Lump after mastectomy

scoop

hi ladies,

Just got my final exchange surgery done, and with the TEs gone and soft implants in place, I've noticed a tough spot/lump near the original location of cancer. This has kicked my anxiety into overdrive.

My margins were small but negative (1 mm to superficial margin I think). Lymphnode negative.

What are the chances this is just scar tissue or some other benign consequence of the surgery? If they removed everything during the mastectomy in February, is there really any reasonable chance that there is another palpable lump of cancer in the same place five months later?

Please talk my crazy down!

Mavericksmom

I just went through something similar only it has been 18 months since my mastectomy and I had a breast MRI due to a concern on the opposite breast 6 weeks prior and it was negative.

Most likely it is NOT cancer, but there is always a very small chance it is. I know that isn't what you want to hear and I totally understand that crazy feeling. I felt the same and posted on this message board and received great advice from others here. I listened to their recommendations and I made an appointment with my doctor. I felt totally ridiculous being concerned about my lump so soon after a negative MRI, but I went to the appointment anyway, and to my surprise, I was told that I did the right thing! My doctor ordered an ultrasound which I had 6 days later. At that appointment, the radiologist told me it was very likely fat necrosis, a benign mass. She was the same radiologist who has read all my tests and did my biopsy which lead to my mastectomy. I should mention, I had breast cancer twice in the same breast, but there was 15 1/2 years in between. Anyway, I felt so much better after the US. I had some concerns when I got the final report, but again, others here helped me by explaining the terms I was concerned about. I will have another US in January, but I am fine with that because the chance of it being cancer, for me, is only 2%. I prefer to look at it as 98% it is fat necrosis!

Also, while waiting for the appointment and US, I told myself that most likely it was benign, but if it turned out to be cancer, I already had a great team of doctors and I found it early.

Hope this helped.