Surgical clips just found out!! Is this normal

Eve7777

Hi, had first mastectomy in 2000 with bilateral silicone reconstruction.  In the next 5 years I had to return to surgery because of implant rupture.  In 2005 I was DX with rheumatoid arthritis.  Had both implants removed.  Last year my cancer came back.  Another surgery, and this time radiation.  3 months after radiation i came down with eosinophilia pneumonia.  Almost went to heaven.  Have had multiple X-rays since then and just had my 5th ct scan.  This last scan mentions clips.  I have been complaining of burning pain for months and have swelling order my arm.

Anyone out there have any idea if this is normal

Thanks much all and wish you all well

Moderators

Eve-

We want to welcome you to our community here at BCO. It sounds like you've already been on quite the journey! We're sure some of our knowledgeable and welcoming members will be around to share their experiences, surely someone else out there has been through what you went through. In the meantime, we hope being here provides you with the support you need!

The Mods

mustlovepoodles

I would say most, if not all of us have titanium clips. They are left behind as "place savers" after biopsies, excisions, and mastectomies. That way, when future mammograms, MRIs, or other testings are done, they know exactly where to look. I have clips in both breasts--one marking an area of benign micro-calcs in the left breast and the other marking the place where my IDC was found. The next time I have a mammogram, they will look especially closely at those two places.

Titanium is a light-weight metal that is used in a lot of medical procedures because it is both strong and corrosion resistant. It is non-magnetic, non-toxic and is not rejected by the body, so it has many medical uses, including surgical tools and implants, such as with joint replacements that can stay in place for up to 20 years. Since it is not magnetic, the titanium clips and implants will not interfere with MRIs. I would be very surprised if your clips are causing your symptoms--they are quite tiny. However, you may want to talk with your BS about whether you have some lymphedema going on. That can cause pain and swelling under the arm.

Moderators

Hi Eve,

Just checking in to see how you're doing. Any news?

--The Mods

besa

in addition to being used as markers, titanium clips are routinely used to stop bleeding during surgery. I had bilateral mastectomy and reconstruction and have many clips (they cleary can be seen on a mammogram). They are not an issue for me. I think many, many people here have titanium clips. I agree with mustlove- I would talk to your doctors about what you are experiencing, asking if this could possibly be lymphedema.

Katja23

Are the metal clips inserted during a lumpectomy to mark the excision large enough to later be felt in breast self-exams? I had them put in, but I am not yet probing my breast only 2 weeks after surgery.

exbrnxgrl

The marker is placed during biopsy. It is the size of a grain of rice

Susie123

I know I have some type of metal clip in there since the BMX because I can't go through airport security without setting it off and having to be hand wanded an patted down in that area due to the hand wand alarming in the breast area. However, beyond being an inconvenience at the airport, I don't have any problems and would never know they're there, for six years now.

exbrnxgrl

susie123,

That may be something different than the biopsy marker. The biopsy marker does not effect normal airport security

Susie123

It has to be related to the BMX. Over the many years of flying I had never set the alarm off at airport security, until after the BMX. Since the BMX, 6 years ago, I always set the alarm off. When wanded, it always sounds at the right breast area, the side the breast cancer was in and the nodes were removed. Nothing else would have effected just my right breast only and just for the last 6 years, other than the biopsy, cancer, and node removal. Not sure what they put in there, but it has to be metal, because I experience the alarm, wand, & pat down with the back of a female TSA agents hands ever time I fly now. 

exbrnxgrl

Hmm, what does your surgeon say? The tiny titanium markers, placed during a biopsy, are removed during a mx/bmx when all the breast tissue is removed, since there is no longer any tissue to mark.

Susie123

The breast surgeon does the BMX and the plastic surgeon finishes the surgery by placing the tissue expanders, so the plastic surgeon becomes your primary in the hospital and after until the reconstruction is complete. I have not had a need to return to the breast surgeon since I no longer have breasts on either side. Whatever is in there doesn't cause any problems, only a minor inconvenience at the airport, so I would never ask for another surgery to remove it. I've wondered if it had something to do with the lymph node removal since the wand goes off at the top part of my right breast closet to the arm when the actual cancer was in the area below the nipple. It's just another one of those weird things that come along with all the other. 😊

exbrnxgrl

Yes, I'm familiar with recon and who does what. I had one step implants so no TE's. Is it possible that the fill valve on the TE is triggering something at airports? As far as I know, there is no marker left after SNB or AND. I guess that in the end, if it doesn't bother you, it's not a problem.