Seromas, Hematomas, and Cellulitis

S12Clear

Hello Warriors, I had a lumpectomy on June 22 and almost immediately developed a huge hematoma. Very painful, very huge. Six days post-op, the CNP looked at it and told me to go to Wal-Mart to get a "sports bra" and that was it. A week later, I called them to get help because it wasn't improved and was told over the phone to just put warm compresses on it. Fast forward to July 21, when my prospective RO called to see if the hematoma was cleared up enough to begin radiation treatments and after a 15 minute chat about the condition my breast was in, he was alarmed and told me to see my surgeon immediately. He offered to call her at home that night to get me in first thing Monday morning and I was puzzled. Now, I'm not puzzled. I have hematomas, seromas, and a raging cellulitis infection that is not responding to the two antibiotics I have been given. This past week, I was indeed first in to the doc's office and they went into high gear - I have been drained twice, given a big antibiotic injection and am on Bactrim but nothing is improving. Losing hope over here to ever begin radiation. Can anyone help??

ceanna

S12Clear, sorry to hear of your difficulties and that early advice was so off track. I had a seroma but have no experience with hematomas or cellulitis so doubt I can be of help. The weekends are often quiet on the boards so I'll bump this to the top of the active topics again and see if you can get any help from others. I hope it clears up soon.

Freya244117

Cellulitis is nasty. It is even nastier when it is in an area affected by lymphodema, hopefully not in your case. I had to have injections daily in my butt for a couple of weeks to clear mine up. The drug was Rocephin, and it is not a pleasant injection.

Don't let it go too long if the antibiotics are not working. I can usually tell within 24 hrs.

S12Clear

Ceanna, I can't thank you enough for bumping this up. I am floored that this cellulitis infection isn't responding to two different antibiotocs. Tomorrow I go back to the surgeon and may be put on something different. This has changed my treatment plan schedule; I am on hold for my radiation. I think everyone who enters the Breast Cancer Surgery Unit needs to know what to look out for, post-surgery: Bright Red Breast, and flu-like symptoms. If you even just present with a breast turning rosy red (but still feel okay), call your surgeon immediately and insist on being seen. I didn't insist!

S12Clear

Freya, thank you so much for that input. I have been on Bactrim for a week now, which has been ineffective. It is hard to imagine how unpleasant those two weeks of injections were for you, because I had the Rocephin injection last Thursday and that hurts! Nothing they've given me is touching this infection so far. There was mention of checking in to the hospital for IV antibiotics and at this point I will take whatever they offer so that I can start my radiation. I am now going into 6 weeks out from surgery and just want to get started.

ChiSandy

I had a huge axillary seroma that burst when my SNB incision failed 3-1/2 wks post-op (the day after I had my rads CT and mapping session). I called and my surgeon’s NP told me to come in STAT. I did, and she wanted to just squoosh it some more and have me take antibiotics prophylactically & pack it several times a day until it “heals from the inside.” Nuh-uh. Not gonna happen. Insisted on seeing my surgeon’s partner, who was in the office (my surgeon was operating that aft.). He took one look and said, “We’d better suture that puppy—the breast is too big & heavy for the incision to heal otherwise.” Didn’t even get an Rx for antibiotics, and wasn’t even told to use Neosporin on the dressings when I changed them. Healed uneventfully in 2 weeks, sutures removed and started my rads.

Do what it takes. A couple days in the hospital on I.V. antibiotics (or getting a port/PICC line so you can take them at home) might do you good, because the wound would be under constant monitoring. Even though 6 weeks post-op is the optimal time to start rads, it’s more important to heal from surgery (and its complications) first. Remember that women who get chemo generally don’t do rads until their chemo is finished, so a couple more weeks (or even a little longer) to heal shouldn’t make a difference.

S12Clear

ChiSandy, When I read experiences like yours, I realize how lucky I am. Yuck. I'm so glad you didn't have an infection, and surprised you didn't. I will do whatever it takes to move forward and feel better just to have the Warriors chime in on this!

Freya244117

Good luck with it S12. I chose to have the daily injections rather than go into hospital for the same drug via an IV. I was neutropenic and didn't want to risk picking up a worse infection in hospital.

Is it getting any better today?

S12Clear

Freya, it is the same today (which is tomorrow to your post from 10 hours ago). Did you have cellulitis from lymph fluid build-up, or because of your neutropenia? Even though my blood counts look good, I didn't want to be in hospital for the very same reason - picking up yet another infection! Thank you so much for chiming in.

Freya244117

S12, I went through a stage of getting constantly bitten by March flies (horse flies), and always on my lymphoedema arm. That would cause cellulitis. I was neutropenic for a couple of years and kept Keflex on hand, but after a while it just wasn't enough, hence the injections.

I swear there must be a different smell to that arm, because if something is going to bite me, and is usually is a March fly, it is always on that arm. Those damn flies have a proboscis that can get you through a thick shirt sleeve. It was enough to make you paranoid about going outside LOL.

S12Clear

Ha! Freya, you just made me laugh, because I absolutely know what you are talking about. We have what we call Deer Flies in the Swamp Park that we own, and for some reason last year, those over-sized flying needles wereliterally stuck to me when I walked our Nature Trail and bit the ever-loving hell out of me, through my clothing. The guides told me it was because I frequently wear black...but it was the same if I wore white. This year, after my surgery, no matter what color I wore, they ignored me. Was it because they "smelled cancer" on me? I think we could bet a grant to study this...