Seroma after Surgery, can't start chemo!

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Rosep34
Rosep34 Member Posts: 9
edited March 2015 in Surgery - Before, During, and After

I was diagnosed with stage 2A invasive breast cancer, 1 lymph node positive on November 7, 2014. I had a lumpectomy on November 25 2014 but the margins were too close so I opted for the mastectomy. I had the mastectomy on December 29th. I developed a huge hematoma and bled out 1.75 liters of blood into my chest cavity and had to have a blood transfusion and ended up 6 days in the hospital. So here it is now February 24, 2015 and we are supposed to start 4 rounds of chemo but my chest cavity developed an seroma and I am on a wound vac. My question is, how long is the normal time to start chemo after surgery? I am going to talk to my oncologist Thursday but was wondering if this has happened to anyone? They said they can't start until I'm healed

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  • TeriMP
    TeriMP Member Posts: 89
    edited February 2015

    Hi Rosep34,

    I am sorry to hear of your troubles, and am wishing you the best!!! I too was diagnosed with stage 2a breast cancer, and elected to have a bilateral mastectomy. I have a seroma on my left side (non-cancerous side), albeit no where near as large or serious as you. I was able to go ahead with chemo. I'm thinking the reason could be (I may be wrong) that because chemo will lower your white blood cell count your risk for infection will greatly increase. Given the seriousness of your seroma they may want you to be healed first before putting your body through more trauma.

    Sorry I can't be of any help.

    Teri

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  • Rosep34
    Rosep34 Member Posts: 9
    edited February 2015

    Thanks for replying to my post! If you don't mind, I have a couple questions! How long after your surgery did you start Chemo? That is my main concern right now, I'm worried the cancer is floating around in my blood stream! Was your incision healed completely when you started Chemo? And how did you do?

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  • Kicks
    Kicks Member Posts: 4,131
    edited February 2015

    I started adjuvant Taxol 3 weeks after UMX (had done A/C neoadjuvant). I still had 1 drain in and at 4 weeks post op Surgeon decided to go ahead an remove it even though it was still draining a lot - his theory was that 'it' was irritating the area and causing the drainage so removing it should stop the drainage. Wrong - developed a large seroma. There was never anything said about not doing my weekly Taxol. The seroma was still showing on a CT at 6.2 cm the day of my last Taxol/week before starting rads.

    We are all so different so no 2 of us will have exactly all the same experiences. Our Drs are also unique and not all will TX us the same.

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  • TeriMP
    TeriMP Member Posts: 89
    edited February 2015

    Hi Rosep34,

    I had my surgery on Nov 12/14 and started chemo on Jan. 15/15; since my healing time landed over Xmas I was told if the pathology report doesn't show anything overly serious they would start me on chemo in the new year. My incisions were completely healed.

    I was also like you and freaked at the thought of the cancer cells possibly in my blood stream, I did some research and did a lot of juicing (mainly carrots) as they are known to have properties that can stop cancer cells from spreading and I also ingested hash oil (I did that from the time of my diagnosis Aug 19/14 up until my surgery). I stopped after surgery as I didn't know how it would interact with my pain meds. Even if these things provided a placebo affect it made me feel better knowing I was doing something.

    All I can hope is that the chemo is doing its job

    In regards to the surgery I healed really well, no issues there (other than the small seroma). I have been doing quite well with my chemo and am getting better at handing the side effects.

    If you have any other questions please ask!! ;)

    Teri

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  • wrenn
    wrenn Member Posts: 2,707
    edited February 2015

    I was diagnosed in July and had chemo at the end of Nov because of a hematoma. My hematoma created a tunnel in my chest to make it's way to the surface and broke through my healed mastectomy incision. I had a 12 cm tunnel that had to be packed with anti microbial tape every day until it healed. It wasn't quite healed when I had the chemo but almost. My tumour was very aggressive but I am still ok a year and a half later.

    Try not to worry....easier said than done I know.

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  • Rosep34
    Rosep34 Member Posts: 9
    edited March 2015

    Hi, thanks for your reply! I was wondering how your incision did during Chemo? I started last Thursday and the wound was almost healed, then it split wide open! I am worried! I went to wound care and she packed it again. I'm just afraid if it gets any worse, it will stop my treatments! Did your wound site stay the same? Also, the night after Chemo,I was suffering and couldn't sleep, and was so hot , I was rolling around bad and think I may have ripped it open. I'm freeking out

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