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Is It Normal To Have Seratoma Post Mastectomy And Chemotherapy?
Question: Hi, I have had mastectomy on right breast , with lymph nodes removed , 6 months ago. Have had 6 chemo and 5 1/2 weeks radiation, I am on my 5th drain due to seratoma is this normal after so long. What is usual procedure to fix this. I am 55 years old. Am on oestrogen blocker.
Brief Answer:
Yes, it can take so long.
Detailed Answer:
Hello!
Thank you for the query.
When was your last radiation course? What does the histopathological report says (what is the stage, how many lymph nodes were with cancer cells and how many lymph nodes were tested by a pathologist - please attach this report if possible). What is your current Ca15-3 level?
When you do remove lymph nodes, the lymphatic ducts are closed by a surgeon. This makes a kind of dead end for the lymph. This increases the pressure in such ducts and causes fluid (lymph) evacuation from this ducts to the tissues. Moreover, usually not all lymphatic ducts are sutured by a surgeon and some are left open so the fluid is drained to the tissues.
Luckily veins and other lymph ducts can substitute the affected lymph ducts. But this takes time. Its like river which you try to close somewhere, sooner or later will find the new stream (but usually it needs to sculpture a new one - this takes a long time).
This process takes usually few months. But at your case, you can not count this period from the surgery. Please note that radiation is a destructive force for the tissues and causes a kind of scars. It can block lymphatic ducts and prolong this period.
So I would start counting few months from the end of the radiation.
And there is not much you can do to accelerate this process. Drain is the best we have.
Moreover, sometimes cancer recurrence (however its too early for it) can cause impeded healing and seratoma. But this should give also Ca15-3 increase and should be visible in the tests like CT or PET.
Hope this will help. Feel free to ask further questions.
Regards.
Yes, it can take so long.
Detailed Answer:
Hello!
Thank you for the query.
When was your last radiation course? What does the histopathological report says (what is the stage, how many lymph nodes were with cancer cells and how many lymph nodes were tested by a pathologist - please attach this report if possible). What is your current Ca15-3 level?
When you do remove lymph nodes, the lymphatic ducts are closed by a surgeon. This makes a kind of dead end for the lymph. This increases the pressure in such ducts and causes fluid (lymph) evacuation from this ducts to the tissues. Moreover, usually not all lymphatic ducts are sutured by a surgeon and some are left open so the fluid is drained to the tissues.
Luckily veins and other lymph ducts can substitute the affected lymph ducts. But this takes time. Its like river which you try to close somewhere, sooner or later will find the new stream (but usually it needs to sculpture a new one - this takes a long time).
This process takes usually few months. But at your case, you can not count this period from the surgery. Please note that radiation is a destructive force for the tissues and causes a kind of scars. It can block lymphatic ducts and prolong this period.
So I would start counting few months from the end of the radiation.
And there is not much you can do to accelerate this process. Drain is the best we have.
Moreover, sometimes cancer recurrence (however its too early for it) can cause impeded healing and seratoma. But this should give also Ca15-3 increase and should be visible in the tests like CT or PET.
Hope this will help. Feel free to ask further questions.
Regards.
Note: For further inquiries on surgery procedure and its risks or complications book an appointment now
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Vaishalee Punj
Answered by
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