bruising on breast

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jampus
jampus Member Posts: 25
edited June 2014 in Radiation Therapy - Before, During, and After

Hi, I haven't been on here in over a year but today I am having some strange bruising and would like to know if anyone else has had this. I was diagnosed in Nov 2011 with IDC and had the usual, lumpectomy followed by 6 rounds of chemo (C/T) and then 33 treatments of radiation. I am also now on aromasin, in my third month having switched from femara.  I did really well through all the treatments, only real problems were lymphedema for 6 weeks post surgery, mistaken for an infection, and some very minor irritation with radiation. Since finishing it all last July I have had some minor itching esp around the nipple, and scar tissue pain mostly in the area just above the breast on the side of the cut.

So, with that history in mind, this morning I was in the bath and my breast had started itching again (it's hard to scratch skin that feels like leather :) )and so I decided to rub in some cream. When I looked in the mirror as I was doing this I saw all these bruises around my breast. The skin is also more discolored. I had expected something like this after radiation but not almost a year later with no reason and so suddenly.

Does anyone have any ideas? I am having my 6mth mammogram on Thursday and have an appt with my oncologist next week, but I am wondering if I should make that sooner. Also need to make a f/u with my surgeon but was waiting till after the mamm. so's I would have the results to go over with him.

I would appreciate any suggestions

thanks, josie

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  • dlb823
    dlb823 Member Posts: 9,430
    edited April 2013

    Hi, josie ~ If you're worried about it, it wouldn't hurt to call and report your observation to your BS's office.  That way, if they're concerned, they can expedite your mammo and/or an appointment with them.  If you're not overly concerned, then I would just be sure to double-check on Thursday that your report will go directly to both your BS and your onc, who will no doubt call you right away if they see anything unusual.

    I have no idea what it could be, but I wondered if the bruising could be from a bump or vigorous exercise or something that wasn't painful at the time, but was just rough enough to cause the discoloration?     

    Let us know what you find out!  Hopefully, whatever it is has absolutely nothing to do with bc, but I know how quickly our minds go there whenever we have something odd or unexplained going on.     (((Hugs)))   Deanna

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  • jampus
    jampus Member Posts: 25
    edited April 2013

    Thanks for the reply dlb823, I will wait it out. It was just a shock to see all this bruising, not just in one area but in various parts of the breast, from overnight,  and yes, where CA would have been the last thought, now it seems to be the first, no matter how far fetched the idea might be :) Still don't have a reason for the bruising, swimming is my exercise of choice, wouldn't expect much to go wrong there.

    Anyhow, I appreciate you taking the time to reassure me that sometimes a bruise is just a bruise. I read on someone's post that she can no longer trust her body and realised how true that was. To think this thing was growing inside me with no hint that anything was wrong, how is one to know in the future? I am not really so maudlin, just every once in a while it hits me, usually at the time for check-ups :):) otherwise I go through my day without a care in the world, especially now that tax time has passed !!!

    all the best, Josie

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