Is it okay to eat chicken after breast cancer surgery?

I recently had a mastectomy due to breast cancer. Will eating chicken cause the wound to become infected, resulting in swelling, pus formation, and delayed healing? (Tran Ngoc, Vinh Long)

Reply:

Wound healing takes 3-6 months, with three phases: inflammatory response, cell proliferation, and tissue regeneration.

Chicken is a familiar dish in Vietnamese family meals. Currently, there are no studies proving that eating chicken causes keloid scars. Scar formation depends on the extent of the injury and the healing process. If all factors involved in the wound healing process are favorable, the wound will leave a beautiful, small, and faint scar; conversely, an unsightly scar (hypertrophic scar, keloid scar, atrophic scar) may form. Normal scars are within the boundaries of the original wound, while hypertrophic scars extend beyond these boundaries.

There are many causes of hypertrophic scarring, such as infection, hair, and dirt getting stuck in the wound. Injuries that are not treated properly can also easily lead to hypertrophic scarring. Keloid scars are usually due to genetics and are less affected by how the wound is treated and cared for.

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Chicken meat is rich in protein, vitamins, and minerals. Photo: Freepik

Chicken meat is rich in protein, vitamins, and minerals, and is easy to digest and absorb. Cancer patients in general, and breast cancer patients in particular, need plenty of protein to maintain body mass, boost their health, and combat fatigue and physical weakness during chemotherapy and radiation therapy. Therefore, you should not avoid chicken meat.

You should choose fresh, thoroughly cooked chicken to ensure food safety and hygiene. Avoid processed chicken as it contains a lot of salt, which can easily raise blood pressure and increase the risk of certain types of cancer.

In your daily diet, you should include a variety of foods such as meat, fish, eggs, vegetables, fruits, grains, cheese, milk, and nutrient groups like fiber, carbohydrates, protein, vitamins, and minerals. A healthy body helps patients strengthen their immune system and prevent infections.

To prevent hypertrophic scarring and reduce the risk of keloid scars, patients should properly care for their wounds. Every day, wash the wound with saline solution or antiseptic solution, removing any foreign objects (hair, fur, etc.). Do not bandage the wound too tightly or too loosely. If the wound shows any abnormalities, you should consult a surgeon for proper care.

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Master of Science, Doctor Huynh Ba Tan
Breast Surgery Department, Tam Anh General Hospital, Ho Chi Minh City

Readers can ask questions about cancer here for doctors to answer.

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