thank you so much for replying. I am putting heat packs on the Lump in the hope that it will speed up its breakdown.

Hi Josh, I just came across your post and was wondering how things have gone with regard to your seroma over the past couple of years. I was searching for information - perhaps a forum for seroma sufferers - as I have a fairly large seroma 18 months after having groin lymph nodes fully removed. I wonder whether your seroma has resolved as suggested by Angie T. I hope for your sake is has stopped bothering you. I'm still struggling, hence my search.

Best wishes,

Kate

Stage IIIc Melanoma

hi Kate,

My seroma condiderably reduced in size overnight a few weeks after my post. I should have updated this really. It is still lingering on but no discomfort.

Hi Josh

Thank for replying. Glad to hear that things have improved - there is hope!

Good luck for the future.

Kate

Hi anyone, i have had a lymph node removed from my groin and developed a seroma which i had  no idea could happen. Unfortunately i wasnt given any follow up advice post surgery. Anyway, the pain was incredible and i attended A&E where 3 syringes of fluid were aspirated. It refilled and aspirated again. It was explained that repeated aspiration increases the risk of infection. 6 weeks after the last aspiration my seroma which was decreasing doubled in size & became infected. Has this happened to anyone else? Does a yone have any advice or tips how i can help myself? I cant believe i was making progress yet now am  back to square one. It is soul destroying and i cant find any support. Thank you.

Hello

I read your post with a huge amount of sympathy but I'm afraid I have little to offer in terms of advice regarding improvement of a seroma. I trust your doctor has dealt with the infection you mention and that the seroma has returned to its previous size.

I've had mine now for over 2 years, in my groin (following full inguinal and iliac clearance in August 2019). I've had mine aspirated once - it left a huge 10x6x4cm dent which was quite shocking but anyway it refilled within a few days. I've spoken to my dermatology nurse about it but they can't really offer anything. There is a process called sclerotherapy but I can't find anyone/anywhere that offers it and I'm not 100% sure I would risk it as it carries some potential negative side effects. You may have already discovered this but here's a link if not www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/.../. 

I have tried to manage my mental and emotional reaction to having a large lump in my groin by thinking that I have it because they were trying to save my life (from Stage 3 melanoma), it is uncomfortable but not usually painful, it doesn't stop me doing walking etc, it appears to be stable and not malignant in any way, and there are much worse things. Often, thinking like this does help. Other times, I do feel upset and angry about it and wonder about trying to get rid of it... but every time they've performed surgery on me, I have ended up with infections... so I'm pretty much resigned to living with it.

I do hope you can find some way to cope with the ongoing trauma that having a seroma entails. It is a lonely place. I'd be happy to chat with you if that would help. Meanwhile, take care, stay safe and try to focus on what's good.

Kate

Hi Kate,

Thank you so much for taking the time to reply to my post. I was looking seroma support (if it existed) when I came across your post. It is indeed a lonely place and my experience from Doctors has been quite dismissive - it will go away in time, goodbye. Many seromas do but for those that don’t it is another obstacle to overcome when you are already overwhelmed with other things. My lymph node biopsy was negative which I feel incredibly grateful for, however I am still waiting on other biopsy & test results. It is a lot to absorb.

Since my last post the anti bitoics did not work, my seroma became an abscess which needed surgical intervention just before Christmas. I have been told there are no guarantees it won’t return. I feel on tenterhooks that it could return anytime.

i’m so sorry to hear that you are still finding a way to live with yours and I hope that there will be some change for you. I was encouraged to know that despite your seroma you are living your life. It gives me hope that I will have a life outdoors again. At the moment I cannot do the things I love, I’m sure once I can I will have a more balanced outlook.

From what you have experienced, not only the seroma I can understand the fight for your mental well being. There are worse things yes but that does not diminish what you have been through, you sound like a very strong lady who has had to overcome many worse things. We all struggle to keep positive all the time. I hope you have far more good days than bad and that 2022 brings some positive change in your seroma & many more good things.

I cant thank you enough for taking the time to share with me.

Lisa

Hi Lisa

Thank you for your thoughtful words. I was shocked and very sorry to hear about the turn that things have taken - I really hope that you recover fully and that the seroma has gone.

(I got a small one following a sentinel lymph node biopsy (the result of which was -ve.... though a year later it was found that the melanoma had spread to those nodes and beyond)... the small seroma from that surgery did after 4 or 5 aspirations, go away. So I do know that they can go away and I really hope that you've seen the back of yours now. I live in hope that my large one will somehow decide to go down/away but I'm pretty resigned to living with it as I said.)

I'd be very pleased to hear how things go if you'd like to stay in touch. Keep an eye on your lymph nodes as the spread to mine was only discovered by me doing a regular check - you've probably been told to do that. I really hope you've seen the back of this whole situation, Lisa, And I wish you a happy healthy future, starting now!

Kate

Happy New Year Kate,

Wow, you really have been dealing with so much in the last few years. I really hope that you are over the worst and things are looking so much better for the time to come.

I would be really happy to keep in touch. I cannot explain how much just simply getting it off my chest & knowing you understand has helped me. Knowing there really isnt any treatment for a persistent seroma other than time and even then it isnt guaranteed to resolve is really difficult. The ups & downs with it are hard to manage, good days and bad days.

The District Nurses I have seen  have been very understanding and I am sure I must drive them crazy with my worry about further infection or return of the  Seroma. Their reassurance regarding how I am healing so far is a comfort. I am under their care for the next 4 weeks at least.

i havent been given any advice or information regarding my lymph node removal. I have had no contact from the Surgical Team, not even a follow up appointment. The treatment I have received has been through A&E dept. Other than the removal of one node and a biopsy of the other, both being negative I have no information as to the cause of the swelling. Due to this I try and see my Seroma in a positive way as without it I wouldnt have been referred for a CT scan which has identified other potential concerns.

I still havent received my biopsy or blood marker results which is begining to tell on me now. When taken I was told 2/3 weeks, this is now week 7. I have started the new year not knowing what or if I can make any form of plans. I am currently in limbo but hopefully I will know more soon.

Thank you for being there for me, please keep in touch 

lisa xx