Lumpectomy scar tissue worry

jackboo09

I am 18 months from a Her 2+ IDC diagnosis. Last month I had some breast tenderness around the time of my period and now I think my scar line (at the bottom of the auxiliary node clearance scar) seems a bit different. I can feel a tiny bump along the line of the scar in the same place where I remember a rather deep stretch mark being before surgery.

On March 13th this year I had a clear mammo, but how reliable is that and could it have come back since then.

I am so scared. My kids need me. Please help if you can. Will go to my clinic tomorrow.

Liz

hotandcold

We are here to support you while waiting.  I got a funny bump on my incision scar about 8 months after surgery.  Dr. freaked me out and insisted on biopsy ASAP.  I really freaked out while waiting for results. It was benign, No Cancer!  Good luck to you.!

Irocjuju

Jackboo,

I was diagnosed with stage 2, triple neg IDC in 2004 @ age 27. This Nov will be 8 yrs from diagnosis & I'm having an excisional biopsy of my lumpectomy scar tissue this Thursday. I have had to move & don't have insurance so the surgeon I'm seeing is brand new. My scar tissue wasn't even commentedof out on my mammo & ultrasound. I was sent to him because of an area seen on ultrasound in opposite breast (which he is taking out too). But upon physical exam, he didn't like how my scar tissue felt. I had an MRI & he said he doesn't like how quick it came up. I'm sorry you're facing this scare, but I'm all about thoroughly checking every concern because, like you, I have 2 kids to care for. I'll be praying for you & hope everything comes out benign.

lovetosail

I found a small lump post MX and while it looked like nothing on the ultrasound, my surgeon was of the opinion to just take it out anyway.  It did turn out to be a localized recurrence - I was treated with rads (which I didn't have initially), a little more Herceptin, and I'm good to go.  Most post surgical lumps are not recurrences, but - I say trust your instincts and if it is worrying you - get it thoroughly checked out.

 Good luck!!

jackboo09

hotandcold Thank you for posting. It seems these post surgery concerns are common. Glad yours turned out to be fine. I go for the US tomorrow morning and I must admit to be really scared. Last time I went from mammo, to US, to biopsies all in the space of an hour. Pretty terrifying. Im more used to proceedures now but basically if Im lying there and they say I'd like to biopsy now I know my head will automatically assume cancer.

lovetosail Thank you for posting. I am a little calmer this morning. A good night's sleep has helped. In the middle of the night your mind had the habit of going to all those dark places. Sorry you experienced a local reoccurence but it just goes to show that we must be vigilant (this is especially true for lumpectomy patients who have a slightly higher loc rec risk) Your lump appears to have looked innocent on the US but your surgeon was obviously not happy to leave it alone. Personally, I would rather be cautious and Im sure you feel the same. Rads wont be an option for me as I have already had them. How many extra Herceptin did you have?

Irocjuju Looks like we are facing a similar trauma this Thursday! Thank ypu for sharing your story. Firstly, thats amazing to be 8 years out. My cousin was dx with Trip neg at age 47 and is 3 years out. I consider myself young at age 41, but 27, wow what a horrible shock. Like you my fear is made worse by being a mum. My kids are 11 and 9 and I worry more about them. I am now 2 months out from finishing a year of Herceptin, so my head is telling me that Its unlikely to be anything nasty so soon. However, better safe than sorry. My last mammo was in March. It reported "residual scar tissue"The trouble is I dont particularly trust mammos, especially once scar tissue is present so am glad to have the US.Do you work out? I ask this because I have recently upped my exercise and have been doing some light weights and stretched. This has been pulling on the scar area and causing some discomfort so it could be just that. Let me know how you get on. I'm Liz and feel free to PM me anytime. Take Care.

Irocjuju

Good morning Liz. Funny, our kids are close in age too. Mine are about to turn 8 & 11. I am very thankful to have made it this long but honestly the thought of recurrence or even new cancer never leaves me mind. The way I was disregarded & overlooked because of statistics has made me more vigilant. I actually did start working out recently, for about the past 3-4 months. I never experience any discomfort from it. However, when I do BSE it has felt different, even before working out though. I've recently lost 20lbs. Surgeon had said that can make things feels different. But after examining me himself he didn't like what he felt. Then he was additionally concerned with the MRI. So, he's all about getting it out & looking closer. I know mammos & ultrasounds are the diagnostic tests for BC but I also don't truly trust or rely on them. It's nice to have these boards to share our thoughts as so many people around me just can't understand. Peace & blessings to you!

jackboo09

My 'lump' turned out to be an oil cyst that sometimes develops after surgery. Huge relief. Irocjuju: please let me know how you got on. I hope the proceedure is quick and painfree and I hope we will talk again.

Liz

lovetosail

Liz - great news!

Irocjuju

So happy for you, Liz! 

My procedure went well.  Yesterday was really rough though.  I felt nauseous and "loopy" all day.  Was trying to figure out if was the pain meds but I'm still not sure.  Today was better but the longer I'm up and about and the more I do, the more I feel yucky and painful.  I'm a little concerned about redness and hard swelling, expecially on prior lumpectomy area.  If it's not better by Monday, I'll call Dr again.  They scheduled my follow-up for 8/27 and said if they call me to come in sooner, I'll basically know something is wrong.  So, I'll be sure to post either way once I have pathology results. 

Julee

jackboo09

Hi again Julee

Sorry to hear you had a tough time. Was the proceedure done under a local anaesthetic? Thinking back I remember how sore I was after my original biopsies, never mind anything else. All of this just sucks. The original treatment is bad enough without facing anymore proceedures and worries. Vent......

I am scheduled for a breast reduction surgery in November but Im questioning my nerve. I want it done but its the recovery I fear.

Thinking of you as you wait.

Liz

RobinJoy

I pray it's b9, Julee!

Irocjuju

Hi Liz,

I was under general anesthesia & actually did much better than usual. Since I last wrote, I've been through some very tough stuff. I got severely constipated from pain meds (should've known better) & got pretty torn up "down there". Even got to the point of blood coming out of uretha. Then my whole body was very sore from straining. Got things under control now and Im doing a little better each day. I've got a great team of prayer warriors and God is faithful. I understand your dreading more procedures.



As of yesterday when I talked to Dr & his assistant, they still didn't have any pathology results. So, still waiting. I may go in for a check up on Fri because I'm going out of town next week. Thanks for thinking of me.



Robinjoy,

Thanks for kind thoughts. I'm also praying for b9 results for you tomorrow.