Swelling After Lumpectomy - What is Normal

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Sekerim
Sekerim Member Posts: 19
edited February 2018 in Surgery - Before, During, and After

I'll preface this post by saying I have a message in with my BS and am waiting for a call back. Also scheduled a follow up appointment for tomorrow.

I had my lumpectomy on my left breast on Tuesday. No SNB. The incision is tucked into the side of my breast near my armpit and the area of DCIS they removed was about 2.5cm on imagining. Not sure how large an area they actually took out. I've been feeling surprisingly OK. Sore more than in pain. Have been switching off tylenol and advil for pain and icing every few hours per my instructions. Today was feeling pretty good and did a few things around the house. Nothing too strenuous and all using my right side. My doctor said I could shower today (no drains). I removed the surgical bra for the first time since Tuesday and showered with my back to the water, mostly avoiding my left breast.

In the space of an hour or so the area became very hard, swollen and warm to the touch. It's not red, but is suddenly very bruised looking where it wasn't before. Would love to hear more about other experiences while I wait for a call back. Did anyone experience this and what happened? What is "normal".

Appreciate any stories/advice.



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  • Basil2
    Basil2 Member Posts: 11
    edited February 2018

    Sekerim, I hope that you are feeling better. Did you learn anything from your BS? I had the same surgery on same side yesterday and am planning on showering for first time per instructions tomorrow too. Let me know if you found anything out. I hope all is well! Hugs

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  • Sekerim
    Sekerim Member Posts: 19
    edited February 2018

    They want me to keep my appointment tomorrow and have them look at it. The nurse told me what to look for if I spike a fever no matter how low grade, if it bleeds or oozes, etc. If that happens I'm supposed to call them, but go to the ER. I asked if I should cancel the appointment if it's better tomorrow and they said no, the BS would want to see my either way just to check on me. It's very noticeable and DH is a little concerned. When I took my shower, aside from the incision and a bit of bruising my breast looked fairly normal. Now it's a size or two bigger than the other with a giant hard lump over the top.

    I don't think the shower did anything, just that I moved around more today and wasn't good about icing until the swelling started.

    I hope you are feeling OK today.

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  • Veeder14
    Veeder14 Member Posts: 880
    edited February 2018

    For a few days after my lumpectomy my breast got more bruised. I questioned it and was told that was normal. Was significantly swollen also. Since your skin is warm I would go to your app't and be looked at. Let us know what the surgeon says.

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  • Paco
    Paco Member Posts: 208
    edited February 2018

    I had my surgery the same day as you, so congratulations to us both for getting through! I was lucky enough to have very little pain but I did have significant swelling. No hardness or lump though. I hope you get some relief when you see the BS tomorrow. Hugs and warm thoughts coming your way.

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  • Sekerim
    Sekerim Member Posts: 19
    edited February 2018

    The swelling was far better today, but he told me I was right to come in. He could tell how much it had swelled yesterday from the bruising. He said that while some swelling is common, usually if you are going to bruise they can see it right after surgery. He wrapped me in an ace bandage and suggested I keep this up through the weekend. I'm supposed to call him over the weekend if it gets worse at all and he wants me to call on Monday just to let him know how I'm doing. I have my official post op appointment on the 26th and he wants me to make sure I keep it. He doesn't know why it happened, but kept saying it wasn't caused by anything I did or didn't do.

    I love my BS so much. He's such a genuinely caring man.


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  • Georgia1
    Georgia1 Member Posts: 1,321
    edited February 2018

    So glad you are getting good care. Hang in there; you'll feel lots better in a day or two.

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  • flowergal
    flowergal Member Posts: 167
    edited February 2018

    I had lumpectomy and SN removed on outer edge of breast and almost a week later, had a terrible bruise come up on underside of breast,,swelling and ,numbness under my arm. At post op visit, 2/15, told this was all normal and would subside in a few weeks. Hope She was right!

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  • Sekerim
    Sekerim Member Posts: 19
    edited February 2018

    Posting an additional update just in case anyone finds themselves in a similar boat.

    I had my first official post op visit today. I still had a lot of soreness and swelling the past week and the bruising got really bad. The incision is next to my breast near my armpit and the lesion was in the 1PM position, but my entire breast was bruised. A tennis ball sized area over the lumpectomy site is swollen. When I wake up it's better, but it swells more throughout the day.. My BS looked at it and said it's a hematoma. He has no idea why it showed up a few days post surgery. He had me go have an ultrasound and have them try to extract some of the fluid but is thick and viscous and they couldn't get much out. There's nothing to do but keep up with compression and wait for it to resolve. I can resume normal activity but nothing with too much bouncing or jostling until the swelling resolves.

    I was scheduled to have my radiation mapping session on Wednesday, but he told me to hold off until it resolves so it doesn't throw off the calibration. Also said that radiation shouldn't start until it heals. I'm fine with this, but also sort of want to get this show on the road so I can complete treatment and try to get back to normal.

    It's a small bump in the road, but a bump nonetheless.

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