Seroma in armpit after sentinel lymph node biopsy - painful!

Raphaele, sorry no one got back with you sooner. I guess the July 4 holiday long weekend kept many of us off the threads.

I, too, had experienced a seroma at the sentinel node biopsy site, although only partially in the armpit. Only your doctors can tell you what would be best in your situation, but I can tell you of my experience. The seroma appeared within a week of my lumpectomy. Very uncomfortable and I had it drained once. It came back quickly but then started to leak at the incision which did release some of the pressure. My doctor told me it would just take time and also worried about an infection, but I did not get one, thankfully. Mine actually stopped leaking when I started brachytherapy radiation and healed up within a couple of weeks. I've seen stories on this site of seromas that healed quicker or took longer. Each person's situation is unique and you'll need to work with your doctor. Personally, I think, like you said, it just takes time for your body to figure it out!!! All the best and let us know how you're doing.

raphaele, sorry you need further surgery. I hope the infected seroma clears up quickly. Take care of yourself and let us know what's happening. Ceanna

I had an enormous hematoma after my LX, about 300ml. It was drained about half in the office, then the rest was cleaned up during my re-excision for margins. Darned if it didn't form a seroma after the re-ex, over 500ml! It was huge and would break open about every 3 days, pouring gunk down my side at the most inopportune moments. BS drained it several times, until it finally it got badly infected. Then i had to take two powerful antibiotics for 6 weeks and had a drain put in. Foo!

My doctor believes that the hematoma caused a huge cavity within the breast that, after evacuation, filled with fluid causing the seroma. Interestingly, i had a seroma on the OTHER side after my BMX. That one was about 6-in across and 2-in deep. The PS opened that one and i ended up having to pack it for 16 WEEKS! Double Foo!

Hi, Mustlovepoodles,

I’ve had a seroma since a couple weeks after radiation ended. It was drained tree times then started leaking from the needle site. On 7/19/18 I had surgery to open it up and debride area and needed to pack it for 2 weeks. It’s still open and gunky looking and my surgeon says she’s never seen this. She told me to stop packing it and just keep rebandaging it. It has not changed much and I’ve got no idea if it’s better or worse. Today is my last day of antibiotics. I go to my oncologist today. Maybe she will refer me to wound care. This is just so scary. I had one week after the end of radiation where I felt like I was back to normal and then this happened. It’s been so upsetting. Especially with the surgeon saying she’s never seen this in 20 years of practice. So I hope she’s treating it correctly. Any thoughts would be welcome.

Kate

I also had seromas under my arms after my bilateral mastectomies and right axillary dissection. They just watched them for about 4 months. They were not painful at that time unless I rested my arm on them, but it felt like I had a golf ball under my arm all the time. I healed from the surgery and began doing more and more, that aggravated the seromas they grew and the pain got worse, they were aspirated a few times maybe about 5 times before they eventually went away. I recently had reconstruction surgery and the plastic surgeon said those seromas were huge across my chest and into my underarms and encapsulated and caused lots of scar tissue and fibrosis, that was the pain I was experiencing after my radiation. He has since excised all that tissue and I feel alot better now. I hope it doesn't come back now after my reconstruction surgery heals up. Good luck with yours.

Hi All,

I went to the oncologist but saw the nurse practitioner. She actually has had some experience packing wounds (her own) and said the wound looked a little gunky but the whitish area was the wound healing, or so we would like to think. She said keep an eye on it and if it stays the same or looks worse go back to the surgeon and get a referral to wound care. She said to change the bandage twice a day. The Tylenol doesn’t always take away the nagging pain so I guess I’ll live with that a little while longer.

Best to all,

Kate

Avibaby, sorry to hear you're still dealing with it, but glad they could drain and relieve some pressure. It will go away--just hang in there. Glad you can work comfortably.