Blood Build Up 3 months after Mastectomy

JudyAS
JudyAS Member Posts: 48
edited March 2014 in Breast Cancer #1
I had a Mastectomy on May 7 of this year. I finished my radiation on July 30. This past week on August 13 I notice my incision looked swollen. The next morning it was very swollen and very tight. Now it has been 3 months since the surgery. I called my Oncology Surgeon and had to go in that day. They drew 8 large tubes of blood from the incision area. She said if it happens again they are going to have to put the drain tube back in, which I didn't want. Well it is swelling again, I have to go back to the doctor this coming Tuesday, Aug. 18. Has this ever happened to anyone else after a mastectomy after it has been this long. I am very worried and scared, they aren't sure why this is happening. Is this a common thing to happen?
JudyAS
«1

Comments

  • survivorbc09
    survivorbc09 Member Posts: 4,374 Member
    #2
    I had a lumpectomy so I
    I had a lumpectomy so I don't know. But, good luck to you. Let us know.
  • JudyAS
    JudyAS Member Posts: 48
    #3
    survivorbc09 said:

    I had a lumpectomy so I
    I had a lumpectomy so I don't know. But, good luck to you. Let us know.

    Blood Build Up.....
    Thank you survivorbc09. I will let you know Tuesday what they decide to do, but really has me scared. Can't imagine what is going on. JudyAS
  • Calleen
    Calleen Member Posts: 411
    #4
    JudyAS said:

    Blood Build Up.....
    Thank you survivorbc09. I will let you know Tuesday what they decide to do, but really has me scared. Can't imagine what is going on. JudyAS

    Judy
    I have tried googleing and still can't find anything close to what you are describing... Remeber we are here for you!!!

    HUGZ... CAlleen
  • JudyAS
    JudyAS Member Posts: 48
    #5
    Calleen said:

    Judy
    I have tried googleing and still can't find anything close to what you are describing... Remeber we are here for you!!!

    HUGZ... CAlleen

    Thank you CAlleen. It
    Thank you CAlleen. It really worries me and I just can't understand why this is happening. I hope they have some answers for me Tuesday. I will definately let you know.
    JudyAS
  • mlmjt1
    mlmjt1 Member Posts: 537 Member
    #6
    HI Judy
    I had bilateral mastectomy in May but no radiation treatments. Maybe the radiation caused you to have some bleeding or a bruising there since its so damaging to the tissue. Either way, If you have a collection of fluid there the drain though you may not want it will hopefully drain it out and collapse that pocket of fluid. You dont want it to accumulate there. I didnt have that complication, but then I didnt have radiation.

    I wonder if compression would help? YOu might ask if wearing a sports bra or a binder would help that fluid reabsorb?

    Let us know how you do

    Hugs
    Linda T
  • Kylez
    Kylez Member Posts: 3,761 Member
    #7
    JudyAS said:

    Blood Build Up.....
    Thank you survivorbc09. I will let you know Tuesday what they decide to do, but really has me scared. Can't imagine what is going on. JudyAS

    I don't know what it would
    I don't know what it would be. Good luck at your doctor's. Post and tell us what you find out.
  • mgm42
    mgm42 Member Posts: 491 Member
    #8
    Fluid Build Up
    I had a lumpectomy and after a few months, I felt what I thought was a new tumor. The skin was tight and the egg shaped form under the skin felt ominous. Turned out to be fluid build up. It appears that after a lumpectomy, there is space left by the excised tumor and nature abhors a vaccuum. So, the fluid builds up. It's been 8 months and slowly, very slowly, the fluid is be reabsorbed into my system. Although you had a mastectomy, perhaps something similar is happening to you. There are so many variants in each case of breast cancer that anything is possible and we, being the worriers that we are, anticipate the worst. Hang in there. This may just be a rare, but not unique, side effect of radiation. I was also told by my surgeon, that radiation continues to foster molecular changes in the tissue for up to 3 years following completion of radiation treatment. So, please try not to think the worst. Hang in there. Hugs, Marilynn
  • Tux
    Tux Member Posts: 544
    #9
    I also had a lumpectomy &
    I also had a lumpectomy & there was a lot of fluid in the surgical area! It showed up on a mammo, but the mammo tech it was quite common. Seemed like an awful lot to me, but the tech did not seem to be worried in the least. Hope you get a simple resolution to your problem.
  • aurora2009
    aurora2009 Member Posts: 544 Member
    #10
    Tux said:

    I also had a lumpectomy &
    I also had a lumpectomy & there was a lot of fluid in the surgical area! It showed up on a mammo, but the mammo tech it was quite common. Seemed like an awful lot to me, but the tech did not seem to be worried in the least. Hope you get a simple resolution to your problem.

