Cancer in post mastectomy, reconstructed breast?

Hi ladies,

I went for my 6 month post BC checkup today with my onc. and he felt something under my right reconstructed breast. I hope it's not anything and I am going for an ultrasound (hopefully real soon!). I hope it's not anything.. It's good to see there is support on here if it is though. Fingers crossed its nothing!

I also have gone through a double mastectomy and reconstruction.  I was diagnosed in May 2010 and as of today almost 3 years later hopefully i'm fine.  I am always checking my right breast where the cancer was and the left side.  In the last 6 months or so I have been feeling little pea size lumps that keep coming back.  My PS has checked and checked and also done an MRI to make sure there are no leaks.  My oncologist has also done CT scans and x rays and even a bone scan.  Everyone agrees that this is scar tissue or fat tissue.  I am always being told if the lump goes away then it is not cancer.  They did find a very small spot on my rib during the bone scan and are keeping an eye on it.  This has not changed either.  Several doctors have double checked to make sure. It seems that every time I work out and wear a bra these lumps and tight feelings keep coming back.  It's been a week since I first noticed the lump again (always in the same place) and it seems to not be there as much as last week.  Also a week or so ago I went swimming for first time in years and used muscles that I haven't used since forever.  In July my 3 month follow up is with my onc. and she will check everything.  I'm trying to be positive but also very aware of what could happen.  I know i'm probably just venting on this post but it feels better to know i'm not alone. If anyone is going through the same thing as me, with lumps that come and go in a silicone breast I would love to hear about it. 

Hi, glad I found this topic, I actually just asked this question on another page. i too have a locally advanced recurrence of same breast after bmx. First lump was excised, positive, since then 3 more lumps have come up. This happened so fast (6 wks post rads) that i still have my te's in place. What seems to be the normal tx as far as surgery goes. I'm currently on xeloda chemo, jut finishing my 2nd round. So you think they will let it be for now and not worry about replacing them with permanents, or take them out altogether.

Src3acs - sometimes fat grafting can produce bb size lumps like you describe. Since this is near your fat grafting site, I wonder if this is what it is. However, if it were me, I would still get it checked out.

Thank you for the responses.  I did go to the BS today and she did an ultra sound.  Found two spots and said she's confident it's fat necrosis.  She said there was no blood supply to the sites which is good.  Blood supply would indicate an active tumor. I already had an appt. schedule for early September so she said she will look at them again and just make sure there are no changes.  Was worried because it's in the same area as the orginal BC.  Well wishes and healing thoughts to everyone 

Sharon

My surgeon led me on for 5 yrs telling me necrosis. Turned out to be cancer.  Recurrence in breast where I had Diep Flap.  Dont belive what they say ask for punch Biopsy.

src3,   I don't want to alarm you, but definitely push for that biopsy. My recurrence showed up as a peasized lump that literally grew to that size in 12 hrs. Plastic surgeon that it was a cyst, went to bs, US showed no vascular involvement. But knowing how aggressive tnbc can be, she said since she couldn't be sure, she would just remove it.  Needless to say, malignant with an 80% reproduction rate.

The spot were it was has remained clear, however only 2 days after biopsy, 2-3 other lumps appeared. Back on chemo.

I feel it is better to know for sure since a biopsy is not too invasive, and if it does come back positive (hoping not) then you can get started on treatment sooner.

Wishing you the best, keep us posted on your journey.

Hello-I haven't been  on the boards here for a long time. I edited this post because I thought that I was responding to a private message. I am not back to myself since the treatment and surgeries that I went through 2011-2013, but I am in remission.

I have been through BRAC and more adv genetic testing 3 times because of my second primary and close family who've had aggressive breast cancer.  All neg, which is good, I guess, except that my daughter and her cousins cannot be tested to learn if they might have the same gene as I have.  My MO told me that he is certain that there is a genetic component but that scientists just haven't found the gene yet.  

Basia  I am so sorry it wasn't scar tissue. . I recently had a recurrence of ER/pr- her2 + that was considered local. I had a lumpectomy just started chemo and then will have radiation once I am finished chemo. Sorry you are joining this club.  

Basia I am not sure why chemo first. I think because they want to kill any stray cells that may or may not have gotten loose. 

I received Taxotere. Carboplatin and herceptin and this time I am receiving adromycin, cytoxin, then taxol perjeta and herceptin. 

AC is 4 rounds taxol is weekly perjeta is 6 treatments and herceptin is 18 treatments. So it's gonna be a while.  

Basia I don't mind you asking at all. . So I am looking at some kind of treatment until June/ July of next year because of the herceptin every three weeks.   I have an 8 year old and 11 year old and last time they were 3 and 6. 

that's exactly how I am looking at it. Half way down AC so we are moving along. 

Basia I am hanging in there. AC has been easier on me than TCH. I have 6 more days until round 3 and 19 more until round 4 but whose counting. Lol. 

I did find out yesterday that I will be having 33 rounds of radiation this time. . 

what's the deal with the pathologist being so confusing. Grrrrr. I hope you got some answers and you are getting a plan together.