In January I had a lumpectomy.Following surgery I developed a haematoma and had to go back to theatre the next day for it to be dealt with. Last week I had a mastectomy, and would you believe it, again developed a haematoma and again had to go back to theatre (the same day this time). Has anyone had a similar experience? I would like to know what caused it to happen twice, but the doctors I saw said they didn’t know - or at least they weren’t telling me!
miyoko
I also had haematomas after my WLE, and total axillary resection surgeries. They looked nasty - purple,blue, black etc, but they cleared up of their own accord within 2-3 weeks. I didn’t find them difficult to deal with, but had a seroma in the top of my back after the axillary resection and had to have it aspirated every 2-3 days for 3-4 weeks. Now, that was a problem - painful until they drained it, and a lot of travelling to the hospital, as the local GP and nurse have not been trained in its’ aspiration.
Liz.
Thanks LIZ
Hi Miyoko
I had a haematoma following bowel surgery. This was operated on and I developed another one (I ended up with 3 ops in 4 months). The Consultant said that for some reason, during the healing process, I developed a capsule that filled up and sealed itself! So I had a self-contained haematoma!- I can laugh now but I didn’t at the time.
I hope yours gets sorted soon
Kat
Thanks Kate. For some reason it makes me feel better to hear that it has happened to others too!
Dear miyoko,
I too developed a heamatoma, I was told it was a complication of breast surgery, in fact two other ladies on my ward, same op as me, developed the same thing. I had my lumpectomy and lynph nodes removed on the 14th. January, my heamatoma still hasn’t dissapeared consequently I haven’t healed yet, so have been prescribed two seperate lots of penicilin for infection and my radiotherapy has been canceled untill my wound heals. I am due to see my consultant Wednesday 19th March, but I am not holding my breath as to starting my radiotherapy next week, as my wound is still weeping. I am sure because of the size of the heamatoma, this is stopping my skin from knitting back together. I had asked if the heamatoma could be drained, but I was told no, they prefer to let the body deal with it itself. It sounds to me, that each county has different ways in which they treat their paitients, I live in the South of England by the way. I had breast cancer 16 years ago and had the same op, but on the opposite breast, I didn’t have to endure any of this, only very severe bruising, which covered my back and down to my waist. Although the treatment of breast cancer has come a long way from my experience of 16 years ago, you are not prepared for any complications that may arise from it. I was very worried about not been able to start radiotherapy, but was assured there is nothing strange in starting it as late as four months after surgery. I have now stopped worring about my heamatoma, the body will re absorb it all in good time, the only annoying thing from my point of view now is, I so long to lie back in the bath and have a jolly good soak, but I can’t do that untill my blessed wound has healed. Don’t know if my experience will be of any consulation to you, but it is nice to read about others experiences.
Best Wishes
wincote
Miyoko, I had a huge haematoma after WLE in October, they tried to draw it off with a horse syringe but it was too ‘set’. Took months to go altogether, just a few hard bits directly under scar. Felt very sorry for myself at the time, and it was very uncomfortable especially in bed and travelling by car over bumps.
Take care, it will go eventually, and then you’ll have a dent!
Best wishes, Zoe
Boy, can I relate to this. I had WLE and axillary gland removal last May, and had a seroma which subsequently burst and got infected. Now almost a year on I have had a mastectomy (on Thursday) and lo and behold, seroma is building up and it almost looks like my breast has grown back!
I am worried that it will burst again and will get infected like last time. Has anyone got any advice on whether I should do the exercises, or any other techniques for stopping the seroma fluid from building up to the point where I get another burst?
It really annoys me when they say they won’t drain them - I had this last time and it took months to heal and delayed my chemo.
All advice and comfort gratefully received!
Hi, I’ve just posted up about this. I’m glad I’m not the only one. I think they wont drain the haematoma because the fluid is produced as part of the dissolving of the haematoma. Until it gives off the fluid, it’s a solid mass so the only bit that can be drained is the fluid that has already been produced and is, in my case, leaking out all the time. I’m now 7 weeks post op and they’ve postponed treatment until the wound heals which it wont do because it keeps opening up under pressure from the fluid. I’m getting quite frustrated and a bit worried about the possibility of a recurrence if I dont get some treatment soon.
Hi - I have had a haematoma following surgery to remove cancerous nodes underarm. In fact this was classed as a recurrence as I originally had the cancer on the same side in 2008 - went through all the treatments and on a routine scan they found that not all the cancerous nodes were removed, so I had to go through an operation, chemo and now on Tamoxifen for 5 yars. This was found last March and had my last chemo in October 2011. My problem is that I have a haematoma under my arm which has been drained about 8 times and is still there. I saw the surgeon two weeks ago and he said to stop having it drained and see if nature takes its course and see him again in a month. I must admit I do worry about it because it just won’t go away and is quite uncomfortable! Can anyone help with their similar story - surely this isn’t normal? Ginny
i had wle, and had been back on ward an hour and nurse noticed a bit of a swelling or something which they kept an eye but it didnt get any bigger after this period of time- i couldnt see anything . anyway they got junior doctor to have a look then he came back with one surgeon, still in his theatre clobber and said we will take you back down to clear the haematoma. i asked for consultant to have a look to make sure this was necessary and she said it would just take longer to heal if were left, so in end i decided to back down on her advice and have it sorted there and then. still managed to come home same day which i was glad about.
i have heard just today from one of nurses that if you have a drain in after op it also clears these out. i thought you had drain in just for any fliud build up to stop seromas. but she said it also assists with haematomas.
i didnt have a drain in with wle.
