Breast Cancer: Complications of Surgery

Mastectomy, lumpectomy and axillary node dissection are fairly safe surgeries. But every surgery has the risk of complications.

Patients should contact their doctor immediately if they see any signs of:

• Infection, including redness and swelling of the incision with pus or foul-smelling drainage, perhaps with fever. Antibiotics can be used to treat post-surgical infections.
• Lymphedema, the swelling of the arm and/or hand on the side of the surgery due to the removal of the lymph nodes under the arm. Lymphedema often goes away on its own, but sometimes requires treatment. Treatment is usually provided by physical or occupational therapists and includes:
  • Manually draining the fluid.
  • Caring for the skin.
  • Exercising the arm.
  • Wearing compression bandages to keep the swelling from recurring.
• Seroma, which is accumulation of fluid in the location of the surgery. While most of the time the fluid is absorbed by the body, the area can be drained using a needle if it does not go away.
• Other complications may include stiffness of the shoulder and possible numbness or altered sensation in the upper arm or armpit.

  Before surgery, your doctor should provide you with information about recovery and follow-up care. Print out these Questions to Ask to take to your appointment so you can better understand your care.

Reviewed by Sonja Eva Singletary, MD, Professor of Surgical Oncology, The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center.