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At what point should I be concerned about blood loss from this wound and any other helpful info on cancer?

I had surgery a few weeks ago to remove a inguinal lymph node and when they took the staples out on the 28th there was a small area that hadn't knitted together so they left it open to heal by secondary intention. It is about the diameter of a nickle and about 1 inch deep. I am concerned because everytime I pull the gauze out to clean and repack, a lot of blood seeps out. Not to be gross or TMI but it reminds me of a heavy period (you girls know what I mean, when you can't stand up off the toilet without dripping) I mentioned this to the dr and the feeling I got was well it isn't doing that right now. They saw me last week and said it is clean and not infected and healing as expected. Should I be concerned though? The blood is very runny but the color isn't diluted.) They found cancer cells in the lymph node removed meaning my ovarian cancer (which was stage 1 c on both ovaries and with dual primary stage 1a endometrial cancer) metastisized so I am understandably concerned about things, but they say this node is considered a dead end node and that they are actually rather suprised because it usally doesn't spread there. I am supposed to get 25 doses of direct radiation (15 minutes 5 times a week for 5 weeks) once this heals and they don't expect me to need more chemo provided this is an isolated reoccurance. Anyway, anything I should know/be aware of and watch out for is helpful. I also still have a good deal of pain from this open wound and they keep saying it looks good. I see the dr on the 18th. Also of course I have cancer head right now and wish I could order full body/bone scans because I feel like I have a bomb inside me somewhere that they might not find in time which is hard. Ways to deal with that would be helpful as well. Thanks the lymph node was inguinal which is in the groin/thigh area. They instructed me to repack the wound once a day which is what I am doing. They instructed me on how to do it and watched me do it so I know I am doing it right. All I can figure is the gauze is making the blood pool so when I pull it out it all comes flowing. If anything, this might make them want to have me change twice a day. I had the same thing in my stomach at the first surgery and I had to pack twice a day, but no where near the amount of blood as with this one.

Public Comments

1. That's interesting that they have you pulling the gauze out and changing it. Normally, the doctor does it...leaves the wick out and then you go in so they can handle it. You may have torn something or are changing it too much. Go back to the doctor and have them fix this or show you how to do this...or have them do it for you. Seriously, something is not right here. You may need to get a second opinion. This is your life...and you need to have some sort of control.
2. By the sounds of it, you have nothing to worry about with the wound, I changed dressing on people with much bigger wounds than your describing, keep up what your doing and keep it clean, as you don't want to get it infected, look out for you having a high temperature and red marks around the wound site, this is called tracking and a sign of infection. As for the Cancer I very rarely deal with people with it, but from the experience I have it sounds like they have it under control with what you are saying. It's normal to worry, and after everything you have been through having a nice wound on your neck that you have to keep on top of puts additional pressure on your back, just relax your doing a great job, the wound will heal over time, then you can finish the fight with cancer, all the best.