    My surgeon said she wanted there to be fluid
    After my lumpsectomy, I had to have a re-incission to get cleaner margins. On surgury day I asked her how she would know where to go back to since it had been 2 weeks, I was worried that it had healed to much, but she said that where the tumor was there would be a hole filled with fuild, and that I wanted that to be there because it made my breast look fuller and I wouldn't be able to tell I had surgury. After the 2nd surgury I also noticed that I had no drain tube like the first surgury, she said that it was for the same reason since this time almost a quarter of my breasty was missing.
    When I had my follow appt she offered to drain some fluid out if I felt umcomfortable or if the skin was tight, but I declined it's been 3 weeks now and my body has absorded some of it and my breast does look alot smaller now when I look at it(in a bra it's give the illusion everythings the same)
    But that's been something I've been worried about from the get to. I don't know what to think about why you're building up blood, evcept maybe that you weren't really healed yet and maybe you pulled something causing it to bleed in side, and since you possibly have a pocket, like after a partial mastsectomy, that why blood and fluid are building up.

    I really hope it nothing, please keep us posted and let us know how you next appt goes,

    God Bless

    Aurora
  • JudyAS
    JudyAS Member Posts: 48
    #11
    aurora2009 said:

    My surgeon said she wanted there to be fluid
    After my lumpsectomy, I had to have a re-incission to get cleaner margins. On surgury day I asked her how she would know where to go back to since it had been 2 weeks, I was worried that it had healed to much, but she said that where the tumor was there would be a hole filled with fuild, and that I wanted that to be there because it made my breast look fuller and I wouldn't be able to tell I had surgury. After the 2nd surgury I also noticed that I had no drain tube like the first surgury, she said that it was for the same reason since this time almost a quarter of my breasty was missing.
    When I had my follow appt she offered to drain some fluid out if I felt umcomfortable or if the skin was tight, but I declined it's been 3 weeks now and my body has absorded some of it and my breast does look alot smaller now when I look at it(in a bra it's give the illusion everythings the same)
    But that's been something I've been worried about from the get to. I don't know what to think about why you're building up blood, evcept maybe that you weren't really healed yet and maybe you pulled something causing it to bleed in side, and since you possibly have a pocket, like after a partial mastsectomy, that why blood and fluid are building up.

    I really hope it nothing, please keep us posted and let us know how you next appt goes,

    God Bless

    Aurora

    Aurora,
    I had a total
    Aurora,
    I had a total mastectomy, but since it had been 3 months I thought I was on my way to recovery. I am beginning to think also that the radiation may have caused the bleeding. It is filling up again, I go back tomorrow so hope there will be a solution to this. I had fluid buildup after they removed the drain tubes, but it was fluid not blood like it was this time. I will post a not as soon as I go to the doctor tomorrow. Thanks for all the support.
    JudyAS
  • survivorbc09
    survivorbc09 Member Posts: 4,374 Member
    #12
    JudyAS said:

    Aurora,
    I had a total
    Aurora,
    I had a total mastectomy, but since it had been 3 months I thought I was on my way to recovery. I am beginning to think also that the radiation may have caused the bleeding. It is filling up again, I go back tomorrow so hope there will be a solution to this. I had fluid buildup after they removed the drain tubes, but it was fluid not blood like it was this time. I will post a not as soon as I go to the doctor tomorrow. Thanks for all the support.
    JudyAS

    Good luck tomorrow Judy.
    Good luck tomorrow Judy. Let us know what you find out!

    Hugs!
  • susie09
    susie09 Member Posts: 2,930
    #13
    survivorbc09 said:

    Good luck tomorrow Judy.
    Good luck tomorrow Judy. Let us know what you find out!

    Hugs!

    Judy, please post and tell
    Judy, please post and tell us what you find out at your doctor's. I hope it is a simple answer and solution! Good luck!
  • aurora2009
    aurora2009 Member Posts: 544 Member
    #14
    JudyAS said:

    Aurora,
    I had a total
    Aurora,
    I had a total mastectomy, but since it had been 3 months I thought I was on my way to recovery. I am beginning to think also that the radiation may have caused the bleeding. It is filling up again, I go back tomorrow so hope there will be a solution to this. I had fluid buildup after they removed the drain tubes, but it was fluid not blood like it was this time. I will post a not as soon as I go to the doctor tomorrow. Thanks for all the support.
    JudyAS

    JudyAs
    I really hope everything turns out okay, Good luck and keep us posted.

