persistent seroma

Hi Janet,

I fought seroma on my left side (the bc side) for over a year.

I had a bilateral M. two years ago last three weeks ago. (April).

I went to my surgeon several times because I just couldn't understand why I would have a hard area with fluid after having the breast removed.

He explained to me that it's not uncommon to have the fluid build up and that it accumulates in pocket like tissue so it's almost impossible to get rid of.

He told he it would soften and go down in time and it has.

He also told me to call his office with any worries which I did but I haven't seen him in a year now and even though I still have the soft tissue there I know it's fatty tissue.

I hope you don't have to have it excised.

I remember being told gentle massage will reduce the fluid.

Binney would have some excellent advise I'm sure.

Good luck Janet.

Janet,

I don't have a lot of time right now to respond, but I have a great deal of experience with this and will be glad to tell you more if you remind me via PM.

Bottom line is, I had a persistent seroma drained after two years.  It was hard and encapsulated and was not reabsorbing, so it seemed like a no-brainer to drain it.  That turned out to be a very bad decision that led to 18 months of hospitalizations for MRSA, wound care, multiple surgeries, and culminated in a mastectomy without recon.

PM me so that I don't forget to share my experience with you, because you may not be at risk as much as I now know I was.

I wanted to bump this thread to the top because I seem to be having something similar--in my case, a chronic mini-seroma. Five years ago, I had multiple wide excisions and radiation on my right side. My breast seemed slightly swollen where all the tissue had been removed, but my surgeon wasn't concerned. Since that breast was smaller than the other as a result of the surgeries, the swelling filled it in a little. It wasn't painful, so I did nothing and after about two and a half years, one day realized that the swelling had pretty much disappeared.

Unfortunately, about six months after that, I was diagnosed with bc in the other breast and decided to have a bilateral mastectomy. After my drains were removed, I developed small seromas on both sides. The one on the left dissipated quickly and was gone after about a month. On the right, where I'd had the previous lumpectomy and radiation, it took much longer. Finally, after six months, it was mostly gone. But a tiny pocket of fluid remained and hadn't changed for over a year, until a couple of weeks ago, when I asked my physical therapist, who I still see for tightness and range of motion issues, whether anything could be done to get rid of that fluid pocket.

She has done manual lymph drainage two times over the past two weeks; I think she also worked on releasing some of the extensive scar tissue in the area. Yesterday, I noticed that there appeared to be not less, but a little more fluid. This of course alarmed me. I'm always fearing lymphedema and/or infection. I emailed my PT, who said it's possible that by releasing scar tissue, fluid that has always been there is just more obvious. I'll see her next Monday, but I wondered whether her explanation makes sense. This doesn't seem to be lymphedema--feels very jiggly like liquid, no pitting, doesn't migrate at all, no pain. This is the first time in over a year that there's been any change.

I think I probably should have left well-enough alone. Just wondering what you experts think.

Barbara 

hi janet,

Thanks for your response. I think "releasing" scar tissue, the phrase my PT used, does mean breaking it apart, not literally getting rid of it.

Sorry that in your case the fluid came back again. I'll be interested to hear what your surgeon recommends when you see him. I have a checkup scheduled with my breast surgeon in early August. Since she doesn't believe in aspirating seromas except in rare instances, I assume she'll want to just let it be.

Barbara

I found this site by searching persistent seroma. I'm new to the forum. I had a bilateral mastectomy in Feb. 2012. A seroma formed 3 wks post op. I have had it drained with a shringe every week or two for nearly 7 months. It is just under my armpit and covers the top half of my breast area. When it is full, at about 2-3 weeks, it is very painful and draining it is a relief. I am seeing a massage therapist today. She is trained in lymphadema care. I have no idea if she will be able to help me. I have had a severe infection and spent 2 months on antibiotics, so I'd sure like this to be over. Will it be over? How? Help! Has anyone had successful surgery for this after this long? 7 months? If so, what was it?