I had radical mastectomy done with axillary clearance done on 03/07/2007. The histopathology report showed a precancerous lesion of 4.5 cm in center of the breast & a separate malignant lesion behind my nipple & areola, which was pulling it backwards.
I was too anxious about the reconstruction bit as i am a practicing obstetrician in Pakistan. The plastic surgeon i consulted about this told me that a Becker implant would be the most suitable kind of reconstruction for me as a TRAM or Latissimus Dorsi flap reconstruction would not be suitable in hot climate of Pakistan. I had to agree with him as i had no other choice except that due to a lack of knowledge in this regard. He said that everything will go fine & I’ll get the implant inflated 3 weeks after my surgery.
Since a week past my surgery i got serous fluid collection in my breast for which i consulted breast nurse, who gave me a set of exercises to do. My surgeon also reassured me that the seroma will settle down by itself & that there was no need to poke needle in it to drain it. The seroma has been increasing in size with each passing day. It went down for some time with those exercises but as soon as i got my first dose of FEC chemotherapy at Beatson oncology centre, it started to increase in size again.
Now, it has increased to such an extent that my operated side looks twice as big as the other side. The seroma is now exerting pressure over my chest wall & muscles due to which i have got pain in my chest during lying down & also during breathing. No one is poking a needle in it in order to avoid introduction of infection in there.
Could anyone of you possibly help me out with this stuff as i am very anxious about it. I shall be waiting for your replies.
I am sorry that you are having such a tough time at the moment. You may find that the Breast Cancer Care Helpline can offer some advice. You can call the helpline on 0808 800 6000 Monday to Friday 9am-5pm and Saturday 9am-2pm.
Breast Cancer Care also has a successful Ask the Nurse Service for which I have posted the link below, they will be able to offer further support and advice:
I too had a large seroma, in my case following lymph gland removal, so it was in the armpit area. I also had a small seroma at my mastectomy site (no implant). The one in my armpit grew to the size of a small melon and was extremely uncomfortable.
There was a reluctance on the part of my medical team to aspirate due to the possibility of introducing infection, and I would imagine that in your circumstances, living in a hot climate, infection may be more likely.
However I did eventually get it aspirated (it refilled a few times so this was an ongoing thing), and the relief was enormous.
The seroma at the site of mastectomy was smaller, and after a few weeks it reabsorbed without the need to be drained.
I did not get any infection at either wound site.
My oncologist, by the way,refuses to start chemotherapy treament if there is any seroma present, and I suspect that now you have already started FEC and your immunity is therefore more compromised than usual, your doctors may be particularly worried about introducing infections?
thanks a lot for the supportive reply. I’m in Scotland at present. mine was too small before chemo started but it has eventually grown huge & i don’t know what to do with it. nobody gives me the answer that y has it grown so big. I’ll ask my oncologist what he has to say about it.
take cares.
bye
It appears that when you have surgery to remove lymphatic glands and vessels, the normal drainage channels that would circulate the lymph fluids around the body are compromised, therefore the fluid has a tendency to build up at the site of the operation. It’s a very common post surgery side effect.
In time the serous fluid will be reabsorbed, but I completely understand your discomfort and distress while it is still wobbling about!
hi justme,
thanx 4 ur supportive reply.my breast surgeon says i don’t have too much fluid in there but the overlying skin is grossly edematous & inflamed.i don’t know when it’ll resolve.lets hope foe the best.
thanks again
byexxx