feeling discouraged

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arachne5
arachne5 Member Posts: 9
edited March 2014 in Breast Cancer #1
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I had a lumpectomy for 8mm lump with SNB (negative) followed by radiation in 2001. 6 month mammo in Dec 2003 showed a 4mm lesion in the same breast which was confirmed malignant in a stereotactic core biopsy in early January. I had mastectomy with 5 nodes checked (again negative) Jan.16 which went well, drains out 11 days later since they were producing less than 30ml in 24 hours. Since then I have been in 3 times to have (a lot of) fluid aspirated. The last was yesterday when we tried compression for 24 hours with an ace bandage. I'm filling up again and will try for an appointment Monday.
Dr. says it could be that radiation compromised tissue which is making healing extremely slow and/or the radiation did a major number on ducts and nodes (she had to search to find 2 this time.)so there is no place for the fluid to go. She put me on a 7 day course of antibiotic just in case all the poking around might set up some sort of infection.

Other than the discomfort of swelling and being tired from the 100 mile round trips I feel ok, but am getting a bit down.

Anyone else had a similar experience who can give me a hint of how long this can go on? I asked the doctor and she smiled sweetly and gave me her schedule for the next week and where to reach her.
arachne5

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  • isaiah4031
    isaiah4031 Member Posts: 240
    #2
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    Hi,
    I had numerous trips to the doctor for fluid drainage from under my arm. It was weird, but he said that that was ok. I don't remember exactly how long it took to resolve, but it didn't seem to be a long time..maybe a month or two at the most. I remember wearing a pressure bandage to the underarm to see if that would help and it did slightly, but eventually the drainage did stop and I am back to normal. Hope that gives you a little light at the end of the tunnel.
    Hugs,
    Jayne
  • jamiejay
    jamiejay Member Posts: 2
    #3
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    Hi. I don't know if i'm the one to encourage, as I am finding myself in a similar situation as you. My original BC was in 2002, chemo and radiation, and I too had a mammo in Dec showing calcifications that proved to be DC. Now I need to have a mastectomy and decide on reconstruction. I'm sorry I can't be of any help to you, but just to let you know you're not alone..... I am scared to death!
  • arachne5
    arachne5 Member Posts: 9
    #4
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    jamiejay said:

    Hi. I don't know if i'm the one to encourage, as I am finding myself in a similar situation as you. My original BC was in 2002, chemo and radiation, and I too had a mammo in Dec showing calcifications that proved to be DC. Now I need to have a mastectomy and decide on reconstruction. I'm sorry I can't be of any help to you, but just to let you know you're not alone..... I am scared to death!

    Jamiejay, Don't be scared of the mastectomy. It sounds much more awful than it really is. So many nerves get cut that there isn't as much feeling left as you would think. All the aspirations I'm having to have sound nasty but because the needle goes into the incision site, there is NO feeling at all - weird isn't it?
    Will you have recon at the same time as the mastectomy? That sounds really major to me.
    I opted out of that choice. i'm 71 and long past the stage of worrying about the front I present to the world. janet jackson I'm not!
    In fact, I'm not even sure I'll worry about getting a prosthesis any time soon. Although I'm big breasted, having one missing doesn't really show a lot - especially if I wear a scarf or a vest over a tneck or blouse.
    I have to admit that this seroma thing is a big drag. I'm ready to get on with things and stop seeing my surgeon. She walks on water and I think she is the greatest, but I think we should stop meeting like this.
  • DeeNY711
    DeeNY711 Member Posts: 476 Member
    #5
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    arachne5 said:

    Jamiejay, Don't be scared of the mastectomy. It sounds much more awful than it really is. So many nerves get cut that there isn't as much feeling left as you would think. All the aspirations I'm having to have sound nasty but because the needle goes into the incision site, there is NO feeling at all - weird isn't it?
    Will you have recon at the same time as the mastectomy? That sounds really major to me.
    I opted out of that choice. i'm 71 and long past the stage of worrying about the front I present to the world. janet jackson I'm not!
    In fact, I'm not even sure I'll worry about getting a prosthesis any time soon. Although I'm big breasted, having one missing doesn't really show a lot - especially if I wear a scarf or a vest over a tneck or blouse.
    I have to admit that this seroma thing is a big drag. I'm ready to get on with things and stop seeing my surgeon. She walks on water and I think she is the greatest, but I think we should stop meeting like this.

    If you type the word SEROMA into the search box, I think you'll find other messages posted fairly recently on the same issue. Hope this helps.
    Hugs,
    Denise
  • nan06
    nan06 Member Posts: 5
    #6
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    Nothing ever happens fast in the cancer experience when we want it to. Your swelling will go and something new will appear to test your patience. I will pray for courage and strength and patience for you. We can only live one day at a time, since we don't know what surprises tomorrow will bring. Staying focused on the present is the hardest thing, but well worth the effort! I hope you are feeling better by now and that today will be a better one for you! Hugs, Nan

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