Recurrence after bilat mastectomy?

Was diagnosed with TNBC in 2012, had 3 reoccurrences after this time, but have not had any issues since 2014. I am concerned now because I am having pain along the scar area, burning sensation. Has anyone ever had this

Hi, Aug 2018 had DMX and TRAM recon followed by chemo for reoccurentce after 15 yrs from initial early BC (lumpectomy , radiation, Tamoxifen). This week had bb feeling hardness near skin surface mammo/ultrasound/MRI and Mon getting it biopsied. I'm hoping it's necrosis. Keep us updated on your pathology and I'll do the same. Oh I learned last summer I'm BRCA2 positive and hence DMX instead of unilateral.

Hi, All - Wow...it's been a long times since I've posted anything on this site!

My situation now is that I have a tiny lump (about the size of a grain of rice) at the end of my mastectomy scar on the side where I had cancer. I did not have reconstruction, so I'm flat. The breast surgeon said to get an ultrasound of my chest and that they could biopsy it at that time if they see anything and feel like they need to. When I called the scheduling place, they said the regular ultrasound department wanted me to go to a breast imaging place since I had breast cancer. That makes sense to me, but what is confusing to me is that when they scheduled it, they scheduled a diagnostic mammo first and then the ultrasound, even though I have no breasts. And it says you can't have an ultrasound without a mammogram. They're also asking for past mammo's, but I haven't had one in 5 years and nothing showed up on them anyway - it only showed on the MRI. My friend suggested I go in and talk to them about it at the office instead of calling and going through scheduling so I think I will do that, but I'm curious to know if anyone else has run into this issue and how easily was it resolved. It took 45 minutes on the phone just sorting out where they wanted me to go, then another probably 15 with my husband when they called back to the house to actually set the appointment and then I was shocked to see the notifications in my chart that it was scheduled for the mammo, too, even though I repeatedly explained I have no breasts. I'm kind of 50/50 on what I think it is. Part of me is doom and gloom, and part of me is this is no problem. Thanks!

mel - Different departments tried to make me have a mammo several times - in spite of the fact that I had a bilateral mastectomy and had no breasts. My MO always stood behind me and ordered that I go directly to ULS. Good luck.

Hi All,

Question to all: I had a bi Mastectomy with aggressive Chemo, I went with the nipple sparing and it failed on the cancer side breast. I than had the latisimss Doris flap on the cancer side( left) and the expander in right. The Lat side failed again. I went home to rest and think on options and darn, I got Sepsis, and hospitalized for the 3rd time and put in ICU for 8 days, home with IV for approx month. All this within a year, ugh! Since I was cleared from infection, I started Arimdex . It was not good for me, her sister drug failed as well. I am currently on day 8 of Tomoxifen and have vomited all 8 nights, several times a night oh, I should mention that I take Zofran before the tomoxifen.. now my question - I have no left breast, but a expander in the right breast. I’ve had the expander in for 6-7 months now. I just recently noticed to lumps in the reconstruction scar and pain in the armpit and near the scar of where my port was. I had my sister feel the areas and she said she feels the lumps, I to feel them. I was wondering if anyone went through a similar situation and could it just be scar tissue. Btw the 2 lumps under the breast in the scar were never there, they don’t feel hard but very white and protruding. The 2 near my armpit, and port scar are hard and sore. I’m driving myself crazy, any one else experience this? Reply’s would be very appreciated.

I too had a couple of small nodules come up around my mastectomy scar cancer side. Oncologist referred me directly to surgeon who ordered core needle biopsies. Surgeon and radiologists said most likely scar or fat necrosis. But they never know until they test. The nodules biopsies as tnbc recurrence. Skin Mets. Make sure to get your drs opinion ASAP.

Good luck and best wishes.

I can’t believe I’m in here again. After having cancer in the right breast in 2010, chemo and double mastectomy I had a new primary form in the left breast in 2014. I had a lumpectomy, chemo, and radiation then. My left breast has had a ton of necrosis since then. It’s much harder than the right and I’ve had about 3 really scary biopsies that turned out to be benign necrosis. However today I felt a pea sized hard fixed lump deep in my left breast literally in the sane spot as my scar. But at the chest wall it feels like. Can necrosis form that deep in? I feel like all the other instances i had were more on the surface. I already emailed emailed for appointment ASAP. Petrified to go through this again!!

So I saw my breast surgeon today. I REALLY trust him. He's told me before when he's sure I've had cancer or not but he's always very cautious. He felt the lump (which he almost didn't find at first b/c it was so small) and said it felt like scar tissue but you never know if it could be a recurrence so he wanted me to go for an ultrasound. He did say that if the ultrasound didn't show anything that we'd do a biopsy to be sure. So I went for the ultrasound and it came back INCONCLUSIVE! It's almost like my dr knew it would come back that way. Does scar tissue not show up or something on an ultrasound? The tech did tell me that she didn't see anything suspicious but then the radiologist was the one who said it was inconclusive. So now I wait for my dr to call me and I'm sure I'll need a biopsy. But I'm hopeful from all of that information that this is just scar tissue.

