Breast pain 8 months post-lumpectomy

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rphouse
rphouse Member Posts: 18
edited August 2019 in Surgery - Before, During, and After

I had double lumpectomy in May and completed 20 treatments of rads at the end of July. Two days ago I noticed pain to the touch in the treated breast. Even a light touch brings on the discomfort so I thought perhaps it was nerves coming back to life. I called breast surgeon just to confirm there was nothing to worry about. I have no other symptoms - no swelling, no fever, not hardened spots. Doctor requested a picture and verified that visually everything looked ok, but scheduled me for mammo and US on Monday. I’m really trying to believe it’s just nerves that are repairing, but the fact that BS wants imaging is causing a lot of anxiety and worry. Anyine experience pain months after treatment? Just hoping to hopefully find someone that can relate

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  • hopedreams
    hopedreams Member Posts: 85
    edited January 2019

    HI RP HOUSE.. YES.. I HAD A SINGLE LUMPECTOMY LAST JUNE..AND ABOUT A MONTH LATER..I HAD PAIN AND FELT A LUMP IN THAT AREA.. HAD 2 INCISIONS..IN ONE BREAST..WHICH WAS VERY SMALL TO BEGIN WITH.. AS THE MONTHS WENT BY..THE PAIN GOT MUCH WORSE.. AND LUMP GOT MUCH BIGGER...HURTS WITH BRA ON & OFF.. WENT BACK TO BREAST SURGEON & HAD ANOTHER MAMMO & ULTRASOUND RECENTLY.. ALL WAS OK....EXCEPT..I DO NOW HAVE A SARCOMA.... WHICH IS A BUILD UP OF FLUID IN THE EMPTY AREA FROM THE SURGERY. SO THAT IS WHAT I WAS TOLD ??? I HAVE A CHOICE..I CAN LEAVE IT ALONE & SEE IF IT GOES AWAY ON ITS OWN .. OR I CAN HAVE IT DRAINED... AND DR SAID IT CAN COME BACK..EVEN AFTER HAVING IT DRAINED.. SO I DECIDED TO HAVE IT DRAINED OUT.. AND HOPEFULLY GET SOME RELIEF FROM THIS CONSTANT BOOB PAIN.. HAD ANYONE ELSE HAVE THIS PROBLEM.. PLEASE LEAVE A COMMENT IF U DID..THANKS.. P.S FORGOT TO MENTION..I ALSO NEED TO HAVE ANOTHER U.S. 2 WEEKS PRIOR TO THIS DRAINING.. I SUPPOSE ITS A NEEDLE ASPIRATION.. IS THE WAY IT IS DRAINED..HAD THAT IN THE PAST FOR A CYST.. NOT TOO BAD..!! GOOD LUCK RPHOUSE... ~HOPE

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  • rphouse
    rphouse Member Posts: 18
    edited January 2019

    Hadn’t thought about it being a seroma since it’s been so long since surgery. I was under the impression that they develop shortly after surgery. I wonder if they can still happen this far out from surgery? Funny how after BC diagnosis the mind goes straight to the worst case scenario.

    Hope the draining is no big deal and that it all gets resolved for you

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  • MAP1002
    MAP1002 Member Posts: 61
    edited January 2019

    I had my lumpectomy, and breast symetery (easiest way to describe it) surgery June, 2017. I finished all treatment (chemo/lump/rads) by Dec 2017.. So I am over 1 year post all treatment, save tamoxifen.

    This weekend I noticed a pain/lump under my non-cancer breast by my incision, and its red. I have a call into dr to see if they think it is anything serious.

    Hoping it is nothing more than scar tissue.. but really, 18 months later??? sigh..fingers crossed.

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  • rphouse
    rphouse Member Posts: 18
    edited January 2019

    Hope it’s no big deal and easily resolved. It would be nice not to have to worry or think about our boobs so much 😊

    I had mammo and ultrasound today and everything looked normal. My boob still hurts, but I have no idea why. I’m guessing just continued radiation damage perhaps...


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  • MAP1002
    MAP1002 Member Posts: 61
    edited January 2019

    Right? stupid boobs... lol Still waiting to hear back.. its also about time for my 6 month mamo. I was told I don't need MRI anymore after my last one 6m ago..

    hoping this doesn't change that.. still thinking its just scar tissue.. right? I had the chemo, on the tamox.. shouldn't be anything growing there anymore, should there...

    LOL I haven't had my first colonoscopy yet.. (Im 53). when I mentioned to my onco, I jokingly said, well, I had chemo, anything there should be gone, right? He didn't laugh. guess I have to schedule that now too..


