Seroma fluid build up

Excellent to hear. My lymphoedema therapist is keen to develop better understanding among oncologists and surgeons that specialized massage can help with a seroma. I had mine for 12 months ending in surgery - exteme of course, but having finally got to massage treatment, it was clearing well before the last infection struck. A bit of cross disciplinary learning can be very useful.

I had a left mastectomy and aux clearance almost 8 weeks ago and have a seroma near my pec muscle. I have being seeing a lymphatic physio for several weeks and have found her to be an amazing help. Not only does she do lymphatic massage and help with any cording that has flared up along the way ( none now at all ) she has also started massaging my scar to help that heal and desensitise.  All my specialists want the seroma to disappear on it's own, surgeon, breast care nurse, oncologist and GP. Other than being slightly annoying and uncomfortable at times, especially at the end of the day it causes me no issues. In saying that I can't wait for it to disappear completely, it is slowly getting smaller each week now though.

My lumpectomy was in June and I still have a seroma but it is getting smaller. I plan on taking it up with the breast physio asap as the one standing in for her called it a haematoma.  Need an officialish diagnosis.  I do get a bit of pain but it is nowhere near as bad as my underarm axillary clearance scar pain.  That is constant and am going to ask if I need referral to masseuse. Codeine just gives me constipation which gives me rectal bleeding TMI and makes me think this just goes round in circles.  Coloxyl by itself is good for softening stools but was warned that with continued use of senna and coloxyl, some people are losing use of natural sphincter propulsion.  Plus I find laxatives just give me diarrhoea!

Thanks Alex, Now on different antibiotics monitoring it see doctor  again on Friday. Thank Fran x

Hi @Aslett57 - I hope your visit to the doc today was okay. Red and hot are not good signs but hopefully it's not implant rejection. Fingers crossed for you
All the best. Alex xx

Glsd you are seeing a Doctor. Sounds like an infection. 

Thank you for your insight. Currently breast very red and hot also very firm ...not sure if body is rejecting implant see
 doctor tomorrow.

Hi Aslett57.  It can take months.  I was advised, that as long as it wasn't terribly painful, not to have it drained as it inevitably will recollect and poking needles in there can lead to infection.  My surgeon and breast care nurse said its very normal and if you can possibly let it reabsorb over time, it wil be a better cosmetic outcome. I have just had all my 12 month scans done and still signs of "an organising Seroma"  of about 40mm.  Keep on massaging as it softens things up a bit over time.

It can be drained but there is a chance of infection each time (as it may simply fill up again). Unfortunately there is also a chance of infection if it stays (natural bacteria in the body). If usually clears up in weeks but mine didn't. I tried massage rather late, but it did help. You need a qualified therapist though.  A lymphoedema therapist would be good. I ended up having surgery to clean it all out, which did work. Pity yours didn't stop the fluid too.