Lymphoedema breast - Fluids are bloody

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Elvina
Elvina Member Posts: 2
edited November 2019 in Lymphedema

Hi everyone,

My mom had a mastectomy a year ago (without reconstruction), they took away all the lymph nodes on the left side as well and she had radiation of the breast area.

She has developed a lymphoedema in the area where the breast was. Her doctors punctured the breast about every two weeks to let out the fluids. In the last few weeks the fluid has gone from clear yellow to dark bloody. The doctors don't know why. At first they thought a small blood vessel might have burst but it's not getting better.

Has anyone here experienced something like that??

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  • Moderators
    Moderators Member Posts: 25,912
    edited November 2019

    Dear Elvina,

    Welcome to the BCO community. We are sorry for what brings you here and for what your mom is going through. It is not clear from what you describe what might be the problem. We hope that others might chime in who have had lymphedema to share their experiences. Here is a link to our main site with lots of articles about lymphedema and its management. Keep us posted on what you learn about your mom and her situation.

    The Mods

    Edited to make link hot.

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  • rlmessy
    rlmessy Member Posts: 137
    edited November 2019

    Elvina...could you explain a little more about the "punctured breast?"

    In my experience with my mom a 13 year breast cancer survivor with lymphedema I have never heard of such a thing. In fact, we try very hard not to puncture anything on that side...no blood draws, no injuries, etc.

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  • MinusTwo
    MinusTwo Member Posts: 16,634
    edited November 2019

    Possibly it's a seroma they are draining? Maybe the drains came out too soon? But the docs should be able to explain why the fluid is recurring and what the options are for the future.

    It's not likely lymphadema.

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  • Elvina
    Elvina Member Posts: 2
    edited November 2019

    Thank you all for your replies! You are very kind!


    My mom tried lymph drainage but that didn't work well, so her doctors drained the fluids by puncturing the breast. This has been going on since January or so. They tested for bacteria a few times but never found anything in the fluids. She never had swelling in her arm.

    About 3 or 4 weeks ago the fluids turned a little bit bloody and it has gotten worse since. She saw a new doctor outside the hospital and she said this might be from an infection from bacteria.

    My mom had an implant at the beginning (breast reconstruction) but they had to take it out after 2 weeks because she had a bacterial infection. Is it possible that she still has this infections in the breast (muscle?)? Even after 10 months? She received antibiotics for a few weeks after they took out her implant.

    They did an MRI at the hospital yesterday and she is waiting for the results now. I really hope they find anything. I think they will probably have to operate again...

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  • rlmessy
    rlmessy Member Posts: 137
    edited November 2019

    Elvira, I am with MinisTwo that does not sound like a typical presentation of lymphedema. I would lean more toward something going on in the breast itself. Hopefully the MRI will give you some good information.

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