Hematoma after Breast Lumpectomy

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MyBestFriends
MyBestFriends Member Posts: 13
edited February 2020 in Surgery - Before, During, and After

I had my lumpectomy surgery 5 days ago. My bruising/ hematoma has gotten HUGE. My breast is swollen and black. The bruising has progressed down my torso into my pubic area and is now at the top of my leg. I am still wearing the elasticized tube top with Velcro closure. I call the surgeon's office and the nurse said it was not something to worry about. I would be a rainbow of colors soon. 1. Is this considered normal? 2. How long will it last? 3. Should I start wearing a sports bra? I don't know if my swollen breast would fit! I am 96 pounds and generally small breasted - 32A. I did not have any lymph nodes removed and I though this was going to be so much simpler. The surgery went very well. Hardly any pain afterwards. I don't feel bad, just a bit tired and some vertigo now and then. I see the surgeon in 4 more days, but I am hoping to get more information before I go.

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  • ctmbsikia
    ctmbsikia Member Posts: 1,095
    edited January 2020

    Hi, afraid some of that is normal after surgery. You are so thin! I wanna say with no fat on your body that is probably the reason for the bruising all the way down to your leg? Not sure. If the seroma/hematoma keeps getting bigger then you need to let them know. Meanwhile, tightest support you can handle. Ice will help the bruises as well.

    I didn't develop a seroma until 3 weeks post op. I felt so good, I wished I would have known to keep wearing tight supportive bras after the tube top. I missed that part and boom! It hurt and I actually stuck a pair of rolled up socks in my sports bra for more compression. Compression should help your body resolve some of the fluid.

    Ouch, good luck. Mine did resolve (it takes a good while---weeks!) and I didn't have to have it drained. Hope that is the case for you too.

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  • fifthyear
    fifthyear Member Posts: 225
    edited January 2020

    I had bruising/hematoma after my lumpectomy, but local to the surgical site and not spreading like yours. Took 3 weeks for mine to disappear. I am not sure it is normal for the bruising to spread that large. I would insist on seeing someone other than the nurse that dismissed your concern. Sound unnatural to me. Good luck, push for what worry you, your body, your health, your life.

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  • Moderators
    Moderators Member Posts: 25,912
    edited January 2020

    Hi MyBestFriends, Indeed, hematomas can occur, but if you are concerned, we agree that you need to push a bit harder. Sometimes hematomas (and seromas) will resolve on their own. If not, both usually respond readily to treatment with surgical drains. Here is a page about hematomas, in case it is helpful. We are glad you found our Community.


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  • MyBestFriends
    MyBestFriends Member Posts: 13
    edited February 2020

    Hematoma of my right breast resolved pretty much after 4 weeks, but the swelling is still problematic. My radiation has been postponed because of the swelling. Dr. encouraged massaging and that has helped somewhat, but my breast is really hard. He told me last week that it will take time and it may never go away completely. I don't know if you would call it bruising, but the color has settled in as a gray for the last week or so.

    Secondly my surgeon has requested an MRI of my left breast since my other breast biopsy was botched. Dr. couldn't find the exact area that was delineated with the first ultrasound. He was probing and just took a core sample that wasn't in the area of concern. Consequently the follow up mammogram was inclusive.

    Will find out soon if the swelling will impact the MRI.

    Certainly seems every procedure I have endured has not worked out for me. I'm just waiting for the anvil to drop...again.

    Sad

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  • Brooklyn1234
    Brooklyn1234 Member Posts: 97
    edited February 2020

    I have a huge seroma post-mastectomy (it looks like I still have a breast). Surgeon tried draining it but it filled right up again. He will try a couple more times, then my physiotherapist will take over. She says it's common for the surgeon's draining not to work, and she can get rid of it using a massage/manual drainage technique. You might want to find an experienced breast cancer physiotherapist.

    Also, I had terrible bruising, but it went away quickly after I started taking arnica.

    Good luck!

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