Hi, I don’t know if anyone can reassure me or if I should just prepare myself for the worst?
History - age 42, diagnosed Jan 2009, mx, chemo (epi-cmf x8) rads x15 finished beginning nov 09. Tamoxifen 5 years.
Last night just watching tv when I became aware that my chest was throbbing. Upon investigation immediately found a lump on mx scar. Cue major melt down with both me & husband sobbing and not much sleep following.
Phoned breast care nurse this morning who have got me an apt in clinic tomorrow which is good BUT as I still have got another day and night to get through, can anyone share there similar experiences? Can it be something innocent, if so what? Or shall I just prepare myself that it’s come back and if so what’s the next likely course of action?
I am beside myself but have to hold myself together as I am at work, I would be grateful for any input/advice
Jo xx
I havent had a mastectomy but a WLE and recently a similar thing happened to me. My breast ached and throbbed I could feel a lump on the scar (I had my treatment 2 years ago). It turned out to be a seroma on the scar. I think quite a lot of fluid can collect on the scar particularly as tissue so damaged. My lump felt squidgy when pressed rather than the original tumour which was solid and hard. Dont panic at this stage as could be anything.
hi Jo
Like Cathy I also have a seroma,in my breast where my tumour was. Mine is very hard like the original tumour and has had a couple of medics concerned because it looks like a large black mass on scans! It does however drain away when a needle is inserted into it…although mine always grows back!
My Mum had a mx and she has also as a seroma, the other end of her scar, almost under the armpit!
Hope Tomorrow goes OK! and that your lump is something similar!
Take care Nicky xx
Thanks girls, it’s just so hard not to panic isn’t it? I had a seroma after my mx but it cleared up totally after a few weeks. This is a definite lump, not sure if it’s hard or soft as it’s quite tender to the touch so I don’t want to keep prodding it (would probably get some odd looks from the guys at work as well if I did this!)
The only thing that I can think of is that i’ve just come back from a lovely two week holiday in Majorca and I did wear an underwired bikini top, which felt comfortable at the time, but maybe the wire agravated something? (clutching at straws I know) I haven’t worn any wired bras since mx
no doubt I will have myself dead and buried before tomorrow
Jo xx
Thinking that the underwire may have aggravated something isn’t clutching at straws. If you have restricted the “flow” of tissue fluid etc around the scar, this could easily build up to a seroma. Also, it may be a type of inflammatory response around the scar tissue because of friction. My seroma, I am sure, was due to wearing a new bra that was underwired and a bit tight - probably a bit like a tournaquet!. . Fingers crossed for you tomorrow. I know everyone is so different, but my mother had two recurrences and both times they presented as an insidious, hard lump. Throbbing lumps are more likely to be of the inflammatory/infection brigade as opposed to cancer as sounds like a build up of fluid.
Thanks Cathy for your reply, I wish I had read it a couple of days ago!! ( only usually come online when at work)
Anyway the answer to my original question is YES!!! YIPPEE it was good news. I have an inflamed rib, hence the throbbing. So cathy you were quite right. I felt like a bit of an eejit, but really how was I to know? and the doctor was lovely.
So there you are girls, the moral of this story is that it can sometimes be good news even though we always think the worst.
My prayers and thoughts are with anyone playing the waiting game at the moment xx
Hi, I too got a lump on my mastectomy scar after about eight weeks, really worried at the time. My GP referred me back to surgeon, really worried at the time. After having it removed, then given radiotherapy was told that I would be OK. but my oncologist suggest six months of chemo, (belt and braces). That was in 1995. I still here but was diagnosed with secondary cancer in spine/bones in 2006, but am still here and feel well.
I do hope my story will bring you reassurance. and wish you well.