Breast swelling/ feedback PLEASE!

[Kabe827]

1!0 days ago I had a surgical biopsy of my rt breast ( along with needle local) I was cruising along in my recovery just great..all of a sudden I started getting rt breast swelling..( btw..my diag. was benign phyllodes) The swelling is painful, hard & hot to touch. I had to call the Dr over the wkend as it is close to unbearable. I wasnt told to expect anything like this. The Dr said since it isnt red, it prob is just fluid. The body responds naturally to the piece that was taken out by filling with fluid & I most likely need it aspirated!! Well, I have been up all nite trying to get comf..he also suggested ice..does anyone know if heat is okay too? (Since ice isnt helping) And does anyone know if all this sounds normal? I appreciate ur answers & wish for good health for all of you!! Thx!

[bluebutterfly2222]

Sorry to hear of this complication, after you were cruising along so well!

The fluid your doctor referred to is called seroma. When it is blood that accumulates, it is called a hematoma.

Seromas are common complications of surgery to the breast, especially in more extensive surgeries.  The treatment for these conditions is mainly aspiration (inserting a needle and aspirating the contents). This can bring immediate relief from the pain and pressue.

It was good that you informed your surgeon about this. If it continues to be this bad or gets worse, call back so that he can institute proper treatment.

Usually cold packs, applied repeated for 10-20 minutes at a time, are best for swelling. If you can take Tylenol, or if a prescription med was prescribed for use right after your surgery, that could help with the pain as well.(I'm not sure about heat, because this might dilate the vessels and draw more fluid into the area, so I'd check with the doctor again before trying that.)

Again, sorry you are going through this...
bb

[Kabe827]

Well, you have helped me once again, bb!! Thank you!! I was thinking the same thing about the heat so I ahve refrained from using it....I have tried all meds but its pretty much unbearable...couldnt get comf to sleep all night. Do u ( or does anyone) know how painful an aspiration is?? I cant imagine an exam never mind a needle at this point..and if I dont have it , does it go away on its own eventually?? Not that I plan on tolerating this much longer...No I didnt have a drain..dont no why..they did close me up & have to go back in after pathology came back??? I guess I was a lil too active..pulling my only grandson on his sled , but I felt great...until this snuck up on me!! Now I can barely move!! I figured 10 days was long enough...thx so much for all ur help. Take care Kabe

[bluebutterfly2222]

It's quite likely it occurred this far along in your recovery related to your level of activity, esp. things like pulling and lifting, since seroma is a response to injury, irritation, etc., (which is NOT meant as a blame  "blame-the-victim" comment, since you hadn't even been told this could be a problem,, but rather just as a possible explanation...).

Left to nature, seromas can resolve in days, weeks, or in rare cases, months.

If large amounts accumulate (more commonly related to mastectomy), a drain my be put back in, but in your case it's to be hope that aspiration would do the trick. As far as the  painfulness of  the procedure, I haven't seen anyone  comment about that, but I imagine a numbing agent could be applied, as in the case of wire-localization or sterotactic biopsy.

I know several of our members have undergone one or more aspirations for seroma, so maybe one of them will jump in here and enlighten you about that.

As much pain as  you're in now, though, it would be worth going through a brief bit more (if that's the case) to bring about relief?

Are you ready to head to the ER yet, or still hanging in there  until your surgeon is available tomorrow?

[bluebutterfly2222]

p.s. Sorry for all the typos, but hope you are able to make out what I meant to say...

[Louise414]

There are also specially trained physical therapists who know how to deal with this.  For me they were a godsend.  They know how to stimulate the lymph system so that healing occurs.  I found out about this option in a consultation with a plastic surgeon who specializes in breast reconstruction.  I never did the reconstruction, but I am grateful to the plastic surgeon for letting me know about this option and offering to work with me on it.  Ask your surgeon if he/she knows of anyone in your area who does this.

[islandgrl47]

I hope you are feeling better. Would you mind me asking what were your mamogram findings that you were refered for a surgical biopsy. I was just refered for one and my mamo showed microcalcification cluster. I wanted to know if this was common. Everyone is acting like it will turn out fine but (I don't mean to be negative) I'm not that convinced.

[Kabe827]

My mammo results were ? benign phyllodes tumor..I was referred to surg biopsy AFTER a cone biopsy ...I am pretty sure microcacification is very common ..they may need to determine more about it by doing surg biopsy...the best person to listen to is urself..you do what u feel is right for you..ask question after question if it means you feeling better! It s your body ad your health!! Good Luck!! Keep me posted!