Hi I had a right mastectomy and sentinel node biopsy done on 28th Dec,the scar has healed although I was a bit concerned to see that the area underneath was feeling quite solid.My surgeon told me at my follow up opa that it was a haematoma, that he would leave it alone at present as I now have to go back on 2nd Feb to have lymph nodes removed he will review it then, and this time I will have a drain so hopefully it won’t happen again. Yes I fully agree being in a car and going over bumps is something else!!!
Hi again - I was just wondering if there was anyone out there that has put up with a haematoma as long, or longer, than me. Mine has been there under my arm since my op last April 2011 to remove some nodes, and I have had it drained 8 times. The surgeon is keeping an eye on it but it does give me a lot of discomfort and not sure if it is draining naturally into my body because seems still quite big. Would appreciate any comments - Ginny x
I had a seroma and now have a hematoma following surgery for lymph node clearance on 29th Dec. Also skin below the incision was burnt by the cauterisation equipment used to dissect the lymph nodes. A cigarette size type of burn appeared on my skin. I was first aware of a hematoma when this small burn wound opened up and began leaking blood.I’ve been going for check ups and dressing changes 2-3 times a week for five weeks. Last Fri the surgeon attempted to drain the hard area by hand through the incision which really hurt over the weekend. This experience has really affected me, I’ve already had mastectomy/recon, followed by chemo for 6 months and felt I was physically and psychologically beginning to turn a corner. I think I foolishly thought that lymph clearance would be fairly straight forward, how wrong I was! Im really emotional and weepy some days, can anyone else relate to this? They’ve decided to see if the bleeding stops during this week, failing this I will have to go back in and have the hematoma cleared out and a drain put in. The radiotherapy has been postponed until this problem is sorted. I’m quite shocked by the number of people who have had or have similar experiences, I wasn’t aware of hematoma complications.
Jo
Hi I had haematoma on side of mastectomy/reconstruction Oct 2011 which they drained before I left hospital. Unfortunately my consultant was away 2 weeks after op so saw different one who cut haemotoma out at breast clinic. My consultant said she’d have left it to sort itself out so don’t know what outcome would have been. I’ve had open wound 17 weeks due to infection. Practice nurse says wound may not have healed up quicker if left alone, but may have healed differently. Good luck to all x
Hi Turqoise, went back to see surgeon on Fri to hospital, have been told to wait and see for another 3 weeks. I’m hoping now that the hematoma will sort itself out with no further intevention because further problems may develop if opened up. How is your situation now?
jO
Hi Jube, sorry haven’t logged in a few days. Wound nearly closed but might need more anti biotics, but mine was made worse by long term infection. Good luck when you go back and hope your haematoma sorts itself out. It’s frustrating when you just want to get back to a new kind of normal. Take care x
Hi, Just thought I’d share my experience (ongoing still!). I had a right side mastectomy 3 weeks ago. Home next day with drain, which was removed 2 days later. Scar healing well, and I felt well. I probably did too much and 8 days after my op I suddenly swelled up massively to something the size of a small melon! Turns out it was a haematoma. My surgeon said it was unusual to have a bleed at this stage. It has now been drained 3 times, and is now smaller but still very hard and is right across my chest to under my arm, and is very colourful. Opinion now is to leave it be, as apparently the body refills the void as soon as it is drained. I feel it is going to take some considerable time for the swelling, which is still tender and uncomfortable, to go down.
On the up side my wound has held up and looks good. I’ve appreciated reading the threads on his topic as I find all information and the sharing of experiences very helpful, so thank you and best wishes to all.
I had to go back for breast washout a week after my lumpectomy. I didn’t listen to the doctor. I was supposed to not hold my baby and take a full 10 days to heal. I was holding my 7 month old and she kicked me. It is much more sore after the second surgery and taking longer to heal.
I have a hematoma post lumpectomy. It happened 2 weeks post op and hurts really bad more than original surgical pain. Surgeon said warm heat and gentle massage ti help it dissapate. My radiology oncologist is planning on going ahead with radiation wed. Im calling monday if it still hurts this bad. Almost like im having heart attack pain. Does not seem right to radiate this. Plus ive been on pain meds…def needed but over a month now!!! Not liking that! Any commments SO Appreciated. God bless!