fat necrosis?

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mary82965
mary82965 Member Posts: 16
edited May 2015 in Chemotherapy - Before, During, and After

I just finished my radiation on St. Patty's day - and had a doc visit about two weeks ago - she said she detected a minor change in the left breast/the side with the cancer... but not to worry because I was barely a month out of radiation and she was sure it was fat necrosis. We will have it measured again in a few weeks. Did anybody else have any experience with this? I have have not had any reconstruction. They tell you not to freak - but I am freakin!

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  • MaryJC
    MaryJC Member Posts: 350
    edited May 2015

    hi, I'm feeling a painful knot under the surgical site of my armpit where lymph nodes were removed. I just finished 4 rounds of chemo and my Onc said low suspicion it's a tumor yet still ordered mamo and ultrasound. Now I'm nervous. Not sure what fat necrosis is. Did you find out anything yet?

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  • LAstar
    LAstar Member Posts: 1,574
    edited May 2015

    I had fat necrosis after my BMX. I read that any injury to the breast can cause fat necrosis (getting hit in the breast, e.g.), so surgery and rads certainly qualify. I was a nervous wreck because there were small lumps just above my breast, but my BS requested an MRI and verified. They were a little sore sometimes but eventually went away. Of course, we always have to keep and eye on this stuff and have it checked, but hopefully you will get good news soon.

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  • MaryJC
    MaryJC Member Posts: 350
    edited May 2015

    thanks for the feedback. I am anxious about this. I'm not sure if you can get fat necrosis in the armpit. I did have a collection of fluid that was drained after surgery. My surgery was in November so I don't know if that's still what it could be. I just know I was doing some heavy lifting and then felt this. It's sore. Thanks.

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  • artsee
    artsee Member Posts: 1,576
    edited May 2015

    I have always had scar tissue where my lumpectomy was. Three weeks ago it started getting rather purplish red with more of a bump on it. After mamo, ultra sound and having the pathologist tell me even though they found nothing on the pictures he thought it may be a recurrence. So did the surgeon. He did a biopsy and it turned out to be Fat Necrosis.....7 years out from surgery. This is what can happen from Rads and trauma from surgery. It's been a week and a half since I got the stitches out and it has not changed from the red color. So, I am still FREAKING OUT. Anyone else's experience would be welcome......

    Artsee



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  • artsee
    artsee Member Posts: 1,576
    edited May 2015

    Bump.....

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  • snrise
    snrise Member Posts: 43
    edited May 2015


    I had my yearly mammogram in May, found a small fat necrosis, the radiologist said it appears to be benign and recommended repeat mammogram in 6 months. I was nervous and contacted my onc, she is going to represent my case to the team and see if we need to do USG or breast MRI. With my history of BC, I did not want to wait for 6 months. Any advise anyone?

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  • artsee
    artsee Member Posts: 1,576
    edited May 2015

    I have had scar tissue since pretty much after my lumpectomy. My Onco always told me that's all it was and not to worry. Now seven years latter it started to change and got reddish around the middle of it in April. Nothing showed on my Mamo or Ultra Sound. But because of the change the radiologist had me have a biopsy. They now called it Fat Necrosis/ fibrosis. So unless it looks bad to the eye, like looking Imflamed and you had a clear Mamo I think you are fine. I read many times if it is all removed it will come back again. How does your area look to you?

    Keep in touch and let us know how you are doing.

    Artsee



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  • Mykonos7
    Mykonos7 Member Posts: 3
    edited May 2015

    Hi Snrise!

    I also had palpable lumps (more than one) and they felt just like my BC did.

    I was so scared to go back to that place mentally and even though my breast surgeon felt safe with following it on US I did not. She did the biopsy last week and today it came back fat necrosis. Definitely go for the biopsy. It will give you complete peace of mind!!!

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  • ksusan
    ksusan Member Posts: 4,505
    edited May 2015

    My mother has fat necrosis after radiation. She says her PCP says that radiology often won't cop to it, but it can indeed be caused by radiation.

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  • MaryJC
    MaryJC Member Posts: 350
    edited May 2015

    hi artsee, sorry for not checking back in. I moved on to the next nail biting issue- forthcoming colonoscopy :( but nothing showed on the ultrasound. Radiologist wants scheduled biopsy for 2 weeks. Said if shrinking or gone don't bother. It has shrunk so much it's hard to find. BS wants me to still go. Said they'll perform another ultrasound and re-confirm or something. Either way that they prolly won't poke me which is a good thing. I'm truly not in the mood.

    Meanwhile all worked up over a colonoscopy. Have near relative so need to start screening altho I'm only 44. So anxious.

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