Fat Necrosis or Chest Wall Recurrence/ Skin Mets

Kathryn3

Well, this certainly wasn't the news I was hoping for. I had a BMX 4 yrs ago, then had to have rads on new tram flap due to a worse pathology than anticipated and chest wall margin issues. The radiation caused asymmetry so I had a small implant done on that side. The post-radiation scar tissue meant it had to be implanted sub-muscularly. About 6 weeks ago, I developed a place on the implant side that looks like a bruise but it just wouldn't go away. After waiting a couple weeks (my own sanity and financial preservation rule) I went to have it examined and am now back on the test treadmill. Had MRI this week (4 years to the day of my mastectomy) and the findings were that there was a significant area of enhancement and the radiologist ruled it "inconclusive" and recommended further testing. In for testing next week for mammogram (apparently this will be helpful even though I have had mastectomy and ultrasound). Anyone here with a similar experience? How was your biopsy done? If it did turn out to be benign, how was your fat necrosis/ scar tissue treated and how long did it take to resolve? Thanks for your comments, I am trying hard to stay engaged in my treatment and not freak right out but I am feeling afraid and sad.

KBeee

I have had that twice. Once benign, once not.

Mammogram on reconstruction is challenging. They try, but they can not get much into that machine.

They eventually did ultrasound guided core biopsy on me. This allowed them to stay clear of implant. The scar tissue result was just left alone (and it still stressed me out). The one that was malignant was actually taken out surgically, but they saved my reconstruction. (These were seperate times.... My body likes to make lumps 😖)

Keep us poste

Kathryn3

Thanks for sharing your experience. Appointment is Tuesday but if they decide to do a biopsy it will have to wait until later in the week. I noticed yesterday that the seatbelt in my car was rubbing right over the area so am trying to keep perspective that it really may be benign. I had a chat with a close friend I met at chemo who was there following a local recurrence and is being evaluated for uterine cancer now. The company of others that have walked the road before me is such a help. Thank you

KBeee

Definitely keep us posted. I hope you can stay distracted; I know time is standing still for you right now

Kathryn3

So, the good news is that there is nothing in the ultrasound to suggest that there is anything malignant. Watch and wait for a 6-month rescan ultrasound. Disappointing experience after refusing the mammogram multiple times (for several reasons - not wanting to risk implant rupture or further scarring, not being convinced of the risk/benefit of adding mammography to the MRI and ultrasound, etc.) in which the hospital stated the doctor "wanted them to talk me into the mammogram" and I stated firmly that I was declining the mammogram and that "no means no." I did not yell, and I did not use threatening body language or abusive words. They took me out of the waiting room and put me in timeout in an unoccupied conference room. I related my disappointment to the medical assistant after the ultrasound and another lengthy wait. She stated that she had no authority and sent the doctor in after I said I didn't want to lodge a complaint, just that it was a training opportunity to make sure that all staff understood that they could improve their adherence to the hospital's core values. Then the doctor came in and I had to rehash the whole sequence of events. The doctor stated that she had not directed the staff in that way and would be handling it immediately after my departure. I reiterated that I did not want to lodge a formal complaint and that enough of my time had been spent on an unfortunate incident but that I did not want to lose any more of my time. I received a follow up call the next day from the hospital to apologize. So...in this surgeon's opinion everything is fine and she had ordered the mammogram on the radiologist's recommendation. The same radiologist who rendered the MRI inconclusive. My trust in this healthcare team is minimal because someone was not honest with me and their entire system fails to understand that the patent-directed care model. Not sure whether I need to get the imaging sent somewhere else and start over. I just moved to the area and I am really missing my team in a regional teaching hospital but alas, it is too far to go there. Advice?