Hi there, i had a mastectomy and snb almost a year ago now. My hospital don't routinely use drains so i didn't have one. Unfortunately my body did not re-absorb the resulting seroma (they don't drain seromas either) Upshot is i now have to have another operation in 3 weeks to remove the resulting hard capsulated seroma. This time they will put a drain in to try and stop it happening again. My question is can i wear a bra to come home in? If so is it best to wear it all the time (in bed too)? Sorry i am clueless as they haven't discussed this at all and all my literature from my other ops don't cover it as the hospital doesn't use them as standard. Thanks in advance ️
Hi Kittylyn, sorry to hear you have to have an operation to remove the seroma. After my first op I woke up with a special corset on. I didn't have a drain but I had the corset on for 10 days. After my second op (lymph node removal) I had a drain and again I woke up with a special elasticated corset on. This helped keep the drain in place. Not sure if that's what happens all the time but that was my experience. It might be worth having a chat with your surgeon/BCN to see if you will be given something like this too. Wishing you all the best for your op.
Sorry to hear of your experience. I too had seroma as I had lumpectomy on Invasive Ductal Carcinoma and sentinel node removal a year ago, then 28 days later had to go back in to have axillary node clearance as the cancer had metasticised - I'm stage 4 with breast cancer on spine, pelvis and a rib.
My BCNs would have me come in twice a week for aspiration (sticking a needle into the fluid and draining it off into a bowl) until by body finally started to absorb it. Thankfully with all the nerve damage from the surgeries, I didn't feel the needle at all. I did have a drain overnight after the axillary node clearance and kept in hospital overnight for observation.
Wishing you well with your procedure, but as cuffcake said, you might be given a special corset or other apparatus to keep things in place.
Hi Brainybunch, sorry to hear about your diagnosis. Are you still having treatment to help? I was diagnosed with IDC too, grade 3, plus I’m also ER+/PR+ and HER2 + I had the tumour removed and 1 of the 2 sentinel nodes that were removed was positive. I have just had the rest of my lymph nodes removed. It’s a worrying/ scary time waiting for the results as one doesn’t know if it has gone any further. How do you cope ? I find talking with others in the chat forums helps and relaxation.
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