Hi Jacaranda,

A very warm welcome to our forum. 

I am sorry to hear about your diagnosis, but glad to hear that you've already had surgery. I am not a doctor, but I had a similar lump in my breasts following a double mastectomy. This turned out to be a seroma. This is a build up of fluid, which can occur after surgery. This builds up to fill the space from where tissue was removed, in your case, where the lymph nodes were removed. They often settle down spontaneously, without any treatment. However where they are as large as yours, they sometimes need to be aspirated. I had this done and it gave immediate relief. Some care providers are not ken to do this, as they often fill up again and may need further drainage.

Mention this when you return for your appointment on 4th January and your care team can advise you.

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

Kind regards,

Jolamine xx

Hi Jolamine,

Thank you so much for messaging, it means so much to have someone who's been thru breast cancer to talk to.

I will definitely ask on Thursday. Today is the first day I have been able to put my arm down fully, the lump is more squishy than hard..still not comfortable but I couldn't do that yesterday, so I'm hoping the swelling is starting to go down slowly! Does the aspiration hurt? 

I hope you are doing well now? 

Happy New Year by the way..let's hope it's a better year xx

Hi Jacaranda,

The facts that your lump feels squishy today and that you can put your arm down now, sound hopeful, but do still mention the swelling on Thursday. I didn't find the aspiration sore at all. They insert a needle into the fluid and  drain it back into a syringe. It takes only a few minutes.

I had 2 bouts of breast cancer, within a year of one another. I had a lumpectomy first time around and a double mastectomy the second time. That was all 14 years ago now and I still lead a busy life.

Here's wishing you A Happy and Healthy New Year too.

Kind regards,

Jolamine xx

Hi Jolamine,

My gosh you have really been thru it..I'm so happy you are well and lead a happy, busy life!-

Thank you for responding, I will see what they say on Thursday. The thought of things is always worse than the actual going thru with it I've found.

Take care xx

Hi Jacaranda,

How are you doing - are you feeling any more comfortable today?  You're right, about the thought of things being worse than going through it. We tend the give rein to our over active imaginations whilst we are waiting and this tends to lead to all sorts of dark places. 

I shall be thinking of you on Thursday and hope that all goes well.

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

Kind regards,

Jolamine xx

Hi Jolamine,

Thanks so much for your message, I do think that the swilling is starting to reduce very slightly now, as sleeping is getting better, and I can close my arm, although there is a spongy sensation under my arm.

I guess everyone is different and we recover at a different pace..I know it's only been just over 2 weeks since surgery, but I think because I felt so great in the first two days,I expected to be back driving, and be back to work by now...

I will see what happens on Thursday and let you know.

Take care x

Hi Jacaranda,

Many people get a shock, when things are so great and then suddenly, they're not so rosy. This is only to be expected, as our tissues begin to heal and contract. I'm glad to hear that your sleeping is improving, as the swelling reduces. I'd still mention it, when you go back on Thursday.

I look forward to hearing how you get on.

Kind regards,

Jolamine xx

Hi Goldmine,

I think it's also the case no one warns you what to expect, so the sloshing sound in my boob came as a massive shock. I now know that as they remove the lump, there is a space where your tissue etc needs to rebuild and the body naturally absorbs this fluid back into the body...no idea how long this takes though.I knew there would be swelling, tingling etc under my arm as nerves and tissue heal, but no idea about the possibility of such a lump.one minute it seems like it's going down a bit, then the next there seems to be no difference..they will examine me tomorrow so I will see what they suggest.

Update: I had the best news that the cancer has not travelled to my lymph nodes so I just need a course of radiotherapy, which I will find out more about in 2 weeks. I had a seroma under my arm which he drained, instant relief, however day after, it has started to swell again, so just watching this space!!

Many thanks again for your responses, they mean a lot xx

Hi Jacaranda,

I am delighted to hear that there is no spread of the cancer. It is also great to hear that you got instant relief, once your seroma was drained. It can build up again, so, if it gets too sore, phone your breast care nurse - I had mine drained 3 or 4 times.

I hope that your recovery is going well and I hope that you'll have a better sleep tonight, now that you know that your lymph nodes are clear and your lump is reduced in size.  It is great to hear that you only need radiotherapy. You must feel very relieved tonight.

Please keep in touch and let us know how your radiotherapy goes. We are always here for you.

Kind regards,

Jolamine xx

Hi Jolamine,

Thank you so much, yes I'm over the moon, still in disbelief!! 

I will speak to the BC Nurse tomorrow as still in discomfort under my arm, it's not as red or swollen but may need it looked at.

How long did your seroma go on for? When you had radiotherapy and got the marking beforehand, did the marking hurt? I have heard not such great things???

Thank you again for keeping in touch xx