Another referral - hard fixed lump found, dimpling/tethering

I am posting for a bit of support. I had an MRI and Mammograms prior to an op just before Christmas. As far as I know, the only lump that was seen was the papilloma that the consultant needed to remove. During the op, they successful removed the papilloma which was found to be benign, with good clear margins.

There has been some shock like pain since, and I noticed dimpling above the scar in the months that followed (the scar being at 3 o’clock, the dimpling at 1 and 2 o’clock) which I reported to my consultant in April. He just felt the area and said he wasn’t worried and discharged me. I’ve been concerned about it and thought I’d go back to my GP and she now can find a small hard fixed lump deep in the breast. I wish I had insisted the consultant do an US in April. I wonder if it is ever possible for a fixed lump to be benign?

This could possibly be any number of things. I developed a lump about 4 months after radiotherapy. I contacted my bcn who asked loads of questions. She explained you can get lumpy bits after radiotherapy and not concerned. She did advise to keep an eye, and if it got bigger, or I was more concerned, to let her know. I went for first annual follow up recently and still had this lump. She felt it and said it is just result of lumpectomy and radiotherapy and nothing to worry about. Hopefully yours is nothing concerning either, but it does need to be checked to be sure. Hope all is good in the end x

1 Like

Hi poorlyboob, thank you so much for your reply. That is a really good point, that would be fantastic if it was some sort of scar tissue. I think my papilloma was quite deep in the breast, come to think of it, not near the nipple as it often is.

I seem to remember when coming round the consultant told me he’d not managed to get the clip out, so perhaps it will help show up where the original op was.

I hope you are doing well now? xx

If anyone is reading this and has experience of dimpling or tethering post-op that was quite widespread, not just around the op site, I’d really like to know if an op can make this happen? I’m thinking perhaps damaged breast tissue? I feel so silly for not asking for at least an ultrasound when I saw my consultant in April.

Poorlyboob. I just wanted to say thank you for your kind words the other day. I am so glad to have had it checked out. Thankfully it appears to be scar tissue. I wouldn’t have known otherwise, the uncertainty would have been difficult to live with. I would definitely recommend people get any changes checked out. xx

Aww, thats fantastic news. Really pleased for you that it is only scar tissue. You must be so relieved. As you say, you would have lived with the uncertainty if it wasn’t checked. Best wishes x

1 Like