Seroma

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Lharry
Lharry Member Posts: 86
edited August 2015 in Surgery - Before, During, and After

Any suggestions on relief for Seroma?

I had surgery (lumpectomy)a week ago tomorrow and my breast feels uncomfortably full.


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  • ElaineTherese
    ElaineTherese Member Posts: 3,328
    edited July 2015

    Hi Lharry!

    I had a seroma after my lumpectomy, too. If it's really big, you can call your BS and ask for an appointment to have it drained. My MO saw the size of my seroma after surgery, and told me to call my BS. It only takes 10 - 15 minutes to drain. On the other hand, if your seroma is relatively small, your BS might tell you to just wait. Eventually, your body will absorb the thing. Good luck!

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  • Lharry
    Lharry Member Posts: 86
    edited July 2015

    Boy do I wish there was SOMETHING that could be done to relieve this a bit! I am very uncomfortable with it. I spoke to breast advocate and she said that the doctor likely won't do anything with it, because it isn't showing any signs of infection or anything.

    How long did yours last? It has been a week since my surgery. I literally hear the sloshing when I stand up from sitting!

    Do you think me going for nightly casual walks in the neighborhood have anything to do with it? It is awefully humid outside, and I do sweat when I'm walking.

    I just am hoping for anything that could relieve this full, pressure, feeling like I'm carrying around a large water balloon feeling.

    I'm not digging this whole breast cancer thing right now! (who ever does, right?)

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  • ElaineTherese
    ElaineTherese Member Posts: 3,328
    edited July 2015

    Lharry,

    Seromas can take awhile to be absorbed by your body. If you're that uncomfortable, call the office of your BS. See if you can get the seroma drained. It's such a simple procedure; I can't imagine why your surgeon would refuse to perform it if it's very uncomfortable for you. If you do get it drained, you need to be tightly wrapped or to wear a tight sports bra afterward so new fluid doesn't replace the drained fluid. Good luck!

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  • Italychick
    Italychick Member Posts: 2,343
    edited July 2015

    My seroma was 10 cm., and I had a lot of water sloshing around in there. It resolved on its own.

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  • Lharry
    Lharry Member Posts: 86
    edited July 2015

    Do you recall how long it took for it to resolve on its own Italychick?

    I guess I'm just a little impatient and the sloshing truly bothers me! It has been a 9 days for me, and it hasn't gone down at all yet.

    I'm learning to just deal with it. But, every bump in the road hurts still!

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  • Italychick
    Italychick Member Posts: 2,343
    edited August 2015

    probably a couple of weeks for the sloshing to stop, but it took several months for the seroma to subside. Actually, I'm not 100% sure there isn't still a small seroma in there because I can feel like a pocket of what I think is fluid. Also, where my sentinel node biopsy scar is, it has oozed clear fluid twice, but I think there was a stitch that didn't dissolve. Right now I am 6 months from surgery, and I think the seroma still isn't 100% gone. But at least the sloshing went away in a couple of weeks, that was annoying. My doctors were a wait and let's see if it resolves kind of team, and didn't want to go in and drain it. One thing that did help in the first few weeks was to bind my breasts at night with an ace bandage. And sometimes I did it during the day too because it felt good

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  • tgtg
    tgtg Member Posts: 266
    edited August 2015

    Lharry--Be patient--it can hang around for a while! I just had my 2-and-a-half year surgical follow-up and still have a 26 mm seroma at the site of the tumor bed! It keeps shrinking, but is still there. In my case it didn't start as a sloshing seroma but as a colorful giant hematoma that the surgeon was able to drain about 3 weeks after the lx (the blood has to change from jelly state to liquid state before aspiration is possible). Once it appeared, he watched it but hasn't been concerned about the seroma since it is shrinking, however slowly. He did order an MRI for my recent checkup to have a full view of it. As for me, I can't see evidence of it now, nor can I feel it (except when the surgeon palpated it at the check-up)--in fact, it is probably the reason I don't have a visible dent or divot on my breast! So hang in there--some of us heal faster than others.

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  • meezers3
    meezers3 Member Posts: 95
    edited August 2015

    My lumpectomy was on 7/6 and my seroma still hurts. The RO didn't think it needed to be drained and told me it will shrink on its own. I just hope it isn't too painful when I start my radiation treatment. I take advil at least once a day for the pain. I notice it hurts more if I use my arm more such as driving or lifting.

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