Radial scar and post sirgerybqiestions.

Hi, I had a "radial scar" removed on June 12, 2018, two months ago. I still have pain at the incision site as well as below it and the surgical scar itself feels lumpy underneath where they put internal dissolving stitches. (2 inch incision above my left nipple). There is some increased risk of cancer in the future. They did not find any cancer cells in mine. There were some atypical cells. (atypical ductal hyperplasia). My doctor said it was "benign". He removed the whole area of concern which he said was the size of a grape. He is following up in 6 months with a mammogram and then with another MRI next year if the mammogram is okay.

I was tired for about 3 - 4 days after surgery, they gave me general anesthesia (I think they gave me the maximum amount). I only ate ice cream for the next 2 days, I had a sore throat from the tube down my throat. Reminded me of when I had my tonsils out. Drink water and eat lightly and you should regain your energy fast.

I recovered fine from the surgery, I still have anxiety about the future though. (My radial scar was found with a diagnostic mammogram, they saw the spiculation and architectural distortion). I had complained to my ob/gyn doctor about itchiness in my other (right) breast. That one has some benign cysts in it. They didn't biopsy the cysts though.

It's been a very stressful experience for me. I also have very bad lower back problems which affect my ability to walk. I think if I could go for long walks it would be helpful for my anxiety.

Had removal of radial scar which was actually ADH. Breast surgeon wants me to be on Tamoxifen for 5 years...I'm getting a second opinion on this: I'm BRCA 1&2 negative, no fam hx of, however, DO have dense breasts, DID have first period before age 12 (11.5), DID have first child after age 30(31).... anyway this BC surgeon not Oncologist but very good surgeon, however, with an issue such as this, I want an Oncologist's input!

As far as excision experience, not great but probably typical... a lot of purple bruising on bottom and side of breast, yellow top of breast, fair amount of swelling and now 11 days later have several quarter sized lumps on opposite side of incision which surgeon said 'may be giant hematomas she may have to remove.' Incision site fine and never much drainage. Always used ice or heat not as much now.

In meantime had to have wide excision on right lower leg to remove melanoma stage 0. Not a great couple of weeks. Know can always be worse though. Trying to be as positive as possible

Hi Kimc319 -

My breast surgeon did not say having ADH doubles the risk of bc. He said my risk was 1% higher than before. (Which I found hard to believe, only 1% higher than the average woman is how I think he phrased it.) My doctor was once the head of breast surgery at MSK. I don't know why he said my risk was only 1% higher than the avg woman.

Now I know if I tell my husband we should get a second opinion on this he is going to say I'm obsessive compulsive or paranoid.

I feel like I'm going to end up getting it eventually...I'm 58, my mother is 81. If my life expectancy is roughly another 20 years that is 20 years to develop bc. Maybe I'll luck out and have a M.I. like my dad....

Momtomy5 -

Well other than the bad back and now the breast problems my health isn't that bad, at least I don't have diabetes or heart issues, although I might end up with those soon due to the lack of exercise. I did have an EKG pre surgery and there was something about my "c" wave the doctors at the hospital were discussing. Unfortunately they had given me 300 mg of Gabapentin (I swear I hate that stuff) before the surgery to 'calm me down' their words, not mine. The pill made me stupid. I never took it when my neurologist gave it to me because it gave me major brain fog. So I was unsure what they were talking about. I should go back to the cardiologist and ask him what is up with my c wave on the EKG he took....I can't stand him though. He's a braggart, he brags about his houses and material possessions and is generally obnoxious. His wife is a spendthrift and he cheated on her so he lets her spend his money like a drunken sailor so she doesn't file for divorce....they're two very shallow people. With my luck I had a silent heart attack or something.

So I was thinking about when I had a large teratoma (ovarian dermoid cyst) in 1979 removed with open surgery. After I healed I tried to put that operation out of my head. I had a baby in 1993, got pregnant with no problems, etc. The dermoid cells were abnormal, I know it's not the same as ADH. I later had a second dermoid removed from my other ovary in 2011, that was 32 years later. It was found at a much smaller size. Had it removed laproscopically. The doctor had sent me for an MRI with contrast and did a CA125 test to try to find out if there were cancer cells involved. He then removed it surgically. It was benign, there was hair and teeth in it. I still have part of that ovary left. I was going through menopause at that point. Every year I go back and have another transvaginal ultrasound but I try not to stress about it too much. In 1979 the general surgeon was freaking out thinking I had cancer. There were no MRI machines back then or CA125 tests, they had just invented the ultrasound machine. I had an ultrasound in the hospital, they made a big deal. about the new technology. They also gave me iodine contrast and took xrays, there was no CT scan machine at the hospital like you see nowadays.

I just want to stop thinking about this for a few months. I have serious back problems. I just want to walk again. My husband wants to look into me having back surgery. Idk, I look at Tiger Woods, he had 4 operations and is playing golf again. I just want to go on a vacation or go for a long walk.