Painful lump/spots after lumpectomy not going away?

It sounds like you've just been through a lot with two surgeries, radiation and shingles. I had a mastectomy, not lumpectomy, but with my recurrent breast cancer in my chest, I had that tumor removed which would be more similar to your lumpectomy. I had radiation after the chest tumor removal. I had shingles 2.5 weeks after my mastectomy. I will say that I was constantly asking my doctors why this felt lumpy and that felt lumpy -- year after year. Nothing was flat as I had imagined it would be. No one ever really gave me a good answer. I heard scars, bone and some double-talk. I also still get random sharp pains 2.5 years after the chest wall tumor was removed. Had stabbing pains for years along my mastectomy scars, but I do have a keloid scarring disorder and had injections to stop that pain. I also have really bad tenderness where the chest wall tumor was removed 2.5 years ago and along my sides and parts of my chest 10 years after the mastectomy. I always assumed I was unique since I have a painful scarring disorder and a rare neuropathy that causes a lot of pain. However, in 10 years none of my providers that I ask about lumps, ridges, pains, tenderness, numbness ever seem surprised or concerned. I'm also curious to see how others respond here. Note: my recurrent cancer was not where I was complaining about lumps or tenderness. I didn't take an AI based on bad advice from my original oncologist and my current oncologist says I should have.

All that being said, that's me, every body reacts differently and we didn't have the exact same surgery. I had to look up seroma and that sounds viable and says it's common after breast surgery. If anything feels wrong to you, keep asking your providers about it and request another mammogram, MRI, ultrasound -- something to see what's going on. Even if nothing is wrong, worrying about it will drain you. If your team is not able to answer your questions to your satisfaction, seek a second opinion. Better safe than sorry. I hope it all settles down soon. Your post-radiation skin will go back to normal eventually. Radiation also gave me a lot of nerve pain toward the end of treatment. Wishing you the best.

Thank-you so much for your info. I am sorry to hear of your journey, sounds like you have been thru the ringer and i hate hearing it but appreciate you sharing. Every tidbit on this board helps absorb it all and be more prepared.

I guess anything goes and there are aspects they just can't pinpoint and explain with certainty. My hub even said that as good as we feel about my MDs they really dont prepare you. I am a person who wants it told straight, tell me the good bad and ugly to better prepare. So many side issues I wasn't prepared for.

I will ask them and press a bit.
Wishing you all the best as well.

I had very bad seroma after lumpectomy. Draining only helped with one. I had to have the other packed every day by the nurse. It put off my radiation by 2 months. During that time, I did get an infection by my surgeon was on top of it and gave me antibiotics. After radiation and removal of many lymph nodes, have lymphedema and bad pains under arms where most of modes were removed. Going for OT and wearing compression garments is helping. Best is self-massage, several times a day to deal with pain.

Ok thx for response. When I inquired with radiologist about bigger seroma that is so tender and sore, I asked if it could be drained and he seemed to indicate No? And also indicated they dont necessarily go away. Which was not what I read...but will press further.

This sounds like a brutal experience and am so sorry to hear of all the issues that came with lumpectomy/nodes. They just dont prepare you for this. Please take care and best wishes...I hope the lymphadema and pain subsides...

@lhwoz
Following my first lumpectomy, I had several seromas, in fact, it turned out it was a large "honeycomb" which required about 4 times going in and having the fluid removed via needle. One would think that would be painful, but actually getting the pressure off took away the pain. In addition, it was noted that I had "axial webbing" or "cording." I was referred to Physical Therapy and lucky for me the therapist was familiar with this and after about 5 sessions was able to get that under control. She also requested a "swell spot" to wear under my bra for about 3 weeks which helped to alleviate and soften up the radiation scars in my breast from the second surgery that included partial mastectomies. Definitely reach out to your surgeon with these questions and if that person doesn't help, question your oncologist. I was lucky that at Kaiser, we have a Breast Care Specialist section who drained my seromas and my regular doctor referred me to PT. I hope things go better for you.

Ahhh excellent info thank you! I did have cording that went from near center of breast and down chest wall and did ask for PT, and that has subsided. Can I ask how they diagnosed honeycomb? I do have small breasts but feel like the seroma is under incision /nipple area and feels large to me-I can palate and "hold it" (at least my bigger one)

@lhwoz
At about the third time I went in for drainage, it was the Breast Care Nurse who figured it out and did she ever work on it. What a relief to have that problem solved. Keep an eye out for the cording -- mine will subside after I wear the swell spot for a week or two and it can return. The PT trained me in how to work on the pressure points which also help to alleviate it. Just another fun problem we run into.

Awesome advice and thanks. So much fun🤦‍♀️🤦‍♀️🤦‍♀️

I had a seroma
Fr what I j understand these arent supposed to be painful but I had excruciating pain in both breasts fr
My bilateral lumpectomy I thought that it was fr the seroma
I have lumps too but shrinking now I think it’s swelling & scar tissue I will ask my surgeon when I see him