Breast Cysts & Seromas 1 year post reconstruction

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TLN327
TLN327 Member Posts: 3

I am one year post reconstruction on my right breast after having a mastectomy due to Invasive Lobular Carcinoma. I was lucky enough not to have chemo or radiation. I started Femara at my diagnosis in Nov/2014. Femara caused me so much pain that my oncologist switched me to Tamoxifen (I had a hysterectomy 12 years ago) in March of this year. Two weeks ago, my reconstructed breast began to be hard, swollen and painful. My plastic surgeon ordered an ultrasound, which showed cysts and seromas. The next day, I was under the knife again and my capsule and implant were removed, along with 12 cysts and 10 seromas were drained. The weird thing was that the cysts were filled w/ a milky colored substance, as were the seromas. Even my implant (still intact) had absorbed this milky fluid. It was sent to the lab with no signs of cancers. The implant was sent to the manufacturer. The radiologist who read my ultrasound told me she believes the cysts were from switching to Tamoxifen. My plastic surgeon said she's never seen anything like it. No one seems to have any idea what happened. Tamoxifen?? I'm hoping that was it, as I won't take it anymore. I'd love to hear from anyone who has experienced anything similar. Thanks!

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  • Moderators
    Moderators Member Posts: 25,912
    edited July 2016

    Hi TLN327-

    We're so sorry for what happened! That sounds incredibly frustrating. Have you checked out our Reconstruction forum? There might be someone there who's experienced something similar, and hasn't made the connection to tamoxifen, if that's the culprit. We hope you find some answers soon, and can find a treatment that works!

    The Mods

  • TLN327
    TLN327 Member Posts: 3
    edited July 2016

    Thank you. I hadn't thought of posting in the Reconstruction forum. I have just done so. It would seem that if Tamoxifen was the culprit that SOMEONE would have encountered this before! Even my brother, who has been a plastic surgeon for 40 years said he's never seen it. That seems odd since Tamoxifen was the drug of choice for so many years. Hoping that we find someone who knows something about this, as I'm afraid it may happen again. If it does, I've been told all implants, etc. will be removed and I will not be able to have anything again. That sucks.

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