    Aurora
  • Alexis F
    Alexis F Member Posts: 3,598
    #15
    aurora2009 said:

    JudyAs
    I really hope everything turns out okay, Good luck and keep us posted.

    Aurora

    Good luck tomorrow Judy and
    Good luck tomorrow Judy and post when you can.

    Hugs ♥Lex♥
  • djteach
    djteach Member Posts: 273
    #16
    Hi Judy,
    I hope they find a
    Hi Judy,
    I hope they find a simple reason for the build-up. You will be in my prayers tomorrow.

    Love and gentle hugs,
    Donna
  • JudyAS
    JudyAS Member Posts: 48
    #17
    My Up-date on the blood in my incision
    Hi everyone, Well I went to my surgeon yesterday, they are not sure where the blood is coming from, but she had to put another drain tube in. She could not believe all the blood that came out of it. She said that this is uncommon, but has happened before. They think it was caused by the radiation that it irratated the lining and caused the bleeding. They haven't convinced my husband and I yet, the bleeding has not stopped, but she said it may take a few days, a week or 2 weeks before they can remove the tube. I just don't understand how you can loose this much blood. So now I wait and see. I feel okay and know I am going to be fine. I have such good supporters everywhere. Just keep me in your thoughts and I will keep you posted. Thank you to all of you who responded. Hugs to All, Judy
  • jnl
    jnl Member Posts: 3,869 Member
    #18
    JudyAS said:

    My Up-date on the blood in my incision
    Hi everyone, Well I went to my surgeon yesterday, they are not sure where the blood is coming from, but she had to put another drain tube in. She could not believe all the blood that came out of it. She said that this is uncommon, but has happened before. They think it was caused by the radiation that it irratated the lining and caused the bleeding. They haven't convinced my husband and I yet, the bleeding has not stopped, but she said it may take a few days, a week or 2 weeks before they can remove the tube. I just don't understand how you can loose this much blood. So now I wait and see. I feel okay and know I am going to be fine. I have such good supporters everywhere. Just keep me in your thoughts and I will keep you posted. Thank you to all of you who responded. Hugs to All, Judy

    That doesn't make sense that
    That doesn't make sense that it was caused by radiation. But, wishing you good luck. Thanks for the update!

    Hugs, Leeza
  • susie09
    susie09 Member Posts: 2,930
    #19
    JudyAS said:

    My Up-date on the blood in my incision
    Hi everyone, Well I went to my surgeon yesterday, they are not sure where the blood is coming from, but she had to put another drain tube in. She could not believe all the blood that came out of it. She said that this is uncommon, but has happened before. They think it was caused by the radiation that it irratated the lining and caused the bleeding. They haven't convinced my husband and I yet, the bleeding has not stopped, but she said it may take a few days, a week or 2 weeks before they can remove the tube. I just don't understand how you can loose this much blood. So now I wait and see. I feel okay and know I am going to be fine. I have such good supporters everywhere. Just keep me in your thoughts and I will keep you posted. Thank you to all of you who responded. Hugs to All, Judy

    Thanks for letting us know
    Thanks for letting us know Judy. I hope and pray that you get better with each day.

    ♠♣ Susie ♠♣
  • JudyAS
    JudyAS Member Posts: 48
    #20
    susie09 said:

    Thanks for letting us know
    Thanks for letting us know Judy. I hope and pray that you get better with each day.

    ♠♣ Susie ♠♣

    I hope so too Susie. I am
    I hope so too Susie. I am very worried, I can't imagine loosing this much blood and something not really being wrong. I don't feel good I know that. I just feel so fatigued, don't feel like getting up and do anything and I have a constant headache. I am hoping it will get better and will give it a couple more days. I am going in to see my medical doctor on Tuesday so maybe he will have some answers. I hope so.
    Thank you for caring so much. Hugs Judy
  • Alexis F
    Alexis F Member Posts: 3,598
    #21
    JudyAS said:

    I hope so too Susie. I am
    I hope so too Susie. I am very worried, I can't imagine loosing this much blood and something not really being wrong. I don't feel good I know that. I just feel so fatigued, don't feel like getting up and do anything and I have a constant headache. I am hoping it will get better and will give it a couple more days. I am going in to see my medical doctor on Tuesday so maybe he will have some answers. I hope so.
    Thank you for caring so much. Hugs Judy

    Good luck with your doctor
    Good luck with your doctor on Tuesday Judy. I hope he can give you some clear answers and help you to feel better.

    Hugs Lex♥

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