Scar tissue lump

grayskies

I had a lumpectomy over a year ago. The surgeon is very happy with my healing. However, this morning in the shower, I found a tender lump near my scar. Is this normal? Could it have been there this whole time, and I just now noticed it? I called my surgeon this morning and talked to the nurse. She wants me to get some imaging done before the surgeon will see me. Being Friday, I was unable to make this happen today. I'm kind of freaking out. I want it to be nothing. But I also don't want to overreact if it's something that is expected.

LivinLife

Hi grayskies! I am much sooner into all of this so not sure how relevant my situation is to yours - you being a year out. I've had tender lumps since surgery with myofascial release (by me and lymphedema specialist) helping those. Most of those have been scar tissue and displaced tissue still finding a new home. There is one area she continues working on more and we both end of commenting on it each appointment. It is more tender, seems to collect small amounts of blood (it's not quite lack that though it's definitely more than bruising) and then reabsorb that (over and over- mostly with even light physical activity??)... it is on my DCIS side. She does not appear worried about it and I really am not - that side actually has less displaced tissue than the prophylactic side. The DCIS side actually looks really good except for what one can see there at times. I've had 2 providers check out lumps and bumps around that node area and they believe just scar tissue and related healing of tissues underneath. I'm a "slow healer." The L.T. has been able to do wonders smoothing those out a lot too - some still present.

I just re-read your post - sorry, I didn't get a lot of sleep last night due to furnace issues, the emergency tech did not show up last night - the alert went off though it kept me stirring last night due to how cold it is outside and how easily I fall into hypothermia... That being said after re-reading your post the lump on the scar is something to be on top of. It does sound different than what I'm experiencing as I continue healing from surgery just 4 months ago - I am a slow healer so it is believed that's why I'm having some of the things going on that I do. I'm glad you called your surgeon's office and having imaging done. Hopefully you can get that done next week?

I will leave my first paragraph posted in case any of that resonates with you though truly your situation sounds different. You are following the most appropriate protocol you can at this point. Please let us know how this goes....