Hi there, I've had a lumpectomy on the 6th of July. Things were going well and I was recovering well, even worked the following week. But I had swelling (seroma I guess?) in my breast and under my arm.
So this week, two weeks post surgery, I started leaking from the breast scar. I went to the breast centre this Tuesday and got seen by a nurse and surgeon (not the one who operated on me). They drained it as much as they could, there was a lot and I had to use my mental power and humour to get through it!! They put dressings on and requested I come back the next day so they could see how it was doing. When I returned Wednesday my surgeon was able to see me. He basically said it's the body sorting out the swelling and letting it drain out. He was very nonchalant about it!. He recommended I just use gauze and replace it when it soaks through, no dressings as he wants the skin to breathe as much as possible.
Well today (Saturday) it's still oozing and I'm still having to change the gauze twice a day. It doesn't smell great, but not awful, kind of like a cross between blood and... hay?? It's orange and kind of thick, a mix of blood and healing fluids I guess. Sorry for the tmi but I'm trying to lay it all out in case others have experienced this.
As it's Saturday I can't call anyone. So I'm here wondering if others have had this - particularly those with limpectomies that weren't given drains to help with swelling. Is this... Normal?? I will call the breast clinic first thing Monday but need to find a way to survive this weekend mentally! Normally I heal really well, so this is a whole new territory for me.
Thank you!
Hi VeraZzz
If you are worried about it during the weekend, please call 111 for advice.
Macmillan Support Line - 0808 808 00 00, 7 days a week between 8am-8pm
I am a Macmillan volunteer.
I have metastatic Triple Negative Breast Cancer, in remission
I went into the breast clinic on Monday (with my little boys in tow no less 
) and it turned out the wound had gotten infected. They had to clean it out which was kind of awful but I managed through, and it turned out the wound had opened up even more since last week. I felt so dejected and had a big cry in the consultation room. Luckily my kids were in the waiting room so didn't have to see me like this.
I've been put in antibiotics and now they will have to assess me next week to see if I need another surgery to stitch me up again. The wound leaked through the dressing they gave me overnight (of course, because the tissue is still swelling with seroma liquid!) so so my partner and I had to patch up with another over it. I feel awful. I'm scared to lie down to sleep in case it opens up the wound more. Worried that our holidays will be ruined. Feeling crap about not being able to exercise and gaining weight. Why won't this thing heal properly like in the majority of cases???
I hope it has now settled down and that it doesn’t mean more surgery for you.
Macmillan Support Line - 0808 808 00 00, 7 days a week between 8am-8pm
I am a Macmillan volunteer.
I have metastatic Triple Negative Breast Cancer, in remission
