Lumps on implant

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VegGal
VegGal Member Posts: 507
edited January 2019 in Breast Reconstruction

Soooo, today my hand brushed over Lefty and I felt what seemed like a bb under my shirt. I thought something was under my shirt and then I realized it is under my skin in around the 10 o'clock position.  As I felt more I found another bump about an inch below it. 

The lumps are slightly tender when pushed and don't seem attached to my skin. I even shined a flashlight through the implant in a dark room and could see no inconsistencies in the spot where the bumps are. 

I called my PS (I'd just seen her in December) and she initially said monitor for a week and then changed her mind and ordered an ultrasound. I am waiting for approval for that. 

Does anyone have any idea about what this could be?  Yes, it is in the same side as the DCIS was. It is also very new as I lotion and massage both implants daily. The only thing different I have done is begin working out at the gym and did have some discomfort when doing some exercises which involved lying on them last week. 

Friday marks 3 years since my diagnosis. Sigh. 

Thanks in advance. 



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  • star2017
    star2017 Member Posts: 827
    edited January 2019

    it sounds like it could be fat necrosis? Which I believe is not unusual

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  • VegGal
    VegGal Member Posts: 507
    edited January 2019

    Yes, that was one thought I had. I had two rounds of fat grafting in that area. The last round was about 13 months ago. 

    Thanks for your input. 

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  • SDWoman
    SDWoman Member Posts: 113
    edited January 2019

    VegGal your initial diagnosis is very similar to mine!

    I'm still new to this whole gig, so I have no idea what it could be and hope that all turns out well. Please post back with what you find out.

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  • Dm39
    Dm39 Member Posts: 32
    edited January 2019

    could be fat necrosis but I would have it biopsied. I just had this and it turned out to be a recurrance. I first felt it in the capsule. It happened to be in the same location as my original tumors. I had it removed. The surgeons then did an additional margin surgery and found more in the skin. My mri and pet scan showed nothing. Its a quick biopsy surgery. Just do it. I pray its fat necrosis but you need to be proactive because imagining is just not reliable.

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  • VegGal
    VegGal Member Posts: 507
    edited January 2019

    DM39, thank you for taking the time to post. Your recurrence is very distressing and I'm glad you are addressing it. All the best to you. 

    I had the US about 10 days ago. It was a horrible experience with an angry radiologist who used scare tactics to try and get me to have my implant mammogrammed. She said it looked like fat necrosis but since there were only 2 small spots "IT COULD BE CANCER!" She really threw a fit but I held strong and as the tech had immediately declared it fat necrosis as well. I said I would consult my BS, which I did. 

    Meanwhile my PS was sent the US report which was that it was fat necrosis. The radiologist was in a "money grab" for additional procedures with me. My PS was so happy I did not consent to the mammo, which was totally unnecessary. 

    Meanwhile my BS immediately said that it was likely necrosis as it was located in the fat grafted area. Since my tumor was originally only 6 mm of DCIS and not in the same area as the new necrosis, I am going to wait a bit and have the US repeated at my BS's office as she cautioned me about being checked by anyone who doesn't deal with a lot of recon and grafting patients. My BS is in an NCI center. 

    I just had a big foot surgery last Friday and am basically immobile. My BS is two hours away so I will see her again once I am up and around again. 

    Thank you again for your concern. It there is any doubt left after the second US, I will have a biopsy. 

    Hugs,

    C

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  • NotVeryBrave
    NotVeryBrave Member Posts: 1,287
    edited January 2019

    I'm glad that the imaging was reassuring for you and your providers. I would just continue to monitor it for any changes. Fat necrosis seems to be pretty misunderstood and random.

    I had an area behind the areola become noticeable about three months after my surgery. It was in the cancer side and, while I had a pCR, still super concerning. My MO blew it off. My PS deferred to my BS. She sent me for US which looked like "probable fat necrosis" with a plan for monitoring. They decided at the last minute to do a mammogram (very gentle) and that seemed to confirm the US.

    The area continued to enlarge and I continued to be worried. My BS said she could do a lumpectomy to remove it since it would be a difficult area to biopsy. This would be mostly for my own piece of mind. She had two radiologists that specialize in breast imaging review mine and they recommended MRI - for confirmation since it was palpable.

    I had the MRI which showed nothing of concern. And I felt like the area was slightly less prominent - after like a year of increasing! So I opted to NOT do the surgery - I was afraid of the risks of anesthesia, surgery, infection, aesthetics, etc.

    I have not had fat grafting. Initially, I really wanted to have things look better and considered it. My BS was not a fan and wanted me to wait at least a couple of years. I'm heading towards two years post BMX with recon and am okay most of the time with how things look. There is some rippling, but it's better and I've also probably gotten used to it. ;-).

    It's always horrifying to me to hear of those who've had imaging that didn't show a problem when there was one. Thankfully, that is the exception. And I continue to wait for this lump to resolve.

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