Seroma post-op

@Mjheke Hi Michelle. It's a thorny one these genomic tests, because of the cost.

It was first raised by my surgeon, but the serious discussion took place with my oncologist. If my BC had been the first in my family I would have proceeded to radiotherapy after my wide local excision and re-excision. However as my sister had died from it and my mother had had it at my age, my oncologist thought that if I could afford it, I should do it.The cost is the sticking point. It was $3000. I paid with a credit card, then and there in her office.

The size of your tumour may be a sticking point but I don't really know enough about the rules. This is a good, clear summary of the genomic test I had:

https://www.breastcancer.org/symptoms/testing/types/endopredict-test

Earlier this year some research came out that gave me some hope that these tests would become more readily and freely available. Most breast cancers fall clearly into two groups, those that definitely don't need chemo and those that do. But in between is a group for whom it's not very clear. The research discovered that if the genomic tests were applied to all those in the grey area, a huge 70% would NOT require chemotherapy. Just think of the cost and misery this would avoid. Incredible. Maybe one day.

Ask your oncologist and do let me know what he/she said. K xox

Hey @kmakm, thanks! 

I have had discussions re genetic testing but I don’t qualify under the current conditions. Who advised you to have the EndoPredict done? Your surgeon or oncologist? I am curious as to why this hasn’t been discussed with me. And who I need to ask if I want it done. I would definitely consider it if it would help any future decision around my plan of treatment and outcome. 

Michelle 😊

@Mjheke Good and hooray!

Because of my family history it was recommended that I have chemo after taking the Endopredict test to see if it would have a curative effect on any cancer cells that were roaming about my body looking forca place to roost. It was a strong positive so I did. Not remotely pleasant but I'm glad I did it. I threw the kitchen sink at my cancer. No regrets. If it comes back it comes back. At least I'll know I did everything I could. K xox

Yes sleeping is interesting for a while.  I ended up with a squishy duck feather pillow I could rest underneath both boob and arm (side sleeper) to take the weight off.  Worked really well.  While you're at Best and Less have a look at the Kayser Brazillian bra.  Probably not for now but later on.  I jammed myself into one of these two weeks after surgery to go to my stepdaughters formal.  They are slightly padded, pretty and are the bomb to even things out under a tight fitting shirt. 

Hi Ladies,

@lrb_03 , thanks for the great advice. I guess by the time the swelling and hopefully seroma go down I expect that the R breast will be a similar percentage smaller as yours is (25-30%). So I will need some sort of prosthesis. I'm heading out tonight with my husband bra shopping so will definitely have a look at Best n less, I think a seamless one will be good as I have very sensitive skin (have reacted to ALL of the dressing material so far), so am a bit worried about the effects of Radiotherapy. I will have about 5 weeks I am told. 

@Sister Where do you buy the soft forms and prosthesis from? At the moment with the swelling I nearly need one for the other side....haha, how Ironic. @kezmusc, my cleavage  is a bit wonky-the other way at the moment! My surgeon has said no more draining now. It is quite uncomfortable, especially when walking, trying to sleep. But hopefully with the new bra, all will be fine.


I did get my results today and they are the best of a bad bunch you could say!. 2.7cm tumour Grade 1 invasive carcinoma
which is ER and PR positive, Her2 Negative, 0 of 2 lymph nodes involved  with DCIS scattered throughout, Margins well clear.  The sample also had LCIS throughout the whole sample with 10% pleomorphic and 90% classical. 
So will need Radiotherapy and hormone therapy definitely. The Cancer panel is discussing my case next Wednesday, because I have a family history and my age (49), there is a slight chance they may recommend Chemo. All GONE!!

xox



 

Hey @Mjheke,

The best and less bra's are great, very comfy.
Seroma is a pain in the butt.  However, it did give me fantastic cleavage for 12 months LOL.  The darn thing was huge and rock hard.
My team was against draining unless it was ridiculously painful.  They said it would constantly recollect if I'd drained it, could introduce infection and cosmetic outcome would be better if I could let it heal naturally.  It has taken nearly two years to go and a small amount is still visible on MRI but hasn't really presented any issues and the appearance is good.  Although I have the opposite problem where the naughty side is a bit smaller now (to be expected I guess :) so bra's fit but I have to be careful what I buy or the wire sits in the wrong spot under my arm and can cause it to puff up.
 Thoughts are different with different surgeons depending on the situations I guess.

xoxox

I got those after surgery, too.  If you don't like having one padded and one not, get two bras and move the padding around so that you have two pads on the smaller side and one on the larger.  The soft forms and knitted knockers can be put in these bras to help out, as well.

I would simply suggest going to Best & Less or Kmart and getting some cheap ah bra type bras, in a larger size to normal. They're soft, and depending what you find more comfortable, you can take the padding out, or leave it in, or, do what I did..... took out the one from my "larger" breast (non cancer side),  and left the other one in. Evened me up a bit.  My breasts now have a 25-30% difference in size, so I do have a partial prosthesis. I've worn this since around 6 months after surgery.

Those bras are also great during radiotherapy, becouse of the softness of the fabric

Did you get your pathology results today? 

Thanks @lrb_03
My surgeon has given me that same advice although my seroma is right from the back of the axilla right across the top of the R breast, where the removal of the tumour was done. Initially after surgery I had a smaller breast as he had taken quite a large sample as I also had an extra 'satellite' tumor which was DCIS. I now have a larger R breast than my normal breast and I am going to have to head out to get a larger bra as I am finding it is now cutting in and the cup is now not fitting my breast. Annoying and uncomfortable at present, but hopefully that settles as healing continues.

I had a seroma in my axilla, what I could feel was bigger than a hen's egg. I'd had a small seroma, but it came up like that almost overnight a few months post op. It was uncomfortable, and I had it drained once. It reaccumulated so quickly that it wasn't worth bothering again.
I also developed one at the tumour site that I had drained a couple of times.
3 years post surgery, both are still there. I can't feel the one in my axilla, and the one in my breast.... well, the advice is that if I had it drained, my breast shape would be significantly compromised. My decision? Don't bother draining it! I'll keep the breast shape, thanks.
Other than an infection during radiotherapy,  it's never caused any problems