Need Help with Seroma

macdebbie

I saw my BCS's PA Mon for some edema that is between the lymph node incision and my underarm, and while there she did an ultrasound and found I have a fairly large seroma in my breast. I didn't really notice it except the breast is still swollen 3-1/2 weeks after surgery and it still is tender. She it to me, and I felt it and it feels kind of hard.

She was going to aspirate it, but they didn't have any anesthetic which doesn't have epi in it and I can't have epi so she said if it got more uncomfortable to let her know and she'd refer me to radiology to do it.

So I've been putting warm compresses on it and trying light massage myself to get things moving. But today I saw the radiation oncologist and she told me that if it doesn't go down by the time we do radiation, whatever size it is, it will always stay that because of what radiation does to the breast. Then she told me that there's always a risk anytime you stick a needle in of getting an infection, so I'm torn what to do.

She said it needs to be stable by the time I start radiation. My "planning" appt is 11/1. So I don't know if I should just let things try and resolve on their own or go get it aspirated. Both she and the BCS's PA told me that even if it's aspirated it can fill up again.

Do these things usually resolve on their own? How long does it usually take? I don't want to leave it to too close to the planning appt to have it aspirated because if it gets aspirated and they do all the measurements and then it fills back up everything will be off.

What do you all think?

ctmbsikia

I hate seroma's! I also had one 3 weeks post op. Probably my own fault too. I folded laundry one day without a bra on! I was so dumb back then. Anyway, the thing swelled up right after that and it hurt. Went to the BS appt and she did not want to drain it. I asked her did I just screw up my radiation planning, and she said no, and the RO was OK too. I also did some warm compresses and during work I would put a balled up sock in my bra, and wore the tightest bra I could stand. It did go down. Compression. bra if you have one. It takes a while though (a month? maybe-I can't recall. Radiation was OK but it did make that area hard. Take good care. i wish there was an easy answer. They just take time to resolve. If you can live with it for a while, I would not advise draining it. They just fill up again.

AlwaysMeC

I'm in a similar situation. My surgery was on the 23rd of September. I have a two inch long seroma at the axillary incision site. I thought it went down a little yesterday, but when I woke up this morning the size went back. The difference is, I was wearing sport bras and tugging them up over the incision. Last night, I decided to switch to my Hanes no underwire bra, which offers support, but doesn't hug like a sport bra does.

I meet my onc radiologist for consult on October 29th. I'll follow up here if she gives me different advice, but I'm hoping it goes down by then.

macdebbie

ctmbsikia, you're too funny. I highly doubt you caused the seroma. I have worn a bra 24/7 since my surgery, the only exception being the shower. I SO look forward to the day I don't have to wear one to bed. I've just been so worried about causing an issue.

Hopefully it will resolve on its own. How was radiation? I'm not worried about it really, just have really fair, dry skin already, so hopefully I don't burn too bad.

macdebbie

AlwaysMeC, I hope yours resolves as well. I just listened to the tape from today's meeting. My RO said it should resolve in a couple of weeks. I might ask to see my BCS again then and have them do another ultrasound and go from there.

She did say if I have it aspirated there has to be at least a week before the planning appt. because it can fill back up and then all the measurements will be off. Scary thought. Fingers crossed this goes down on it's own.

Gonetruckin

I had one in my armpit and lots of lymphatic fluid all around my breast. PT massaged it gently and showed me how to encourage fluid towards other lymph nodes that were still there. It took about three weeks but the seroma went away, fluid took longer but is now finally about gone. I did chemo after surgery then other delays so I’m just now getting ready to start radiation.