pea size lump in the top part of my silicone implant

pjvalenti02 · February 2013

I am wandering if anyone has gone through the same thing as me. I am almost at my 2 year anniversary since i completed my IBC treatments, 2 years since my last herceptin. It has been a year since my reconstruction with silicone implants. I have had tenderness and that tight feeling in the radiated breast the whole time. 3 weeks ago because of pain in my rib my onc did a ct scan of the breasts and the ribs. Everything came back fine. No recurrence at all. I think I will be one of those women who will probably always have a little tenderness and tight feeling and thats fine. But this evening I was looking in the mirror and looking at the breast that sometimes I can feel the silicone folds and noticed a pea size lump. It's near the top of the breast like maybe where the implant ends. I had that once before but it was more like a bubble that went away the next day. Now i'm not so sure it is that again. It almost feels like I can move it. When I lean over I can really feel it. I was wandering if it is possible that the ct could have missed something. I am calling my onc tomorrow morning to see what they will do about this. I am really worried. It would be great if anyone could let me know if i'm not the only one who has felt this little pea size lump or bubble. Not sure.

Lnm123 · June 2013

Hi, I'm experiencing something similar - in an area where I have some rippling from my silicone implant. What did yours turn out to be?

Hindsfeet · June 2013

December I had to have my implant replace. The first was was too large, heavy and not symetrical. February I notice a grape size lump at the base on my implant. My physical therapist said it was most likely fat necrosis. April I noticed more lumps. Some were pea size and others the size of a bb. I was really concerned. At my 6 month mammo appointment, I mentioned it to my oncologist. Since I have so many she assumes its fat necrosis, but in case I had a us and sent me for follow up with my breast surgeon. My breast surgeon thought I should have a MRI. She too thought most likely it's fat necrosis. The MRI showed I have a lot of fat necrosis...I mean a lot! It also found another area that lit up like a Christmas tree. I was told 6 month follow up. The MRI report also noted that it was possibly b9. I didn't like the word possibly. Since I have so many lumps, I'm not sure which one is the one that could be more? My bs did say if I want that one spot out she would take it out. I'm not sure as I don't want another surgery. I'm not sure I'm comfortable with waiting 6 months.

I did do a lot of research on fat necrosis. I'm not sure how common it is with an implant. Since I have so many lumps I wouldn't no if one was abnormal.

Hindsfeet · June 2013

December I had to have my implant replace. The first was was too large, heavy and not symetrical. February I notice a grape size lump at the base on my implant. My physical therapist said it was most likely fat necrosis. April I noticed more lumps. Some were pea size and others the size of a bb. I was really concerned. At my 6 month mammo appointment, I mentioned it to my oncologist. Since I have so many she assumes its fat necrosis, but in case I had a us and sent me for follow up with my breast surgeon. My breast surgeon thought I should have a MRI. She too thought most likely it's fat necrosis. The MRI showed I have a lot of fat necrosis...I mean a lot! It also found another area that lit up like a Christmas tree. I was told 6 month follow up. The MRI report also noted that it was possibly b9. I didn't like the word possibly. Since I have so many lumps, I'm not sure which one is the one that could be more? My bs did say if I want that one spot out she would take it out. I'm not sure as I don't want another surgery. I'm not sure I'm comfortable with waiting 6 months.

I did do a lot of research on fat necrosis. I'm not sure how common it is with an implant. Since I have so many lumps I wouldn't no if one was abnormal.

pjvalenti02 · June 2013

Hi, My plastic surgeon had a non contrast mri done about 2 months go. On the breast that I had radiation the implant did show rippling and folds and also fat tissue or scar tissue. They did not show any leaks or any suspicious lumps. Shortly after that my oncologist looked at the results and also a CT I had probably 2 months before that and everyone agreed. They are closely monitoring me. I have started to work out again but with a part time trainer who is aware of my surgeries and has put me on a slow routine to build up muscle. The muscle that was moved from my back to my front gets very tight at times but does go away. All my doctors assured me that the pea size lumps I keep getting then going away are just the silicone. If it was any recurrence these lumps would not go away. I am very aware of my right breast with these changes but am trying to not let it consume me 24/7. My left breast that did not have any treatment, no cancer is fine. The silicone there gets little ripple sometimes but no lumps. I think probably the radiated one with problems is just that. radiation changes things and has side effects that I am having to deal with. It gets easier in time but i'm still always checking. Good Luck

Hindsfeet · June 2013

plvalentio2, I was told that the lumps might not go away. The did give me a contrast MRI and one spot lit up. The other lumps did not. I also am being watched. I may have the lump that lit up taken out for peace of mind. The others I"ll live with. One good thing it feels like a normal lumpy breast. Oh, I didn't have radiation, and after the MRI they asked me if I had been radiated. I've had a lot of MRI's and I've never been asked about radiation. It's probably from a little at grafting. Did you have fat grafting after your implant?

Hindsfeet · June 2013

In some cases, the immune system can react when the cyst is still radiolucent due to its fatty

content, and the walls of the cyst can thicken and adopt an irregular or ill-defined shape,

simulating a malignant lesion

The fibrous scar that replaces the oil cyst can take on different shapes, and accordingly the

mammographic findings can vary, ranging from asymmetry to an ill-defined or welldefined

mass. These are the findings that make it most difficult to differentiate fat necrosis

from a malignant mass, especially when the retraction of the scar tissue gives the mass a

spiculated or irregular shape. When the scar also calcifies, the findings are completely

different from those of a calcified oil cyst; the numerous amorphous and even pleomorphic

calcifications that often occur with the scar make histological study and the differential

diagnosis with a neoplasm process essential.

pjvalenti02 · June 2013

Hi Hindsfeet,

I didn't have fat grafting. I had a double mastectomy and reconstruction on both sides. My ps thought that maybe i had a small leak that's why she did an Mri. The little pea size lumps always go away within a few days. They almost feel like pushing in on a balloon. even feels a little like it's cracking. My ps showed me a silicone implant and how it feels when there is a fold in it. Everone seems to be very sure even the radiologist that read all of my tests that this is from the implant. Also the lump always shows up in the same place. I was also told that maybe the implant could be weak in that area.

fstop · July 2013

Hi Hindsfeet,

I had the same type of thing, after a ct scan they decided to take it out and have a look. It turned out to be a surgical clip that was left in my breast after my first surgery. It did give me a chance to have my recon fixed.

Best of luck.

*hugs*

pea size lump in the top part of my silicone implant

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