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  • hopedreams
    hopedreams Member Posts: 85
    edited February 2019

    HI RBHOUSE... U CAN ALWAYS ASK YOUR SURGEON WHAT HE/SHE THINKS IT IS..?? I HOPE MINE WAS RIGHT ABOUT A SEROMA..I HAD LUMECTOMY BEGINING OF JUNE 2018 & I FOUND THIS LUMPY AREA RIGHT AFTER IT.. BUT THIS AREA GOT BIGGER AND MORE PAINFUL PAST FEW MONTHS.. THIS IS NOW CALLED A BIOPSY. GGGRRR THE DRAINING..WHO KNOWS WTH IS REALLY IS ?? MAKING ME NUTS. YES I AM NOW WORRIED WHAT THEY MAY FIND..I WILL LET U KNOW.. HAVING IT DONE I MARCH...~HOPE

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  • hopedreams
    hopedreams Member Posts: 85
    edited August 2019

    HI LADIES. I WAS GOING THRU MY OLD POSTS.. IM SORRY BUT I NEVER LET U GUYS KNOW.. I DID HAVE IT ASPIRATED LAST MARCH..BY A GREAT RADIOLOGIST WHO GAVE ME EXTRA MED TO NUMB MY BREAST.. SHE WAS GREAT..& ALL THAT CAME OUT WAS BE 9 FLUID..AND IT TOOK ALL THE PAIN AWAY IMMEDIATELY..EXCEPT FROM THE NEEDLE AREA THAT WAS SORE FOR A SHORT TIME....SO FAR IT HAS NOT COME BACK.. HATE TO EVEN SAY THIS..FEEL LIKE I AM JINXING MYSELF... HOPE U ALL ALSO HAD SOME GOOD RESULTS ALSO.. TAKE GOOD CARE..~..HOPE.

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  • SUPer52
    SUPer52 Member Posts: 122
    edited August 2019

    Hopedreams, Thanks for posting your follow up. Glad everything turned out well for you! I just saw this thread and read through it bc I also have a seroma or a hematoma at my lumpectomy sight. It's been there since my surgery and my surgeon said it would probably go down during radiation and said cosmetic results would be better if he didn't drain it; he said I was more likely to kind of "cave in" at the lumpectomy sight and have more of a divot than if I just let it absorb naturally. I was fine with him not draining it, but it really didn't go down during radiation and it is still there almost 6 months post surgery and 3 months post radiation. It is starting to hurt just a little-kind of like a bruise hurts when you press on it, and it definitely makes that breast slightly larger than the non-bc breast. I have my follow up with the surgeon in a few weeks, so I may ask about draining it now that is has been longer. I have two questions for you (or anyone else with a similar situation) if you don't mind me asking: did you notice a divot at your lumpectomy sight after it was drained? And, did you have any mammograms during the time you had the seroma? I have my mammogram coming up and am worried about it popping when it gets squished in the mammogram paddles.

    Thanks!

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  • LillianGish
    LillianGish Member Posts: 108
    edited August 2019

    This thread is so timely for me too.

    Hope, thank for sharing and I’m glad things turned out well.

    Super52, I had a lumpectomy 9 months ago. When I started radiation in March of this year, the RO did a CT and noticed a “fluid sac” under my arm pit right by the surgical site. The ultrasound guys said it was likely a seroma and the lymph nodes were clear.

    Lately though, there is a very sore noticeable lump and I’m hoping to goodness that is the seroma she saw on the CT. I think so, but it wasn’t this large and sore. Like you said, it feels like a bruise. It’s gotten worse and not better.

    And my mammogram is coming up soon too! Never thought about the seroma popping. Oy

    Going to call my RO tomorrow and talk to her about this. I don’t like this worry!

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  • SUPer52
    SUPer52 Member Posts: 122
    edited August 2019

    Lillian, thanks for the response. I can't tell for sure, but sometimes I think my seroma seems larger too, almost like certain bras aggravate it. I have also started to get some rib pain that occurs only when I stretch it, like if I am reaching up into a cupboard. Yesterday, I noticed a thin vein or cord that runs from under the breast down my rib cage. It's barely visible, but I can feel it. I'm not sure if it is Mondor's cord, but I am guessing it is part of the pain I am feeling around the area of my seroma. I have my follow up with the radiation oncologist this Friday, so I will ask him about it too since my appointment with the surgeon isn't for another two weeks after that. I also have a consult with a physical therapist next week, so it will be interesting to hear what she says. I made the appointment because of the tightness in my ribs and was starting to wonder if it isn't something I could just work out myself, but now that this little cord is there, and since this seroma or hematoma or whatever it is just will not go down, I am glad I made the physical therapy appointment. I agree with you-I don't like this worry, and I feel that I have gone from taking my health for granted to being worried about every little thing I notice anymore. I will post a follow up after my appointment Friday.

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  • SUPer52
    SUPer52 Member Posts: 122
    edited August 2019

    I wanted to post a follow-up since I had my appointment with my radiation oncologist today. He could see and feel the hematoma/seroma (said there really isn't a way to know which it is without drawing fluid out) and agreed there is still some overall swelling in the breast that is most likely fluid that hasn't drained because swelling from radiation would typically have gone down by now. He feels that the location of the incision and the scar tissue resulting from it might be blocking the fluid from draining out its natural pathway and said it can take time for it to develop an alternate pathway. He said my surgeon may order an ultrasound when I see him in two weeks just to make sure there isn't something else going on underneath it, but he seemed fairly confident it wasn't anything to be worried about. I do have my consult with a physical therapist next week who is certified in lymphatic drainage and massage, and the radiologist feels she will be able to show me some massage techniques I can use to help it drain which should help the tenderness resolve as well. I also asked about the risk of it popping while getting my mammogram, and he said that would be very unlikely, thank goodness! :-)

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