MyBCTeam

First of all, it's completely understandable to feel shocked or upset seeing your body going through this — your feelings are totally valid. Healing after a mastectomy can look pretty alarming, but there are real reasons why this happens.

An open area on your mastectomy incision can occur for a few reasons:

- Wound Show Full Answer

First of all, it's completely understandable to feel shocked or upset seeing your body going through this — your feelings are totally valid. Healing after a mastectomy can look pretty alarming, but there are real reasons why this happens.

An open area on your mastectomy incision can occur for a few reasons:

- Wound separation — Sometimes the edges of an incision don't stay fully closed as the body heals
- Infection — This can cause the wound to open or not close properly
- Tissue healing stages — The body heals in phases, and during early stages the wound can look raw and open This is something to contact your surgical team about right away. An open wound needs to be assessed to rule out infection or other complications.

Watch for these warning signs that mean you need urgent care:

- Increasing pain, heat, or swelling around the area
- Fluid that looks green, cloudy, brown, or has a strong odor
- Fever of 100.4°F or higher
- Red streaks spreading from the wound

Please don't wait on this one — call your care team today. 💛

 AI-generated responses are not a substitute for medical advice. These services are not intended to diagnose, treat, or cure any condition or disease. Always ask your doctor about specific health concerns.

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