Hello, I have had Er + HER - stage 1 breast cancer with a lumpectomy in September with clear margins 1 senital node with cancer, then a full node clearance with 14 clear nodes. I had radiation and am on tamoxifen. I keep thinking I’m feeling a lump in my lumpectomy area. I touch it and it starts to feel sore. I went back on the 4th of April and had a scan which the doctors said was scare tissue. I felt reassured then. Now I’ve felt it again and it’s lumpy plus sore from me touching it. just want some reassurance that it’s not come back. I can’t keep going back to the surgeons.
Hi @cassie77 I completely get what it’s like to be super-focused on small changes following treatment. I also understand not wanting to be the girl that cried wolf. My NHS BCN did say to me to get things checked if I was concerned about anything but, thankfully, I’ve found that if I leave things for a while they clear up. Many of us get small nodules around the surgery site, fat necrosis or scar tissue etc and it’s impossible not to wonder however it has been checked by experts and isn’t anything sinister.
I wonder if you might need a bit of help to come to terms with what has happened and, if you haven’t seen it already, would recommend the Breast Cancer Now course Moving Forward | Breast Cancer Now. Just click the link and it will take you to more information about it an options for taking part. It will help you deal with these unexpected niggles. Nevertheless, it is always best to get things checked out if you’re really concerned and your BCN should understand that.
Hello cassie77
Thank you for posting. It sounds like you are going through a difficult time after breast cancer treatment.
Nearly everyone who has been treated for cancer worries about it coming back (recurrence) and you’re not alone in being anxious about this and wanting to find reassurance.
The uncertainty and fear of breast cancer returning is very real. At first, every ache or pain may frighten you. As @Tigress says it is very normal to become focused on small changes to the scar, or how your breast feels. As your scan showed, and your doctor said, these changes are due to scar tissue, and may continue to change as your breast heals from surgery and radiotherapy. You may find it helpful to look at our video on breast cancer scars.
Many people are surprised at how emotional they feel when their treatment finishes. Adapting to life after treatment can be difficult and often the need for information and support continues. @Tigress suggested our Moving Forward Courses. These are particularly for those who have come to the end of their main hospital treatment, and include our Moving Forward book and Moving Forward courses. They are a good way of finding extra support as you go through this uncertain time. You might also want to look at our Someone Like Me service and our Becca app.
Future Dreams offer information and support for adapting to Life after cancer.
Although most people find their anxiety lessens as time goes on, many people benefit from talking therapy, such as counselling, to explore ways of managing these worries and concerns. You can speak to your GP or treatment team about this. Mindfulness can also be helpful.
Do talk to your breast care nurse, treatment team or GP about how you are feeling so they can support you.
Dr Peter Harvey a Consultant Clinical Psychologist wrote about how people can feel after treatment has finished. Although the article is many years old and not specific to breast cancer the emotional issues discussed remain relevant. You can read this through the following link
After the treatment has finished - Then what?
If you would like to talk about any of the above or have any further questions, do call our helpline. The helpline team have time to listen, talk things through and signpost you to additional support and information if necessary. Your call will be confidential, and the number is free from UK landlines and all mobile networks.
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Best wishes
Angela
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