Jennjdance, I had a small lump under my nipple that my BS was pretty sure was scar tissue/fat necrosis. He has a great track record for being correct and telling me what he thinks things are. He is the first to admit that he does not have a crystal ball though and the only way to tell for sure was a biopsy. He left it up to me to and I decided I was not comfortable not knowing for sure. My ultrasound was inconclusive just like yours. We did the biopsy, which was in a difficult location under the nipple with my prepec implant and it was in fact fat necrosis and scar tissue. I was relieved to know for sure and glad my BS, as smart as he is, took the precautions that he did and gave me peace of mind. I hope yours ends up being scar tissue as well. It is always terrifying when we find a new mass. Hugs.

I just had my exchange surgery a month ago after bilateral mastectomy in March, and today just noticed a pea sized lump near where the original tumour was which was outer rim of breast at the bottom, so I'm freaking out a bit while also thinking it could absolutely be scar tissue. Anyway if there was a recurrence would it even be able to grow to the size of a pea that quickly after surgery? I now realize having gone through this it's almost like ptsd because even though logic says it's probably scar tissue I can't help but feel rattled.

Hi everyone! So it's been a stressful few weeks but worth it with the good news I got today! Benign!!!! I ultimately had to have a lumpectomy though, since the lump was very small and close to the surface of the skin. So that surgery was Wednesday and I'm still recovering. The dr. said it would take 5-7 days for the results to come in but I knew if it was benign it would come in sooner and 2 days later, I got the phone call! Thanking GOD right now, so blessed and grateful for this chance at being healthy!!!

Jennjdance... been following your story. O Happy Day! BIG Congratulations to you!

Hi Snowflake

I hope everything goes well n my prayers are with you. As for u feeling like PTSD, I completely agree!!!! I wonder if it ever ends, I started seeing a therapist, but still cannot stop my mind from constantly being worried..... I so dislike when my friends say I need to move on, and that they. Know so many friends that have lived for many many years without any issues, I feel foolish feeling the way I do but I do. I have also went through 4 surgeries from failing (surgeries) and was in ICU from becoming Sepsis from the Bi Mastectomy, and the 10 rounds of chemo, the reactions to the 4 meds and still another surgery coming up, . I'm so disappointed that my friends, and certain family members think I should just move on and stop "shinning" it's very hurtful. I'm so sorry that you feel The PTSD and yes I believe that is what we experience after something so tragically bestowed to us. Keep me posted

Your PTSD Friend 🎀😘

I can really relate to these posts!

I noticed a lump on my mastectomy scar a year ago but it wasn't flagged in my yearly MRI or by my breast surgeon or his residents. So I tried to forget about it. But when it was obviously growing, I went back to my breast surgeon this past spring and asked him to take another look at it. He felt it, said it was nothing and didn't order a scan.

On my next MRI, it was flagged, I was sent for ultrasound and then biopsy, and it turned out to be cancer. They think it's a recurrence, 10 years later, which is shockingly unusual, as all my doctors keep wanting to emphasize. They think some breast tissue with DCIS was left behind in the original surgery, and then I didn't get radiation because I got chemo, herceptin and a mastectomy instead.

I'm now undergoing weekly taxol with Herceptin. I have a couple suspicious lymph nodes, and a biopsy showed they were clean. But the radiologist is so suspicious she has ordered a second biopsy.

This recurrence is the thing I feared so much, and yet if it's any comfort to anyone, I do find it easier the second time around. It could have been caught a year earlier, but still, my prognosis is very good. Chemo has changed in the past decade -- I'm finding it easier to tolerate, and it's much less stressful when you know what to expect, and knowing that I will get through it. Even the chemo clinic seems like a different place -- a lot more hopeful, I guess because of all the new targeted drugs/immunotherapy. Not trying to be a pollyanna -- today was an awful day because my oncologist had given me the all-clear on my lymph nodes, and it sucked to hear that the radiologist wants to retest. But I'm sort of amazed at myself. Cancer really did make me tougher.

I agree with all the people saying if you find a lump, just ultrasound and biopsy liberally! One thing my surgeon told me is that these local recurrences on mastectomy breasts don't lower your lifespan for whatever reason. And the best way to find them is simply to feel a lump, which you will be able to do early and easily.

well everyone I am waiting for test again, had final reconstruction December 31, 2019. January 28,2020 mentioned small area to PS nurse, she felt it called in another person and am now having ultrasound on Feb 10th. I am so done with all this, it's like I am starting all over. The waiting game YUCK!!