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Swelling after double mastectomy.

Jo-p
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After Stage one breast cancer lumpectomy and breast reduction  operation I was diagnosed Barca 2 positive . I had a double mastectomy 3 months ago. I can now see and feel a large swelling under my left rib cage which changes size during the day. I am very concerned as to what it may be. Any comments  would be appreciated as I am worried it is a recurrence of the cancer

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    Hi,

    It's probably a seroma.  A build up of fluid and blood in the surgical space left after a mastectomy.  Sometimes you can feel the fluid 'sloshing' around, it's quite weird!  It can linger for months and it can take a long time for the body to reabsorb it.   I had to have mine drained 3 times and a recent ultrasound showed I still have some fluid 7 months after the mastectomy but it's gone down a lot.

    Mention it to your nurse and they can check it out for you.  All the best.

    Mary

  • Offline in reply to marywj

    Thank you for replying to my post so quickly. I already have a seroma under my arm. This swelling is quite hard and doesn't move . Do you know if a seroma can be hard?.

    Thanks again

    Jo  

  • Offline in reply to Jo-p

    My seroma felt very firm rather than hard, like a tight balloon!  You can get all sorts of fibrous scar tissue after surgery.  I also had a small hard pea sized lump that worried me but was only fat necrosis and nothing to worry about.  You can definitely get all sorts of lumps and bumps during healing.  I wouldn't worry too much.

    Best wishes

    Mary

  • Offline in reply to marywj

    Hi Mary,

    Thank you for your reply.

    Jo 

  • Offline in reply to Jo-p

     

    Hi Jo-p,

    A very warm welcome to our forum.

    Have you spoken to your care team about this? I have had this problem following a double mastectomy and like Mary, I had to have it drained a few times. It depends upon how much swelling you have as to whether or not it is worth removing it, but do phone your breast care nurse and ask for her advice.

    With having the BRCA gene, it is always worth getting this checked out.

    Please keep in touch and let us know how you get on. We are always here for you.

    Kind regards,

    Jolamine xx

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