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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Hi Anreda, I had a terrible ‘do’ with fat necrosis following a 2nd operation for a secondary that my surgeon couldn’t deal with at the time of the first op. Ended up in A&E as the dressing exploded and had a week in hospital on antibiotics. Went home and another 6 weeks of the community nurses coming every other day to change the dressings. Anyway in the end had another op to drain it. I have got a hard ridge which is uncomfortable but not painful. Have got my annual (1st) mammogram and appointment with an oncologist coming up and am a bit worried that the mammogram will be painful! I think one just has to live with the ‘lump’ from what I can make out. I really don’t want another op tho my surgeon did say she could do one if I wanted it. Hope all goes well for you and I will let you know (if you want) how my mammogram etc goes.
Hi ajb, I’m so sorry to read your experience with fat necrosis, it sounds really awful. Mind really is nothing like that, just always present. I guess you’re right about just having to live with the lump. I think a bit of me worries that it is actually another cancer that they’ve missed,
Good luck with the mammogram, hope it’s not too painful. do let me know x
Hi @anreda yes fat necrosis is quite common Im told it can occur as a result of breast surgery and reconstruction…sometime years later. I didnt know this. If theyre unsure by the mammogram and ultra scans as was the case with me they then proceed to biopsies…I had 6!! First lot they still couldnt decide so they sent me for more. Fat necrosos can disappear after a few years but may never go is what I was told. If they operate to remove its more scarring and damage tp your breast and in addition the op in itself can cause more necrosis to form so the prefer not to operate unless it continues to be very painful.
I feel for you. I did indeed worry about things being missed msinly because my breast screening clinic is chaotic and contact was random plus appointments given then canelled. Im still waiting for the letter from the oncology surgeon and its now 3months since they discharged me but no sign of it yet! I need the letter as my gp is going to refer me to a different breast screening service to be screened by in future. Hes waotibg for the letter before he can do it.
So if youre ungappy with your current clinic thats something to consider.
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Hi, thanks so much for replying and reassuring me, I’d never heard of this before but I’m learning now that it’s not so uncommon. I feel for you, having 6 biopsies, how horrible.
My breast clinic is amazing, and I’ve been back 6 times this year and going again soon for another check, so I can’t ask for more, I guess. The radiologist said they could see it was fat necrosis on the ultra sound and previous to this I had an oil cyst drained which apparently can be part of the same thing.
Good luck to you getting your letter and getting changed to a different clinic x
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Glad you feel reassured. I did panic st the time as it was hard & solid 3cms big…popped up suddenly. Such a shock!! But there we go fat necrosis…I am soooo lucky. Glad they could tell what it was on the ultra scan. Mine indeterminate all the way through no matter how many scans etc but the mdt decided it had to be fat necrosos as no evidence of cancer cells in all those biopsies!! 
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I’m really pleased for you. The lovely nurse at my local breast clinic is checking it again next week.
Thanks so much for your reassurance x
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Hi Anreda, I had my mammogram last week and yes, it was uncomfortable! But I suppose a small price to pay? It doesn’t take too long and the nurse/radiographer was very nice and thorough. I haven’t heard anything back so my fingers are firmly crossed. I hope you are doing well and not worrying or suffering. Anita Xoxo
Hi Anita,
I agree the mammograms are not pleasant at the time but bearable in the light of things.
I hope your results are reassuring for you.
My original post above was about fat necrosis which was left from my surgery and radiotherapy, which was causing me pain and anxiety.
I had some reassuring replies, though, and it’s a bit more comfortable currently.
All the best to you,
Angela
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