Fat Necrosis - now slightly red

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1

Hi

Had left side mastectomy 2021. Had right side reduction symmetry surgery September 2023.

Had first post reduction mammogram March 2024 and there was clear surgical changes but all benign.

I’ve been back to Breast Clinic twice since mammogram due to hardness and lumps in reduction breast. Had ultrasounds and biospies on reduction breast in April and October. All clear - diagnosed at fat necrosis. Last results was week’s ago.

Noticed over weekend right hand reduction breast is slightly red and not resolved yet. This is must be fat necrosis as this breast has been mammogrammed, ultrasounded and biopsied twice since March.

When should I consider speaking to Breast nurses/GP? I don’t want to ignore it but given the amount of tests this year on that breast I don’t want to pester too much.

It’s only slightly red at the moment (kind of looks flushed or like I’ve been slapped), I am just wondering when I should become worried.

Thank you

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Hi, could it be an infection in that breast maybe even from the biopsies if you had one last week? In which case it would be good to see a doctor and maybe be prescribed antibiotics? I am no doctor but if I were you and the redness doesn’t go away, I would go see a GP or breast nurse soon. Especially if a fever develops. Good luck. Know how hard this is. I have gone from being very laissez faire about health issues to a total hypochondriac! But I don’t feel guilty about reaching out either to doctors- we have an excuse!

3

Louise07

Thank you for your reply.

The biopsy was over a month ago and resolved well.

The redness seems to be when I wear a bra (don’t wear one around the home). I can’t wear cup bras anymore (boobs slightly wonky and uneven). I wear sports bras or soft bralettes. The sports bras seem to cause the most redness.

When I take my bra off, it looks slightly red. Almost like the beginning of a bruise. It seems to almost completely resolve over the evening and night due to not being upright or wearing a bra.

I’m sure its due to fat necrosis, which has been diagnosed. But this is a new thing. Not sure I need to do anything now. But when do I ask the nurses?

4

I should speak to the Nurses now if I were you as mine have always told me they like to be informed of any changes to the breast or in the region of the affected breast just in case. Also for healing they like you to be able to wear a supportive but comfortable bra which it doesn’t sound as though you are able to do at present.

I also had fat necrosis , mine turned into an oil cyst and just absorbed but it was associated with swelling and pain I had redness as well but that was related to radiotherapy which you haven’t mentioned so I’m assuming you haven’t had that yet . You could have developed a sensitivity towards the material in your sports bra or possibly the combination of fat necrosis and your bra is affecting the circulation in that area - ( this is just a guess ) if it goes after taking your bra off .
The best thing would be to wear that bra and go and see your BCN - they may be able to advise on bras or prostheses so that you can find a bra that supports you without causing irritation xx

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Hi Snookie

It can be worrying when you notice changes and are unsure about contacting your team when you experience quite a few after surgery.

Redness can be caused by a number of things including infection.

Infection can happen even when wounds are healed and may happen alongside fat necrosis or following further biopsies or surgery and may need assessment and treatment.

It sounds like your sports bra is causing some additional irritation, as @JoanneN has suggested. You may find it helpful to avoid that bra for the time being, until your symptoms resolve.

We would always suggest that you contact your breast care nurses to report that you’ve noticed the redness over the weekend as @Louise07 says, so they can arrange for you to be seen if necessary.

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Best wishes

Catherine

Breast Care Nurse

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