Is swelling, hardness and redness normal 3 weeks after surgery?

I did not experience that after my lumectomy.  I call my drs nurse all the time and she contacts the dr for me usuallly.  I would give them a call to make sure.  Why sit and worry about it.  That is their job and my nurse never seems annoyed with my call.  Good Luck

How are you doing, ArtTeacher? Thinking of you, and hoping you've gotten some answers from your docs.

Be well!
Binney

Your experience sounds exactly like mine.  I went back to my doctor today after calling his office several times.  I went to have the fluid drained that the nurse said was there.  Doctor did drain, but said there was "no fluid".  I still don't understand what is happening to me and haven't talked to anyone who has had pain this long.  My tumor was "almost against the chest wall" he has said.  That might explain why more pain.  Someone out there help both of us understand.

ArtTeacherEs:  How are you doing?  We were having the same postop problems and some of mine are just beginning to resolve and my surgery was April 20.  Swelling is almost gone, redness gone, but sensitivity and numbness still very much here.  Still having problem wearing clothing on that side.  Is this normal, anyone?

Ladies, I just found this tread

I don't think this is normal, but does happen. I am writing to tell you to keep advocating for yourself. I had swelling after a re-incision a month after my lumpectomy. I told my gp and onc about the swelling and a swishing sound that I could hear. They seemed to think that it was normal as well. Unfortunately for me, my incision site was not strong enough to withstand the pressure of the swelling and my incision openned up. A lot of fluid  came out ( it was what I call my ER moment, with nurses trying to sop up the fluid. I went through five weeks of home care, where the nurses packed the wound daily. At this point my gp finally looked at the wound and said that it would talk at least another month to heal. Because I was waiting for this to heal so I could start chemo, he orgaized for my surgeon to do a secondary close on the wound. I wish my story would be over at that point, but the cavity has again begun to fill. I hear the swishing sound again. I went for a mamogram on my other breast just today. Because there was some suspicious spots under the nipple, I ended up having an ultrasound done by a doctor (she told me there was nothing to worry about on my right breast - yeah). I asked if she could just look at my left breast even though there was no order for that because of the swelling (squeaky wheel gets the grease), and she did. She agreed with me that there was too much fluid and decided to drain it. I am so relieved, because we were heading into the weekend, and I didn't want to worry about this all weekend. My end thought is that I don't know what can be done to end this problem. I don't know if the swelling definitely means infection, but I do feel that they need to drain the fluid and continue to test it for infection. We need to advocate for ourselves. We know what feels normal and what doesn't. I had no problems after my lumpectomy - I went back to work in a week, and went on a family holiday in three weeks. That was normal. Keep pestering those doctors!!!!!!!! 

I had this same problem! My Dr - a Breast Cancer Surgeon has been very proactive and very sympathetic to my needs. I had swelling & fluid build up and my Radiologist sent a note to my Dr and he was immediatly on it. My surgeon indicated to me that although it may heal on its own (meanwhile leaving me with pain & discomfort) he did not feel I should have to endure that!  He immediatly had it drained. He checked me again the following week and again- drained my left breat using an ultra sound to guide him. Each time after having my breat drained, I felt such a relief & it was a simple procedure. It also speed up the healing process.

Glad I found this discussion.  I had a lumpectomy in early March and then underwent the mammosite catheter insertion.   It had to be removed and another radiation catheter inserted and am now in my fourth course of antibiotics.   My surgeon has removed fluid multiple times (3+) and in each case, depending on where we were in the infection resolution, the fluid went from clear and yellowish (just excess fluid build up) which immediately relieved pain, to dark yellow (beginning of the infection) to very dark orangish (height of the infection even with antibiotics).  No red- so I can't help there.  I have called my surgeon every time and they are very helpful, so don't hesitate.   

I am, however, very tired of the ongoing infection and am concerned that my next step is in-hospital intrevenous antibiotics.    Any one ever had this type of persistent lumpectomy infection that just won't quit?

Rinna,

Thanks for the good thoughts.   Saw my doctor yesterday and she says the infection looks better, but these things do take a while to resolve.   Word was to be patient.   I was very lucky not to need chemo, so good luck with yours.   My thoughts with you also.

MLB

I had some redness around my drain site about a week after my surgery. My surgeon gave me antibiotics and it was looking better the next week.

Did your onc look at both rashes? It sounds as though the one on your side may not be particularly responsive to antibiotics. It would be a good idea to have someone (surgeon, onc, primary care) take another looksee.