Rash near the biopsy area

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Lay02
Lay02 Member Posts: 23

Hi,

I had a stereotactics biopsy on July 3rd and my pathology report indicated that I have a Lobular carcinoma in situ, and atypical lobular hyperplasia, multifocal. Atypical ductal hyperplasia, small focus. Columnar cell change. The comments say Atypical lobular proliferation can be intercepted as lobular intraepithelial neoplasia (LIN) with ADH. Recently I got a rash around the biopsy area. Is this serious? Did anyone get anything like this?? And I have to wait 3 weeks in order to see a breast surgeon to discuss excision. Won't you think this is too long? Thanks.

Comments

  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited July 2008

    As stressful as it is, 3 weeks is not too long to wait with LCIS (or with ALH or ADH), there is no rush as they are all non-invasive. The reason for surgical excision  is just to make sure there is no DCIS or any invasive bc in there along with it. As my doctors said, a few weeks won't make any significant difference, just don't let it go a few months. I was diagnosed with LCIS nearly 5 years ago--- I am very  closely monitored with mammos alternating with MRIs every 6 months, see my oncologist every 6 months on the opposite schedule (so I'm essentially "seen" by some method every 3 months), and take tamoxifen to try and prevent an invasive bc in the future. Your chances are good that they won't  find anything more serious---(I think it's up to 30% of the time they do, but that means 70% of the time they don't--so keep that positive thought!)--please feel free to PM me with any questions if you'd like.

    Anne

  • Lay02
    Lay02 Member Posts: 23
    edited July 2008

    Hi Anne,

    Thank you for your response. I still don't know why do I have a rash.  Also, I tried to PM you but my message did not go through. What am I doing wrong?

    Thanks.

  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited July 2008

    click on my name (or whoever you want to PM), then click on "send member a PM"--should go right thru as long as you are logged in

    Anne

  • nash
    nash Member Posts: 2,600
    edited July 2008

    Lay02--could you be allergic to the steristrips or whatever adhesive they used to cover your biopsy site?

  • Lay02
    Lay02 Member Posts: 23
    edited July 2008

    nash,

    I was thinking about your question today and am using neosporin and it seems to help. Thank you for asking.

  • nash
    nash Member Posts: 2,600
    edited July 2008

    Lay, I'm glad to hear the rash is clearing up a bit. I know I'm really sensitive to adhesives, so hopefully that's all it is for you, too.

  • kayakgrrl
    kayakgrrl Member Posts: 15
    edited August 2008

    Hi Lay02 and Nash, I had my biopsy two days ago and I also have developed a rash--a pretty large area around the biopsy site (including the whole breast and a large swath of my stomach area on the biopsied side. I also have sensitive skin (though not usually rash-prone). Did yours clear up entirely? How long did it take?

  • nash
    nash Member Posts: 2,600
    edited August 2008

    kayakgrrl--how's your rash doing? Has the doc seen it? Sounds like an allergic reaction, but I don't know why it would spread to your stomach area. Does it itch or anything?

  • Lay02
    Lay02 Member Posts: 23
    edited August 2008

    Hi kayakgrrl,

    It took about 10 days for my rash to clear. Now, I am worried about the excision that I'll have on 9/2. I heard it will leave a scar...Do you know anything about it?

  • leaf
    leaf Member Posts: 8,188
    edited August 2008

    Well, I haven't seen other women's breast scars in person.  But my scar is nothing very obvious-its just a little pinker than the surrounding skin.  It really faded over time.  Its now been 2.5 years since my excision.   Its perfectly flush with the surrounding skin.  

    It is pretty inevitable that *something* will be left because they have to go through the skin.   I suppose sometimes they might be able to go through the areola, where it might be less obvious? My scar is about 1 inch long, and they went all over my breast. (I know that because a subsequent biopsy showed scar tissue inches away.) 

    I know some people heal with barely visible scars, and others heal with more obvious scars.  We are all different. 

    We  also all have different emotions about how we look.  I 'live' in my head a lot, and I thought - well, the alternative is not having an excision and having a good chance of missing cancer, and I sure don't want that.  

    Some people think of them as 'battle scars'.  But I'm sure breast surgeons try to get a more cosmetically acceptable result.  I'm sure its a lot better than battle scars from explosions or gunfire.  Give it lots of time to heal.  Some people like to massage the area, put different potions on, etc.

  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited August 2008

    lay02---my lumpectomy scar faded a lot the first year.  It's been almost 5 years now and it's  hardly visible at all.

    Anne

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