How long will my breast stay turquoise?

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1

I have copied this thread started by nuthatch

Had my operation (WLE) on Thursday last and had dye injected to locate lymph nodes etc. as well as radioactive tracer treatment. Breast is still turquoise although urine is not so coloured. How long before colour in breast fades? Thanks in advance. CommentAuthorjools CommentTime23 hours ago edit delete
Well mine is still turquoise and i had mine back at the beginning of May. The area gradually shrinks but it does take a while. I just have a turquoise nipple now

Jools
hi.
i cant even remember my boob being blue. i had dressings on for a week so perhaps the time they came off it had gone…the blue wee only lasted 24 hours as well. perhaps people have more dye put in than others…
julie

Dear nuthatch

Welcome to the forums, I am sure you will continue to receive lots of helpful advice and support from your fellow forum users, in addition, you are welcome to contact our freephone helpline on 0808 800 6000 where you are able to talk to one of specialist nurses in confidence about any queries or concerns you may have regarding your diagnosis or treatments. The line is open Monday - Friday 9am - 5pm, Saturdays 9am - 2pm

Breast Cancer Care have recently published a Resources Pack which you may find helpful to read, it is filled with information to help you better understand your diagnosis, test results and the various treatments available. You can download it from the following link or you can ask for a copy to be sent to you via the helpline:

breastcancercare.org.uk//content.php?page_id=7514

I hope you find this helpful.

Best wishes
Lucy
Breast Cancer Care

Jacksy
Hi,
Had mine done in March and has only just faded to nothing. Only a few weeks ago it was still noticeable, but now is almost gone. I guess Julie’s right and it’s all down to how much they squirt in!
Jacquie

AnneG
Had my op in April and there is still some blue left but most has gone now.

Anne

AliS
I had my operation on 9th May and there’s definitely still a blue tinge!! It is fading though… the surgeon told me it would be about six months, but then that was six-and-a-half months ago!!

AliS

sweetheart
My surgeon told me that my armpit would be blue for approx 12 months but that everyone was different, mine is gone I’m 8 weeks post op

Heather

mammabee
My op was back in June & I still have a blue tinge. Consultant seemed to say that it depends on the person - it may never fade.

xx

2

mine went very soon after my mastectomy and immediate recon, took about 3 weeks in all

Alisonx

3

Had wle + snb mid July - and still has a large blue patch from the dye, which has hardly faded at all.
Anneli
-x-

4

I had WLE and the blue dye four days ago. My surgeon said it would probably be about six months before the colour goes. I think it depends a lot on someone’s individual lymph drainage. Something not mentioned here that might be helpful for other people about to undergo this is that for the first few hours after the operation your face can look quite blue. My husband was really glad to have been told about this as it could make you think you were having a few problems breathing otherwise! I used to be a lymphodema nurse and thinking of all the women who are saved from having their lymph nodes removed because of being able to find the sentinel node and check just that one for cancer cells really makes me rejoice. So much so that I am quite happy with my blue dye for now! Good luck to all of you. Sarah.

5

I don’t remember seeing any blue dye after my SNB op and my urine didn’t go yellow either. So responses must be very individual

6

I think there are two ways of finding the sentinel node. One is injecting a material that is radioactive and can be traced with special x-rays and with a Geiger counter (the injections are put into the breast a few hours before the surgery) and the other is by using the blue dye which is done during the course of the operation. Some surgeons use one, some the other, and mine used both!

7

I had WLE late Sept and I still have a small blue tinge to the breast and a small spot on the nipple
Caz x

8

I still have a blue nipple six months after surgery! Maybe I’m still radioactive!!!
Having bilateral mastectomy in Jan and immediate reconstruction so my blue nip will be gone forever…

Carly x

9

I too still have a blue nipple after WLE back in july, was told by onc it can take months to go, its definately fading but still there.

Lindiloo x