Forum Discussion

Lunanoire's avatar
Lunanoire
Member
9 years ago

And the Winner is ..... SEROMA ... congratulations

A weekend of taking antibiotics the size of a horse, inability to sleep properly due to an over-inflated boob that kept dragging due to the swelling, today's conclusion from the radiologist is, while the boob was still a bit red (probably from the radiotherapy), things did look a heck of a lot better than last week.  Nipple no longer sore however there was a tightness along the scar line.

Seroma was confirmed.  Appointment was made with my breast care nurse so across to her office I trotted, with my file arriving after me. 

Luck finally on my side as member of surgical team I saw on 2 March was just finishing up with a patient so he was able to check out what my boob was doing before breast care nurse got out a sharp needle and ended up draining some 200mls of fluid from my seroma - that's the quality of a standard tea-cup.  Little wonder my boob was dragging and I was uncomfortable.  Yes, the needle did sting.  Not like a blood test needle sting - a sharper pain but it was worth it.

Nurse asked me when was the last time I had the seroma drained as my surgery happened back in August.  Up until the Sunday following my first 4 days of radiotherapy, I had not had any issue with fluid build up in my breast - my breast was even fine and "normal" Saturday.  Things seemed to go haywire virtually overnight.  I can't even recall anyone mentioned to me the possibility of seroma when I had my surgery - yet nurse said it was not an uncommon situation to find myself in.

Anyhow, having had the fluid draining  I am feeling a lot better with a boob "normal" sized again.  Seeing the surgical team again this Friday to ascertain whether the draining has rectified the situation as no one wants to stop the radio considering that I have really only just started it.

So not only have I been forced to put my fitness training on hold until at least May but now it seems that I can't even get out in to the garden for a while

5 Replies

  • Lunanoire's avatar
    Lunanoire
    Member
    9 years ago

    1.5 ltrs ... wow, poor you.  And here I am thinking my tea cup was horrendous :(

  • Afraser's avatar
    Afraser
    Member
    9 years ago

    Hi there

    Keep your eye on it!! My all time best was a litre and a half and no, I am not exaggerating!!  If your body is as keen on helping you to heal as mine was, it can and may refill. Apart from the weight (and the sloshing and the difficulty with a  prosthesis, which le it's waxing and waning), a warm fluid filled spot in the body is heaven for bugs and infection can occur (from bacteria already naturally in your body). 

    Massage can help - a good lymphoedema therapist is a good choice, but check with your oncologist.

    Most seromas do go away naturally or after aspiraration, so you'll probably be fine, but if it lingers get some action. Mine hung around for ridiculous amount of time and finally had to be surgically cleaned out, but all fine since.

    Good luck.

  • Brenda5's avatar
    Brenda5
    Member
    9 years ago

    I can feel your relief. I had it done many times through Christmas and New Year as it took a while for it to decrease in amount. The pocket it had created kept filling back up so it was a gradual thing for me to have it drained with a bit less coming out each week. Radiation is probably messing with it but provided they can keep the seroma drained it should be ok.

  • Cate64's avatar
    Cate64
    Member
    9 years ago

    I also suffered a seroma after surgery. I was not warned either but after they drained it they did say it may refill. It never did thank goodness.

    All the possible side effects/problems I was warned about NEVER happened but some that were never mentioned did, like the seroma.

  • GeorginaMary's avatar
    GeorginaMary
    Member
    9 years ago

    I had to have 100 mls drained twice, and 120 mls once, and a couple of smaller amounts.  Nothing like as bad as yours, which makes me shudder, but O, the blessed relief when that fluid poured out!  I wish that I had been warned as well.