Introduction
Flood frequency has been increasing globally due to climate
change.1 When flood water submerges residential
districts, it is affected by sewage and can easily cause skin infections
in the affected population.2 When considering
populations vulnerable to skin infections following flooding, the risk
may be higher in post-surgery cancer patients than the general
population because the immune systems of cancer patients are
suppressed3 and they are particularly compromised
after chemotherapy, radiotherapy, or surgery.2Incisional wounds are especially susceptible to surgical site
infections. However, little information is available concerning measures
to prevent such infections among these populations following floods.
Typhoon Hagibis, which occurred on October 6, 2019 and landed on Japan’s
main island on October 12, 2029, killed approximately one hundred
citizens and caused various other injuries.4 These
damages occurred although typhoon warnings had been repeatedly
disseminated in various media outlets beforehand. This typhoon was a
Category 5 (the highest according to the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind
Scale) and was one of few severe disasters that required government
support in its recovery. Given this context, we present
a post-operative breast cancer
patient who was affected by flood water caused by Typhoon Hagibis in
order to plan specific measures to ensure the safety of cancer patients
from flood damage in the future.