how long is scar tissue present after lumpectomy

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1

I had a lumpectomy on may 11th and i can still feel a lump where my breast cancer was .I just wondered has anybody else still got this?
When i asked at the hospital they said it was scar tissue.I was worried it was still cancer how would you know.
If it is scar tissue how long might it take to go away because when chemo is finished you need to be able to check yourself properly .
Not sure if anyone can help.
Thanks Sharon xx

2

I have the same - my op was 7th June - and TBH I don’t like it as I was to be able to check myself properly.

3

I had lumpectomy in Feb and had panic 3 weeks ago when felt lump about an inch under scar Onc checked it and assured me it is just scar tissue! Not sure how long the scar tissue is present but it was 5 months when I felt mine. Not much help sorry but just to let you know it can take a while for it to settle down.

Jill

4

I had bilateral WLE’s in Feb, and have had quite hard lumpy bits since. Have just seen oct who says that the radiotherapy slows down the healing a bit too.

I’m hoping they’ll be gone within a year, but that’s not an informed wish. Would be interested in hearing more reports on how long we can expect this. And yes it is disconcerting that you can’t really examine the areas properly.

S

5

Same here I had my lumpectomy May 3rd & its still quite firm where the timoir was & under the scar it quite hard I find it frustrating that I cant feel or check that boob I was told it will get better as the months go on but never given a time scale, this could be that everyone is different, but I know what you mean

Mekala

6

Thanks for your replies its not so scarey when you know we are all the same and that its normal,being triple negative really scares me cos ive heard it can come back pretty quicky(i may have been ill informed so dont want to worry any one else that might be )and when theres still a lump there you start wondering if it could have come back between the op and the chemo .
Thanks for your replies ,we will all just have to try to be patient.
Love Sharon xx

7

I too felt a lump alongside the scar tissue…

I had my WLE on 25th May and my tissue has already started returning to normal (and the lump has gone down)…I might be lucky though as i’m only 31, it could very possibly be age related as to how quickly the body repairs itself…

8

Thanks so much for posting this question. I had a WLE 3 weeks ago & have noticed a lump next to where they did the lumpectomy which i’m sure wasn’t there before. I have to go to hosp tomorrow for another pre-op appt & am going to get the BCN to check then. This thread has put me at ease a bit as i know now that it’s not unusual. x

9

Really pleased it has helped you hjv123 its good that we can all help each other as its only those who have been in our position who truly understand what we are all going through .
Love Sharon xx

10

i too had this same feeling after my WLE last September. This led to me having an early review a couple of weeks ago which resulted in scan, mamogram, a biopsy and, end result was all good. It was a cyst encased in the scar tissue. My scar line still feels very lumpy but i am now reassured that this is ‘normal’ and not anything to worry about. I think it is natural to think the worst, however I hope that I can offer some reassurance here. Take care all. J.

11

Thanks Jaynek,
Your answer was very reassuring .Pleased it worked out fine for you and you too had your mind put at rest xx