It's Never Too Late for Leptospermum Honey

It’s Never Too Late for Leptospermum Honey

Connie Johnson, BSN, RN, WCC, LLE, OMS

MNO Nursing Staff

Purpose: To improve odor, promote healing and provide comfort in patients with advanced breast cancer using Leptospermum Honey (LH)

Patient 1-74 year old (yo) female patient reported finding a breast lump and after refusing a mastectomy, a lumpectomy was performed. Patient had a course of chemotherapy and radiation and consulted the wound nurse c/o pain and odor at the site. Multiple raised lesions were noted to the left chest with scarring from an old radiation/surgical site.  After applying LH HCS (hydrogel colloidal sheet) for 1 day, the patient experienced a high level of comfort and elimination of odor from the lesions on her chest wall.

Patient 2- This 62 yo woman with “white coat” syndrome, presented with a large, malodorous lesion on her chest wall. The patient reported a small “abrasion” 8 months ago and never sought treatment. She reported rinsing the area in the shower to remove the foul odor with no effect. The patient was brought into the ER after losing consciousness and friends calling 911. She agreed to extensive treatment after being diagnosed with Stage 4 breast cancer with bone metastasis.  LH HCS was used to dress the wounds and the patient reported the odor was gone within 30 minutes of application, the wound improved, dressing changes were comfortable and easy.

Patient 3- This 64 yo female receiving chemotherapy reported to MD a boil on breast. nurse observed 2 areas 100% covered slough, foul smelling & painfully uncomfortable.  LH paste covered with  foam dressing used on wound. The patient & husband noted  immediate relief of pain and odor. The patient continued to dress the wound 3 times a week with this dressing combination and saw great improvement in 2 weeks.