
                                          Participant

                                            This Melanoma thing is a life-long roller coaster ride that you can never get off!  We did get a returned call from a physician at the cancer center that Eric's specialist works at.  Unfortunately he knew nothing about Eric so to be careful he told us to go to the ER.  The ER doctor told us that he thinks the treatment is working and the tumors are dieing and that's the cause of the swelling and foul odor.  He gave Eric and antibiotic and sent us home.   So we were on cloud 9 thinking this treatment is working, but in the back of my head I can't understand because his tumors on his thigh are growing.

                                            So I called the Clinical Trial Nurse and she says no, that doesn't mean that this treatment is working and that the decaying of tissue is just one of the phases these type of tumors go through.  She was concerned to hear about the other tumors growing so she had me take photos last night and I sent them to her.  Currently Eric's Oncologist is reveiwing the photos to determine if he should continue with the treatment.

                                            I'm exhuasted and depressed.  I see the changes that happen so fast to Eric's leg and all I can do is worry about what is going to happen when this cancer starts showing up in other places.  It grows so fast!  He's done so many treatments.  I'm just really sad today. 

                                        Viewing 13 reply threads
                                        • You must be logged in to reply to this topic.
                                        About the MRF Patient Forum

                                        The MRF Patient Forum is the oldest and largest online community of people affected by melanoma. It is designed to provide peer support and information to caregivers, patients, family and friends. There is no better place to discuss different parts of your journey with this cancer and find the friends and support resources to make that journey more bearable.

                                        The information on the forum is open and accessible to everyone. To add a new topic or to post a reply, you must be a registered user. Please note that you will be able to post both topics and replies anonymously even though you are logged in. All posts must abide by MRF posting policies.

                                        Popular Topics