Lump on back after chest drain

[doodoolatrice]

When i developed a pleural effusion last June the hospital did a couple of drains before fitting me with a semi-permanent drain. A few weeks ago I developed a lump under the skin, exactly where the hospital drains were done. This lump is growing quite quickly and is now very painful. I had an ultrasound done on Monday which was inconclusive, so I'm now waiting for a biopsy. Has anyone else experienced anything like this ?

[Lyndy2]

Hi doodoolatrice, I did get a sort of fleshy mound where the ipc drains were located but not painful.

It seems that this must be something to do with the drain…I hope they get it sorted for you as soon as xx

[doodoolatrice in reply to Lyndy2]

Thanks Lyndy, that's interesting. I'm wondering if some cancer cells escaped when they pulled the drain out and this is actually a cancer lump. It's just so uncomfortable and is really dragging me down. X

[Artgreen]

I don’t know if it’s helpful but I had a hard lump where one drain was located after incisional hernias were repaired . It’s called a seroma and 2 years on it still there but scan say it’s shrinking a bit in its own. It’s big like carrying a bag around and sometimes it’s sore but not always . If get in the way s bit but I can’t tell where it starts and the mesh / hernia repair ends!

I hope it’s nothing more than that for you .

Hugs

Alex

[doodoolatrice in reply to Artgreen]

Thanks Alex, I've never heard of a Seroma before. Hopefully it's something like this and can be removed. There's always something to worry about isn't there xx

[Lilygums]

I developed a painful lump just above my pleural Rocket drain site and ended up in hospital for 2 weeks on industrial strength intravenous antibiotics. I was diagnosed with empyema which is a serious bacterial infection which causes pockets of pus to develop in the pleural cavity. I was feeling well in myself but my temperature was high all the time and looking back I think that was the sign my body had an infection of some sort. If you’ve had an ultrasound then pleural fluid pockets would presumably have been seen if this is the cause. Might be worth asking if antibiotics would help in the first instance. Hope you get sorted soon x

[doodoolatrice in reply to Lilygums]

Thankyou. How soon after your drains did this infection start ? My recent scan showed pleural thickening (currently dealing with a recurrence ) and my breathing is getting worse. I've had a really annoying cough since having covid in Jan. X

[Lyndy2 in reply to Lilygums]

That’s interesting Lilygums, I also got empyema from my rocket drain. I had to have my pleural space washed out twice before it was cured. Scarily my oncologist told me ‘not a lot of people survive empyema’ ! Glad we both did but it seems to be a side effect of ipc drains. Have to say the Resp team at my local hospital were superb and much better than the oncology team that put in the drain! xx

[Lilygums in reply to Lyndy2]

My pleural team were also fantastic and looked after me so well. The resp consultant told me that he hadn’t seen an infection as bad as that for many years, which was frightening! Once the treatment kicked in I felt really well and like a fraud on the ward. As you say, it sounds as though we were both very lucky x

[Lilygums]

I had my drain inserted in September 2021 and had no problems with it until last October when I was admitted to hospital. I started getting symptoms in the August but had had a bad cold and horrendous cough and I just thought the pain and lump was from excessive coughing! I was a bit breathless too and steadily getting worse so my oncologist referred me back to my pleural team. After lots of blood tests and X-rays etc the microbiologists identified the bacteria and hence the antibiotics. I also had an enzyme infused through the pleural drain and this killed off the bacteria and I finally had the drain removed in December as whatever it was they gave me expanded the pleural space to prevent fluid building up and (fingers crossed) so far, so good. Had CT scan last Saturday so just waiting on results from that but I am back on 3 weekly Carboplatin so perhaps that is keeping any pleural symptoms at bay. Oh the joys of OC - it certainly loves to keep us on our toes x

[doodoolatrice]

Thankyou, it's frightening how similar your story is to mine from the horrible cough (I have horrible spasms of coughing which make me sick) to the painful lump and breathlesness. I'm waiting for a biopsy so I'm going to chase this today. I'm pleased to hear they managed to sort you eventuality and best of luck with your CT scan. Xx

[Lilygums]

Thank you. Hope you manage to get some answers (and treatment) soon x

[doodoolatrice]

I've just had a phone call from my GP who said the lump looks highly suspicious. He seemed to think they won't do a biopsy as this will encourage it to grow. I did mention the possibility of empyema as I also have breathlesness and he said the chest x ray shows some fluid. He said he will report to my Onc who I'm seeing on Wednesday. I hate this rollercoaster x

[Lilygums]

Fingers crossed it’s nothing too sinister and they get you sorted quickly. It’s not just a physical ride we are on but an emotional one that gets to us too. Keep us posted on how you get on x

[doodoolatrice]

Thankyou I will xx

[doodoolatrice]

I'm going to contact the Respitory Team first thing tomorrow to ask them to look at the xray I had done last week for their opinion as I can't go on like this. I'm so emotional today as this lump on my back is so sore, I keep getting waves of nausea and my breathlesness is getting worse by the day. I made myself go out with hubby and the dog for a half hour walk and I lost track of how many times I had to stop to catch my breath.

[OvacomeSupport Partner My Ovacome Team in reply to doodoolatrice]

Hi there doodoolatrice

I'm so sorry to hear how sore you have been and that you have been experiencing nausea and breathlessness. I hope you've been able to speak with your respiratory team this morning but also wondered if you have a CNS (Clinical Nurse Specialist) you may be able to talk to about what you're going through? They may be able to investigate when your biopsy is planned for, advise whether any additional investigations may be needed and offer suggestions as to how to alleviate these symptoms. If your symptoms get worse or you're feeling worried, please do phone NHS 111 for advice, speak with your GP or phone 999 for urgent help.

If there's anything you would like to talk through with a member of the Ovacome support team, there are lots of ways to contact us. You can send us a message here on the forum, email us via [e-mail] or call our friendly support line on 0800 008 7054. We're here Monday - Friday, 10am - 5pm.

I hope you're able to speak to a member of your clinical team today and that your symptoms improve soon.

Best wishes

Annie - Ovacome Support

[doodoolatrice]

Thankyou Annie. Problem is I've been discharged from the Royal Marsden as I'm no longer on the Trial so I've been referred back to my local hospital. I have an appointment to see the Onc on Wednesday. I phoned the respiratory team this morning and they said they will get a Dr to look at the x Ray and come back to me. If I don't hear anything I will phone your support line. Thanks again, Kerry xx

[OvacomeSupport Partner My Ovacome Team in reply to doodoolatrice]

Hi there Kerry

Thanks so much for your reply and for sharing some more information with us. I'm pleased you were able to speak with your respiratory team this morning and do hope that you hear back from one of the doctors soon.

Please do let us know if there's anything you would like to talk through or anything we may be able to support you with.

Best wishes

Annie - Ovacome Support