Retraction/dimpling in breast post-mastectomy

epink

Hello,

I've posted this in a few different columns here, but have only had one response, and it was from someone who hadn't had a mastectomy....wondering if anyone here has had any dimpling/breast retraction/changes post-mastectomy, years later.

I am coming up on my 5th anniversary...had DCIS (no microinvasion, but very close margins) in both breasts and opted for a bilateral mast with implants.

I haven't felt any lumps but I have noticed a change on one of my breasts..not really puckering but a retraction of skin in one area--like the skin is pulling inwards in one small area. There is also some pain and itching in the left breast, and I just don't know if this is normal five-year-wear-and-tear, post-mastectomy. When I raise my arm up, it's totally smooth. No thickening, etc. I'm concerned because the puckering is in the area that was "of concern" post-mastectomy...very close margins.

I emailed my surgeon, and he said it was most likely fat necrosis, but is having me come in anyway.

Up until this point, my skin has been totally smooth, so I don't know if this is just the aging process of the breast...and I was fairly young at diagnosis (39) and don't have anyone to ask.

Would love to hear if anyone has experienced this....

Thanks,

Eva

artsee

I've been hearing a lot about Fat Necrosis lately. Seems it's quite commen.

I am dealing with it myself right now and I am 7 years out. Nothing showed up on a mamo and ultra sound but the change in the skin warranted a biopsy. The only way to be sure it is not a recurrence. It's quite unnerving so we need to be pro-active.

Keep in touch here ok?

Artsee

epink

Thanks so much, Artsee...wouuld you mind telling me if yours looked like what I described? Retraction of skin, dimpling, etc? From what I can see about fat necrosis, it is only thickening of the skin, etc...

Thanks so, so much for the reply...

Eva

artsee

hi epink, I read that your symptoms can be a sign of necrosis.

Mine just looked ugly. Got really purplish red with a bump smack dab in the middle of the scar. I think it can take all kinds of changes. When the surgeon cut into it for the biopsy, all kinds of liquid oil came out which he was happy to see. Now it continues to have a little drainage of the stuff which means it hasn't closed completely.its been 2 weeks. The surgeon says it looks good.......I don't. 😠 I have learned not to trust this darn cancer. But I'm hopeful the Drs know what they are doing.

Let us know how you proceed,

Artsee

kathleen1966

for the past almost five years, I feel

Like my scar is constantly changing. There are always parts that seem to be puckering that weren't puckering before, and occasional redness that comes and goes and in some cases, stays (but for three years)..I also have the sometimes itching you describe. It always looks different to me and sometimes I feel like maybe I'm crazy. What helps me is a yearly MRI that is always clear. I will be having another one soon...and I hope it will bring peace of mind to yet another very slight but noticeable to me red area near the scar line...

epink

Thank you both so much for responding...the skin retraction is actually not on my scar...don't know if that's good or bad? Or neither? It's in an area of just skin that was smooth prior to this...

My appointment is on June 1st, so I will definitely report back....

Eva

artsee

kathleen1966... From what I have read, is that the redness comes from imflamation of the area that has the fat necrosis in the scar tissue. Do have Fat necrosis? Didn't find that outtill I had the pathologist check out the redness during a mamo.

Artsee

epink

I have one more question, for those of you who have had a bilateral mastectomy..do both breasts feel relatively the same on both side? My left side feels very different from my right...lots of valleys/ridges and the right side is smooth. This whole situation has made me realize I haven't done enough self-examining, so I"m not as familiar as I should be with the landscape of my breasts. But there is definitely a difference between the two sides..not sure how there wouldn't be, though, with implants, etc?

Thanks,

Eva

Mykonos7

Hi Eva!

I just got my results back today that I have fat necrosis in my right breast (the one that previously had cancer!). Needless to say I was worried sick. My breast surgeon did two ultrasounds and felt 100% confident that it was fat necrosis but it felt just like the lump I had found when I was diagnosed. I was terrified go for the biopsy but I am so relieved now. Fat nevrosis is super common after mastectomy , even years later. Wishing you all the best!!