ADH Lumpectomy Brown Discharge

Sissy,

I'm glad you started a new post (I just responded to the old one)--the ladies here will chime in with their experiences.  After reading both posts, it sounds like the duct excision would be a natural next step.  We all want to ignore bad news, but make sure to stay diligent and get the doctors to check it all out--run the exams, tests, etc. and then make sure to follow up with the doctor after the exams and tests so they can answer any questions you have, and make suggestions.  Ultimately, it is YOUR body and you need to feel comfortable about what is done to it. 

My BS recommended a duct excision, and then when I went in for the surgery consult, he changed his mind...this whole process can be confusing and frustrating--just remember that you are your own best advocate, so don't stop until you get the answers you need...My next exams are just a few weeks away--we'll see if he changes his mind again...

Hang in there and keep us informed! 

Sissy:  Did you have a galactogram?  I had a lumpectomy last year and about 2 months ago started leaking a brownish-yellow fluid.  My breast surgeon ordered the galactogram and they were able to track the drainage back to a seroma that has developed from the surgery.  I can have surgery to remove the duct, have a fluid aspiration, or he said I could just wait a while.  But, they didn't find any masses in my duct as they did in yours.  Having been through chemo, radiation, and surgery over the past year I decided to wait a while and will go back after my breast MRI in July and decide what to do.  It is possible that you are experiencing the same type of drainage, but I would go with your surgeon's recommendations.  Honestly, if they had found a mass on the galactogram, my surgeon said he would have recommended duct excision and I would have agreed.  But, ask about the galactogram if you haven't had one.

Hi Sissy:  Blather on, doesn't bother me.  A lot of times when making decisions, in addition to information, we need to talk it out and have someone listen.  I am more than willng to listen, and offer you any knowledge I may have, of course what is happening in my case might not be exactly the same as yours, so your decision may need to be different.  You are right the choices you have to make in the face of uncertainty are difficult and frightening. 

Just to let you know, that I currently am draining serous fluid from one duct also, but on a regular basis.  I also did drain fluid during my last mammo in April.  The galactogram involved them sticking a very thin tube into that duct and infusing in contrast solution.  Then they did a mammo and followed the contrast in that duct to see where it went and if there were any masses in that duct.  Mine drained right back to a large seroma that they knew I had because, yes, seromas do show up both on mammos and MRIs.   

 Also, my seroma is not where my original tumor was, it is above the surgical sight.  I also have a lot of swelling there too.  That's great that you didn't have a lot of bruising.  I didn't have a lot of bruising on my original surgery, but did develop quite a bruise after my re-excision.  I also had lymph nodes removed from the breast.  They are intramammory lymph nodes that are removed with the rest of the tissue.  It is different from axillary lymph nodes from under your arm. 

Anyway, I wish you the best of luck with your decisions.  It seems as if the doctors are certainly taking your issues seriously, so if they say to wait I think that is a reasonable thing to do.  But, I would explain your fears to them and ask them what they recommend.  Nobody wants to get invasive cancer and we all live with that fear every day and it is tough.  You live with the fear of getting invasive cancer, I live with the fear of having a recurrence or developing metastatic disease.  Its a very difficulty way to live and I understand very well how you feel.  I wish you the best of luck and if you have any other questions, just ask.