One lump or two?

I’ve healed well from my parotid surgery but developed an even bigger lump, a seroma, a bit lower on my neck. It is soft and spongey. I saw the surgeon on Thursday and he extracted about 8 ml of clear serous fluid.  He told me we might have to drain it a few times over the next few weeks and had me make a follow up appointment for one week.

Six hours later, it was back, nearly as large.

I went back today and he drained another 8 ml of fluid. As I write, it’s been about 5 hours and I can sense that it is filling again, though maybe more slowly. The plan is that if it fills again, the doctor will put a drain in next Thursday for about 4 days, hoping that will fix the problem.

In the grand scheme of things, it’s really no big deal, but I’m discouraged. After finally having the surgery to get rid of the first lump, it seems crazy to have to deal with another one. And then to have it fill up so quickly 🙁

On other fronts (pardon the pun) the expansion went well without pain. I felt a little achey later, but ibuprofen seemed to take care of it.

I also started taking Tamoxifen this week. Although it is pretty standard treatment for hormone-receptor-positive breast cancer, I am not comfortable with it. It works as an antagonist in breast tissue (reducing the likelihood of developing new breast cancers) but as a agonist in other tissues (increasing the risk of endometrial cancer, blood clots, etc.) It also apparently shows evidence of “reduced cognition and semantic memory scores.” Whaaaat?

I know that reading side effect warnings isn’t the best way to approach new medications, but I also believe in informed choices. It doesn’t mean I have to like the choices. I feel like it’s part of the overall plan I agreed to so I’d better stick with it.

I’m also feeling like an old house or car: you fix one thing and something else pops up. And I’m getting tired of doctors’ offices. It probably doesn’t help that I work in one.

But it’s Friday. The weekend is here and I’m going to enjoy it, lump or no lump. My goal is to clean and decorate my house, getting ready to welcome Anne and James home for Christmas on the 17th. I’ve got my Christmas letter ready and my Family Gifts ordered. (I’ve decided those are my two favorite Christmas traditions. I also wisely decided to forego sewing projects this year.)

 

 

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