Deformation after excisional biopsy

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clarecy
clarecy Member Posts: 31
edited June 2014 in DCIS (Ductal Carcinoma In Situ)

I had my excisional biopsy on July. 15th (two areas, both on my left breast). Now it has been nearly a month and I realized that my left breast became smaller and also a little bit deformation (which my surgeon claimed would not happen). I'm worried about the situation. I will call my doctor tmr but I still want to know if it's normal and if it will be recovered?

Thx !!!

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  • Beesie
    Beesie Member Posts: 12,240
    edited August 2013

    Every situation is different.  Whether or not your breast size and appearance has any permanent changes from the surgery depends to a large extent on the size of your breast and the amount of breast tissue removed.  Over time the breast tissue often shifts and fills up spaces - this can take a lot of time - but that doesn't always happen.

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  • clarecy
    clarecy Member Posts: 31
    edited August 2013

    Thank you Beesie. I have 34C breast, not too big but relatively large since I'm a little asian girl.....

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  • Annette47
    Annette47 Member Posts: 957
    edited August 2013

    I agree with Beesie that it's too soon to know what your final result will be as the tissues is still settling, but if in the end the deformity still bothers you, consult a plastic surgeon as there are several reconstructive techniques that can be used following a lumpectomy including small implants and/or fat grafting.

    To be honest, I'm a little envious - my left one (the cancer side) has always been a little bigger than the other one, so when they told me they were taking a chunk out, and that radiation might shrink it, I was thinking "finally they might match!".   But instead the surgical breast is even bigger than ever due to post-rads swelling that hasn't resolved yet and according to my RO there's no way to know if it will ever resolve.   It's almost a full cup size bigger than the other one now.

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  • ballet12
    ballet12 Member Posts: 981
    edited August 2013

    Hi Clare, I did have a cosmetic defect after the three lumpectomies (preceeded by three surgical excisional biopsies over the years), but just like Annette, I did seem to get swelling post radiation, which hasn't resolved (our rads were at about the same time).  So, while it didn't make things perfect, by any means, it did puff it up enough to allow me to be comfortable wearing a bathing suit.  It's still smaller than the other and with no bra it's it doesn't hang even with the other breast on the bottom , but I am happy with the result.  As Beesie said, things can even change further.  I know that you are probably facing a re-excision, so understandably you are concerned.  You will have several options post surgery, including wearing a small prosthesis in a bra or getting some plastic surgery, or gradually adjusting to the new you.  Since you are in NYC, there are many places that you can go to, that can help you select bras that really camouflage things (without even a prosthesis).  Molded cup bras are amazing things. As Beesie and others have said, there are no easy choices in this situation. 

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  • krissy42
    krissy42 Member Posts: 40
    edited August 2013

    Is there a hockey puck in my boob? I have had some new changes in the feel and shape of my breast since my excisional biopsies on July 10th. The most noticeable is behind the nipple where they took one of 3 samples. This area was very painful and now it feels like a small hockey puck or golf ball with one flat side is in my breast. I am scheduled for a single MX on Sept. 26th, but in the meantime, I am worried that the biopsies "stirred" up the DCIS. It just seems like this whole process is so much waiting. What if my non-invasive DCIS is turning into invasive cancer as I wait for surgery. Any thoughts...this is such a nerve racking time.

    Thanks,

    Krissy

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  • OldOakTree
    OldOakTree Member Posts: 173
    edited August 2013

    Clarecy - I am small breasted and had a good sized chunk taken out.  Initially it make me look kind of deformed and caved in but over the years it had evened out.  Now one breast looks smaller than the other but it is hard to tell it is because of the surgery unless you look closely.  It's  only been a month for you - you are still healing, it takes a bit more time for things to settle down.

    Krissy - it's possible you have a hemotoma.  I had a stereo biopsy in Feb and developed a golf ball sized one afterwards.   I also had the same problem when lymph nodes were removed under my arms.

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  • ballet12
    ballet12 Member Posts: 981
    edited August 2013

    Hi Krissy, I still have the "hocky puck", which did appear after the stereotactic biopsy in June of 2012 (more than a year ago).  It never really went away after the lumpectomies, so now it's more likely to be scar tissue.  You are having an mx, so that should solve the problem.  The biopsies can't "stir up" the DCIS.  It's contained in the ducts.  Only genetic changes can cause it to become invasive over time (very very unlikely to occur in a two month period).  If they do find any IDC in the pathology post mastectomy, it would have already been there. Best of luck to you in this process, which isn't easy.

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