Breast thickening.

I’m waiting on an MRI for the same thing. My breast feels fuller and thicker and a bit sore. I’ve had a mammogram and u/s which showed a few small cysts but nothing that explains the changes. My breast is noticeably bigger and I can no longer wear a bra. My oncologist is not sure what is going on... I thought maybe lymphodema but she doesn’t think so as my arm is normal size.

I’m hoping it’s good news for you, and for me

sammi....It sounds like this is something new vs. something you have had all along and just noticed. I cannot relate to that. I developed some areas of thickness after my surgery. That seems to be tissue finding a new home where it doesn't really belong. Your issue sounds quite different than that.

Still-me... you can have lymphedema in your breast I believe. There is also truncal lymphedema though that is not what you're describing... You may want to check out the lymphedema threads to see if anything there fits your description or ask related questions. You could use the search box too. Have you ever seen a lymphedema therapist?

I saw a physiotherapist who taught me some post lumpectomy stretches and massage which I do often. I’m not sure what’s going on but I’m tired all the time too. Hopefully the MRI gives some answers.

Thank you MinusTwo for that link it was very informative.

Hi, I just went through exactly the same thing. I had bc in June 2017, radiation in Jan of 2018. My breast, lower half from mid areola down felt thicker since, and had always been told it was radiation damage.

In June of this year, I had a baby and I was worried about some lumpiness or swelling under the arm so went to my breast team to have a look. They did an ultrasound that ruled out anything under the arm and gave me a mammo. The mammo was normal but the areola and lower breast tissue was noted as being a tiny bit thicker than the previous year.

I had at least 6 breast doctors at the hospital look at it, and they all reckoned it was edema and radiation damage, but because I was still worried they did a punch biopsy, which came back inconclusive as the sample was tiny, so I had an excisional biopsy which came back with no cancer, but because radiation damage and secondary angiosarcoma of the breast due to radiation, look similar under a microscope, I'm on a check up regime every three months for a while.

They are all confident I've nothing to worry about and indeed absolutely nothing has changed on my breast since I first went in June, but I'm still glad I checked it out. But I do think it is likely to just be that, radiation damage. One of the consultants said radiation is the 'gift that keeps giving' and contrary to popular belief, can actually continue to cause damage and inflammation years after treatment.