'Knot' in treated area

momoffab5

My breast is 'hard as a rock' in the area tumor was removed and radiation (internal) delivered. My doctors all say 'give it time' which I'm sure is so, however.....Anyone experience this and how long did it last? I get anxious at the thought of my compression mammo coming up.

Moderators

HI momoffab5, and welcome to Breastcancer.org,

We're sorry you're experiencing this uncomfortable side effect -- it sounds like it might be scar tissue, since it sounds like you may have had a lumpectomy. You can read more about this side effect on the main Breastcancer.org site's page on Scar Tissue Formation. Definitely bring your concern to your doctors though to be sure.

We hope others will be by shortly to weigh in with their thoughts too! We look forward to hearing more from you soon.

--The Mods

kkshipp99

Hi, my name is Kathy and I had a large lumpectomy 6.3 cm which is really more like a partial mastectomy and I have the hard pretty large scar tissue inside my breast in the area my breast that was removed I finished my Radiation in June of 2016 and I have recently developed a bacterial infection in the fluid in my breast and been on antibiotic's for a month seems to be cleared up but my Oncologist has told me that it may come back and sometimes people have to be on Antibiotics for 6 months to get it completely cleared up. I guess they just don't forwarn us of these things but my breast is still very tender in that area. Hope you don't develop this problem but I don't think we get enough preparation for all that my come our way, My doctor says they may drain fluid at my next ultrasound Oct 13 and do test on the fluid. But I have a great attitude and just keep plugging along, what else can we do?

momoffab5

May I ask how they knew you had an infection?

Oceans

Hi, I had a lumpectomy 4 months ago. At the same time as surgery the plastic surgeon pulled tissue from beside my breast and below the arm pit to help fill the hole from the lump removal. There is an area that is very hard. The physical therapist asked if they put something plastic in. Plastic surgeon says it is scar tissue and may break up over time. The breast surgeon says its scar tissue and will always be there. Kinda' wish I'd just had the lump removed instead of having tissue pushed around. If you have a small tumor give some thought to having a dimple instead. I don't know if I would have had the scar tissue anyway...but, do ask more questions of your doc.

Maimai

Hi, Momofab5,

I have similar condition as yours - I had bilateral lumpectomy, and 5 months after surgery and 3 months after radiation, the surgical area (scar area) is very hard. However, I did notice one side is getting a little softer than a month ago. My doctor also says "give it time, and you need at least 6-12 months of recovery before the scar tissue becomes soft". So, after a few weeks, you may notice a difference in yours. Good luck.

My main concern now is fluid built-up in my right side, where a lump.was performed. My doctor has drained it 4 times, but there is still 5 cc daily of red wine like fluid coming out, not yellow color fluid as it should be. It looks like old blood, but.....after so long?!

Anyone has similar case? Thank you.

Maimai

Dear Kathy,

You had surgery in 2016, and you still have a fluid infection now, 1 year after? How did it happen? Did your doctor try to drain it?

I had surgery in March/April 2017, and still suffer from fluid built-up on my right side. My concern is that my fluid is red-wine colored, not yellow. Even the doctor did not clear explain why but simply said it could be old blood from surgery. But I had drained it 4-5 times, and it still coming out. Guess I will just need to be patient.