On 7/18/2008
JaeAnn wrote:
Hello everyone,
I have a question for you all that. One month after surgery on my breast to remove the big C I've now developed a new problem. I have pain. My Radiation/Oncologist stated that this is fluid build up and I may need an aspiration. Has anyone else had this problem? I'm wondering why this would cause such pain. Is it because I was sewed to tight, etc. I'm curious on how many of us need an aspiration post surgery. Is this on the rise or is this a rare problem...
Hi JaeAnn,
Doubtful that you were sewed too tight - if that was the case, your incision probably wouldn't have healed properly and you would have had pain, and a lot of restriction of motion, much sooner than this.
The answer to your question may depend upon the answer to another question: did you have a lumpectomy (partial mastectomy) - simple removal of the tumor with immediate reconstructive surgery, or did you have a more complete mastectomy and are in the process of getting an implant?
With lumpectomly and immediate reconstructive surgery, surgeons will deliberately leave the area open to inflow of lymph fluids to fill up the hole left by removal of the tumor. This not only makes for less of a gap in the tissues, but speeds healing because it bathes the area in nutrients. With time this inflow will naturally seal itself off and the fluid will be reabsorbed as the area heals. If you had a greater inflow of lymph than the surgeon expected, or if this inflow hasn't sealed off when it should, this could cause stretching of still-delicate tissues resulting in pain.
The aspiration probably will be uncomfortable, but they should use a local anesthetic so it shouldn't actually be painful. If after you've had the aspiration the situation recurs, you need to ask your surgeon about getting an ultrasound or some other type of better look to make sure there isn't a more serious problem.
If you had a more complete mastectomy and are in process of getting implants, the answer is not so simple. It could be that fluid injected to expand the skin to allow for placement of an implant has shifted to somewhere it shouldn't be. In that case aspiration is still the way to relieve the problem, but maybe the surgeon should also be looking for a reason the fluid shifted. As in the first case scenario, if this recurs after one aspiration, ask the surgeon about getting an ultrasound or other diagnostic workup to find out why this is happening.
There are many fine surgeons out there doing a good job at removing breast cancer, but I've discovered that even the best doctors may not have a true appreciation of how debilitating breast pain can be. So if this problem it not resolved right away, keep at your doctor until they get it solved, even if you have to bug them repeatedly to do something about it. If you have chemo and/or radiation coming up, or some further kind of treatment, you really don't need to be dealing with a pain problem, too, so please be sure to push for satisfactory resolution of the problem.
Good luck, and take care,
Tre