Hi there
i was diagnosed with Her2 positive breast cancer in Sept 21 and BRCA2 positive. I went through 6 months of chemo, double mastectomy and reconstruction (implants), and have radiotherapy still to do - also have started tamoxifen. All treatment has gone very well. Yesterday, 2 months post surgery, I felt 2 hard painless lumps in left breast (my original diagnosis with in right breast only). I was seen by my oncologist today who was very reassuring in that he thinks it’s either the mesh they’ve used or it’s fat necrosis. Am going for an ultrasound on Thursday, with possible needle extraction to test the fat (if it is that) . I am so glad he’s not worried, but i can’t tell my brain to do the same. I suffer with PTSD and feel like I’m struggling. Has anyone had experience of fat necrosis post surgery with implants? X
Hi there I don’t have implants but I had breast conserving surgery in February and radiotherapy in March and 3 weeks ago I found a lump in my breast near to my scar. I managed to get an appointment with the Breast Care Nurse who wasn’t too worried but she got me in for an ultrasound scan and the Radiologist said it was a piece of fat that had died ( necrosed ) because the circulation to it had been disrupted by the surgery . She said the fat liquifies and the body reacts by making a coating for it and that I will always have a lump there. These fatty lumps tend to feel different to tumours as they are smooth rather than irregular / nodular .
I don’t know if that’s helpful but I hope so x
I know exactly how you feel. I had surgery last October and radiotherapy in January.
I thought I had a problem with the cancerous breast earlier in the year but was told by the breast clinic over the phone nothing was wrong and I would have to wait till my 6 month follow up appointment. Finally saw the consultant at the end of June and guess what I have a 5 cm lump in the reconstruction flap. Had a biopsy and ultrasound scan and luckily it’s fat necrosis. The problem is it is rock hard and has shrunk to a third of the size of the other breast and is extremely painful. The NHS is not interested and I am expected to live with it. The flap should be removed I believe and I have noticed part of the scar is going a grey colour. The option is to go private but not sure if I should go to breast consultant or a breast plastic surgeon and I have no idea how much it would cost to have the flap removed.