Hi, has anyone had a diagnosis of fat necrosis? I am 74 and had a lumpectomy last October for TNBC and a week of radiotherapy in February. I was supposed to have chemo but they decided against it due to my other health issues. Since then I’ve had a hard painful lump in my breast above the op site about 2 inches round. I’ve been seen many times in the local breast clinic and in August they said it was an oil cyst and they aspirated it. However the pain and lump have persisted and I was seen again recently and told by the radiologist that it’s fat necrosis. I just wondered if anyone else has had this and how they’ve dealt with it? I’m anxious that it is more cancer and it’s being missed.
Thanks .
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I feel for you. Yes I developed a hard lump about 3cms with pain 10yrs after being diagnosed with bc and then after aggressive treatment anx reconstruction in remission. I too have been diagnosed with fat necrosis. It was very scary as they couldnt tell by the scans so did biopsies. Fat necrosis can often be diagnosed by a mammogram and ultrascan.
As youre worrying can you speak to your oncologist or breast care nurse?
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I can understand how you are concerned about this. I haven’t had the same issue. But it may be helpful to call your team/breast care nurses.
Or you can call the BCN nurses on 0808 800 6000 Mon-Fri 9-4 Sat 9-1. MacMillan have a helpline that’s open 7 days a week 0808 800 0000 8-8.
I hope you get the answers you need.
Take care.
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Thanks for your reply. Your case sounds much worse than mine, I really feel for you. I think my worry is that it’s not the cancer returning as I am reading more and more cases of something being missed. I did have a mammogram and ultrasound scan, and the breast clinic have seen me a few times, thanks.
I guess I was just wondering if fat necrosis is common , to reassure me that it’s nothing worse.
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