Delayed breast cellulitis

knittingPT

I have recently developed an infection in my breast (about a year out from my lumpectomy and ALND). I had a seroma that was drained several times after surgery. Reading through some of the past thread, I see that this is somewhat common. No one on my medical team ever warned me about it. I'm on my second day of oral antibiotics now. the area around my original breast scar feels hard. My breast is swollen and reddish purple. If you have had a similar issue, would you please share your story with me? I am especially curious to hear how long it took to resolve and what treatment was required. Did you end up having multiple bouts of infection or did it clear up after initial treatment. Thanks!!

Binney4

Ouch! I'm so sorry, knittingPT! Hope you're already seeing some reduction in the pain, redness and swelling.

You didn't mention whether you already have truncal lymphedema or not? A cellulitis infection in an area at risk or lymphedema can indicate that lymphedema is present (as lymphedema is a high risk for cellulitis), or it can serve as a trigger for lymphedema (because infection taxes an already-compromised lymph system). Either way, talk to any member of your medical team about a referral to a well-trained lymphedema therapist to evaluate your situation as soon as the infection clears. Here's how to find one near you:

http://www.stepup-speakout.org/Finding_a_Qualified...

If lymphedema is present a therapist can help you get that lymph fluid moving and reduce your risk of further infection. Good initial treatment by a qualified therapist, and conscientious follow-up self-care, will really help with that.

Once the infection begins to ease, be sure to take it easy for a while and resume activities slowly and carefully--cellulitis is nothing to take lightly! If you don't see improvement promptly, do get further help right away, as IV antibiotics are sometimes necessary to get on top of it.

Get well quick! Gentle hugs,
Binney

knittingPT

thanks! Yes I do have truncal edema and follow my therapist's recommendations as best I can.

LymphActivist

KnittingPT: There is information with references to delayed breast cellulitis on page 12 of my 2008 NLN presentation "Do Early Stage Breast Cancer Patients Receive Adequate Information With Which to Make Informed Decisions?", which may be accessed at http://www.lymphactivist.org/breast_lymphedema-1.pdf

knittingPT

Thank you! I was not given appropriate information prior to surgery about pros/cons of each option except to say there was no increased survival benefit to do mastectomy over lumpectomy. Radiation was recommended in either case. No one ever mentioned the risk of lymphedema to me during the decision making phase and no one even suggested that cellulitis risk could be increased or ways to decrease risk. I asked for PT referral when I had a seroma that wouldn't budge and learned how to do MLD and use compression. But now I'm concerned about recurrent infection. I wonder if mastectomy might have been a better option. Thank you for considering quality of life issues in the balance!