Anyone else dealing with a haematoma after surgery?

Hi Jo

My surgery was late May, developed a seroma but at my appointment for the dressings change the BCN advised that it was better to leave it to absorb naturally which it did, however two weeks later I had cellulitis and prescribed antibiotics. There was no improvement a week later, more antibiotics, had an ultrasound with the area aspirated and the “gunge” sent for analysis which came back negative. After three courses of antibiotics it all finally calmed down but the area was still pink when I had radiotherapy ten weeks after surgery. I still have a hard lump (also above nipple) where the tumour was removed, at my check-up last month doc said it’s all part of the lengthy healing process. xx

I  had a haematoma. I am still rather annoyed that despite the BCN's checking wounds a lot, they all failed to notice it. I kept saying I was fainting - even the day after surgery, but they blamed this on getting up too quickly, which I hadn't done. My breast looked liked leopard skin. Eventually Breast Surgeon saw it rather than the Nurses and I was referred to Radiologist to look at it using ultrasound. She declared it to be the biggest haematoma she'd ever seen and she didn't want to touch it with a barge pole. I had an emergency op to remove all the blood clots and a new implant put in by the Breast Surgeon. Somehow, sometime a small blood vessel was nicked in the op or just spontaineously broke. So I do sympathise with you a lot.

Hi Jo789, I am 3 years down the line now but also had large haematoma post lumpectomy. The breast nurses were great at monitoring it, thankfully, and said it was best to leave it to reabsorb if possible. It was slow but sure - I’d go back every few days (pre Covid) and they relied on me saying that I could feel a slight improvement each time. They would have aspirated it if necessary but it gradually sorted itself. My radiotherapy was delayed anyway as I had quite a wait for my oncology appointment, then Christmas and new year got in the way. In the end there was a 10 week gap between op and rads, similar to you I think. I described my breast as ‘rainbow effect’ as the haematoma slowly resolved and went all manner of multicolour shades, along with the blue dye. I was actually glad of the long gap as it gave me more healing time. Everybody’s ops are different and some have 2 small scars from the WLE and node sampling; in my case I had one long scar (so much longer than a previous one from a lumpectomy many years before for what turned out to be a benign lump). The surgeon used the same excision for both procedures, hence a long wound. Don’t know if this makes a haematoma more likely or just bad luck. 
Post rads my nipple, which had never really recovered from the blue dye injection, turned black and about 10 weeks later a huge scab fell off which was actually a relief! Sorry if tmi but wanted to give the grisly details as it’s all slowly resolved. I’ve ended up with an inverted nipple which seems to be its new normal - I’ve had follow up mammograms and ultrasounds which have so far been fine. 
Sorry you’ve had these issues, some people sail through it all relatively uneventfully but you’re not alone! Love and hugs, HFxx

It did kind of destroy my faith and trust in Breast Cancer Nurses because one of them, when asked by one of the Surgeons when she had removed the drains, denied  removing it entirely and said that she was off that day.I have refused to see that one since.

Thanks for sharing your experience x

Thanks HappyFeet1 would you mind me asking how long you think it took for yours to resolve?  Was it still there when you had your first annual mammogram following the surgery?  Thanks for sharing your story - including what happened to your nipple! x

I had lumpectomy in august. That night I fainted twice on getting up then over 4 hours my breast became extremely painful, hard and hot to touch. Nurse drew line at edge of redness to monitor. I had to wait untill morning for consultant starting and was told I needed it evacuated as large haematoma. Sent back to surgery and 400mls blood drained and drain put in for 2 days. Immediate relief and settled very quickly. 

Hi Jo789, I don't remember when the haematoma finally resolved but definitely gone by the time I had my first follow up mammogram. I think the blue dye was still there though! It's good that you've been referred back to the breast care unit for review as I always feel reassured by going back and having a physical exam, rather than telephone reviews. I was referred back after my 10 weeks post rads oncology appointment as I had some skin issues and possible lymphoedema (so had lymphoedema referral too, which confirmed breast lymphoedema). The doctor at the breast clinic looked at it (by now my boob had more of a speckled, giraffe style pattern) and her comment was 'it really didn't like the radiotherapy, did it?!'. And she said it's impossible to predict who will be affected, and of course many folk aren't at all. And it did all resolve in the end, seemed to take ages but now is settled into a new normal. The main thing I think is not to hesitate to self refer again if there's anything you're not sure about. My lymphoedema is mild and responded to the recommendations of the nurse, but I'm very glad I was referred as it would potentially have got worse if it had been left to its own devices. 

Good luck with it all! HFxx

Yes. Some of us, like you can be giraffes and some of us (me) can be leopards......it is fortunate that eventually it all subsides and we begin to look and feel relatively human again.

Hi Jo, how are you doing today?