Hello. Slightly panicked question. Had a lumpectomy last December, lump wasn’t detectable and was found on a mammogram. Since the op I’ve had intermittent pain under the incision scar which has faded to more of a dull ache now if pressure is applied. However under the incision now feels like a hardened lump/mass. I am in a total panic as my first thought is that it’s a recurrence or they haven’t got the lump out properly and it’s grown in 6 months. I can vaguely remember my consultant saying that radiotherapy could leave some areas of the breast hardened, but I’m not sure if this is what she meant. Has anyone after a lumpectomy been left in a similar way with a lump where their ‘lump’ used to be!? I will phone the nurses tomorrow to check with them but any reassurance welcomed!
I found a lump very close to my scar about 3 months after finishing radiotherapy and though my rational brain was telling me it was likely related to treatment the rest of me wasn’t listening and was panicking. The BCN service was very good and got me in for an appointment with them at their clinic within a few days. I was examined by the BCN who said she wasn’t worried but managed to get me in for an ultrasound scan later the same day and it turned out to a harmless oil cyst . By the time I had the appointment it had become painful as well though that settled over the following few days and the lump has now disappeared though sometimes they do need draining. It is quite common to have lumpy areas around your scar - but your plan to phone the nurses is the right one xx
Hi, it could be fat necrosis, I had a lumpectomy and radiotherapy 19 years ago and very soon after surgery, I developed a lump where the scar is, had scans and told fat necrosis, it’s still there now! Follow up mammograms okay x
Thanks-I phoned the BCN this morning and been told to head up for 2 o clock this afternoon so thankfully will get it checked quick and hopefully get some reassurance.
I didn’t say in my previous post but my oil cyst was a result of fat necrosis - the body can see the fat as a foreign substance and make a coating for it so it becomes a cyst .xx
How did it go ? Xx
Had a scan and it was fluid which they drained with a needle. I’ve also been referred to the lymphoedema clinic as they think that might be affecting things as well. So I feel very relieved and assured and thankfully wasn’t made to feel like I’d wasted their time.
Good to hear xx