The Story of the Incredible Breast

Once upon a time there was a breast, a right breast to be exact.  This particular breast was a very important, cherished part of a particular woman's body -- we'll call her Diane.  For years and years the breast was beautiful and healthy until.....

One day Diane discovered a lump in this breast.  After a multitude of tests and consultations, a bilateral mastectomy was performed.and tissue expanders were put in temporarily [to swap with implants at a later date]. 

A P.E.T. scan showed some cancer in the lymph nodes under the right arm even though 12 nodes had been removed during the surgery.   Rigorous treatment of chemotherapy and radiation therapy was performed.

And the right arm started growing.

Diane discovered an incredible lymphedema support group and started therapy with a lymphedema specialist.  And the right arm started to get back to normal.

Now, the right breast was growing, and it became very painful.  The skin around the original incision site was rough and almost black.  The bottom of the breast was extremely hot and painful to the touch.  Surgery was performed to remove lots and lots of fluid [1100 cc].

But, after the drain was removed 4 weeks later, the right breast started to grow again, and burst through the skin and started to squirt lymphatic fluid.

Another surgery was performed to remove the fluid; this time the expander was also removed.  The skin immediately started to look and feel better.

But, after the drain was removed 4 weeks later, the right breast started to grow again.

It's a seroma.  [Wikipedia has a nice explanation of a seroma [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seroma].]

This is where the story pauses, but it's far from over. The incredible right breast is doing its best.  And the incredible left breast, still with a tissue expander in it, is holding its own beautifully.