FLUID IN

[Nellie29]

Hi. I am very worried for my mother. 4 months ago my mother had a cancerous lump and all lymph nodes removed. No lymph nodes had cancer but the lump was cancerous. She is now trying to deal with another problem. The breast has been filling with fluid at first and was drained via a needle some 6-7 times. It has now been filling with blood for the past 3-4weeks. The breast is reddish all over. Today the breast fluid has started to leak out of a hole on the breast again. After showering I covered the hole thoroughly with a gauze and held it firmly in place with medical tape etc my mother has now found her shirt covered with blood and fluid only 3 hours later from somewhere closer to the arm pit. I did not see any fluid coming from anywhere else when I applied the bandages. The red colour has now travel across her chest and into the other breast and all of these areas look very red now. A skin specialist has taken tissue samples and she will have results back next week (testing for skin cancer as a result of removal of the lump). I am very concerned about this red colour travelling across to the other breast and chest area. I understand it in the one breast but now it is clearly in the other . What is going on? The specialist said he hadn't seen something like this before.  My mother is becoming very depressed. She has been on 4 courses of antibiotics already. When she finished a week ago the redness had diminished. After the samples were taken things have got worse again. She had more antibiotics and so started back on them for protection. What do you think is going on? She had breast cancer (lump removed) 17 years ago and developed lymphademia but nothing like this occured. Please help as I am worried out of my mind and I am trying to keep her chin up but I am becoming very, very concerned. She was on blood thinning tablets but these have been not taken since before the operation. My mother is in her mid 70s and is extremely tired.Thanks.

[BhumikaMD]

Hi,

You should consult your breast specialist or oncologist immediately. This needs to be evaluated and taken care of immediately.

How much fluid or blood has she lost already? She would develop other problems due to the blood and fluid loss and this therefore needs urgent attention.

The cause of this ocurring cannot be said without a proper clinical examination and investigations. Take her to the ER if the site is still bleeding or fluid is coming out.

Do let us know what the doctor tells you.

Hope this helps in some way.

Good luck and best wishes.

[Nellie29]

Hi there. After I wrote I went with my mother to the surgeon. I asked a number of questions and he said that he didn't want to operate again but he had to, my mum nearly died 18 months ago when she had a mild heart attack which led to a bypas a couple of days later. Mum didn't come out of the anisthetic for 10 days.

When I attended with her I suggested a local and a milder anaesthetic for the operation. He discussed this with the anaesthetist and they did this. Mum was operated on that afternoon. Immediately that evening the redness had subsided and as the days followed the IV antibiotics certainly helped her. She was in hospital for approx a week and the doc told her she wouldn't go home until the fluid output dropped under 20mls and this had to happen for at least 2 days in a row. Well she didn't drop under this and was sent home. It was lower  for a a couple of days but was still at 30-50ml out put. It dropped one day to 18mls. We were all thrilled but that night 50mls came out nearly at once. Last night the 4th Feb the breast stitching line has started to ooze out fluid like before and she still has the tube in. I am back at work now and even more worried. Mum is saying she wants the breast taken off but even so there would be fluid involved after the operation here too. Mum is even more depressed. She is starting to explain how she could stop all this hassle permantently. I think i will ring the doctor myself but I don't think he knows what is to be done. The tube cannot stay in for ever- it could get infected couldn't it?  She is weak, lives alone and certainly makes it clear she wants it that way. I also have lots of stairs in my home so she wouldn't be too comfortable here. I forgot to tell you before she is a diabetic (insulin dependant), can't walk too far without a frame due to the oesteo in her back and legs too.Absolutely fine in the mind.
So what now? We are back to where we were when I wrote my first entry. Thank you so much for writing before you don't know how much it meant to me and to know i was doing the write. Nell

[BhumikaMD]

Hi,

I am sorry to hear about the current situation - your mother and in turn you must be going through a lot emotionally.

The tube cannot be left for very long - but there seems to be no other option in this case.

The stitch line oozing is also not a good sign.

Her being a diabetic makes the situation a little more worrisome.

What do the doctors say as to the possible cause of the fluid or blood?

Has a coagulation profile been done? Is the rest of her blood work normal?

Talk to your about this in detail, and it would not harm to take a second opinion with another breast specialist.

Keep us posted.

Regards.

[Chipp2]

my mum died of breast and lung cancer i have been leaking discarge from both nipples and i have severe pain in ribs had xray it was clear but they still done biopsy on lungs will it show any abnormalities or will i have to have a mammogram