Doctor concerned about lumps at lumpectomy site

LittleMelons

I was diagnosed a year and a half ago and went for my routine 4-month follow-up with my BS today (the BS and MO alternative seeing me every 4 months). I was prepared for the usual questions and quick follow-up as I'm not experiencing any particular problems, so was surprised when he too a long time feeling the area around the lumpectomy scar and even returned to check it a second time. He said it feels hard and lumpy and my nipple has shifted. He's sending me for an ultrasound. I already have a mammogram set up for July.

This has me worried now, especially as I read that most recurrences are at the original site.

Has anyone else had their doctor concerned about their lumpectomy site?

ptdreamers

Litlemelons, Did you have radiation? I have a hard lump in my incision area. My MO said it was from the radiation and it may or may not resolve. I too have a mammo in July and hope he is right. I'll be interested in what your ultrasound shows. Please share. Thanks

Dukes_Up

Hi Littlemelons~

As ptdreamers mentioned, I was also wondering if you had radiation post-lumpectomy.  My Mom experienced the same type of hardness/lumpiness that you're describing a few months post lumpectomy and radiation.  A followup ultrasound + mammo pointed to a benign finding of "necrosis." 

While I'm glad that you're being monitored closely, I'd hate to see you panic at this point.  I wish you the best news at your ultrasound! 

LittleMelons

ptdreamers and Dukes_Up - Thanks so much for your responses.  I have been panicking a bit as I was really caught off guard.  The doctor was telling me he "wasn't really concerned" while looking pretty concerned.   Then I came home and scared the heck out of myself by reading stuff on the web, e.g. on the Mayo Clinic site that symptoms of recurrence can include "thickening of the surgical scar" or "new pulling back of the skin or dimpling at the lumpectomy site" which is a pretty good description of what is happening.

 I did have 16 whole breast radiation treatments (the shorter Canadian protocol) plus 8 boosts to that area.  I think part of his concern is that I had surgery almost a year and a half ago and finished rads just over a year ago, so it's a fairly long time out to be having these changes.

I am trying to keep calm and will certainly let you know once I know more.   Just hate this waiting for tests and results.

Dukes_Up

I will for sure be keeping you in my thoughts!  Please keep us posted after your ultrasound, k? 

Take Care and try to breathe deeply!

AJ 

LittleMelons

Thanks a lot, Dukes_Up.  I really appreciate it and will definitely post back here when I have some news.  It will probably be a while as the U/S appt. hasn't even been booked yet.

 Wouldn't it be nice if there was an off switch on the brain to stop the bad thoughts? 

nancyh

Hey LittleMelons,

I was just saying in another post that the hardest part is not knowing what is going on...too easy for your mind to wander.  I had a local recurrence years ago and it came totally out of the blue.  Try not to get ahead of yourself, hopefully it will be nothing, but always a good idea to have things checked out to be sure.  The waiting game is hard and I agree that I wish there was an off switch with our brains to keep out the negative thoughts! 

LittleMelons

Thank you very much for your support, ladies.  Just wanted to let you know that I still haven't had the ultrasound.  When the hospital finally called to book the appointment, they said June 15th was the first available time - that's lots of women are booking for this type of ultrasound.  Whoa - seems like way too long.  I noticed that the ultrasound form didn't say anything about breast cancer - so I called back and mentioned that I had bc and that lumps in the lumpectomy area can be a symptom of recurrence, so she moved it up to April 25th.  Not great, but better.

 I'm a bit obsessive, but trying not to worry.  Just spent 2 weeks in Florida which helped!

All the best to you all. Will update you again after the ultrasound.  

LittleMelons

Still don't have an answer about these frigging lumps at the lumpectomy site.  Had an ultrasound on April 25th.  The radiologist looked bewildered at what he was seeing, then sent me for a mammogram of that breast.  About two weeks later I got a call from my breast surgeon's office saying that "It looked good, not to worry....except that the radiologist just wants to compare with the previous mammogram".  Got call a call back for some "mag views to check for microcalcifications".  That was last Friday.  Got a call today that my family doctor wants to see me about those results, but the secretary wouldn't tell me anything over the phone.  In my experience, it's never good news when they contact you so quickly.

Haven't heard from the breast surgeon's office yet.

This all started on March 1st. Will post back when I know something definite.  I bet they will want to do a biopsy now. Hate all this waiting to find out something definite!

jgbartlett

LittleMelons,

Any update??  Thinking of you.

Julie.

LittleMelons

Hi Julie -  thanks for asking.  I went to see my family doctor on Friday.  I didn't sleep much all week because I was so worried about what she was going to say.  My husband was nice enough not to sleep much either  lol.  But what she told me was old news, the results of the first mammo and ultrasound, not the lastest magnified view mammos done last friday.  However, she gave me the actual report which was somewhat reassuring.  It mentioned calcifications which appear "non-suspicious" and "not particularly concerning".  I will try to get hold of my breast surgeon's office this week to ask about the most recent results.

All this waiting around for test results is so nerve-wracking.  I've had a few scares with suspicious lesions on the spine and liver which eventually turned out to be benign.  I find wine and planning vacations helps with the nerves  ha ha...

jgbartlett

Yes, wine always helps. Let us know when you get more news.