Worried about local recurrance

PennyJ
PennyJ Member Posts: 31

Hello Everyone,

I have been reading the breast cancer discussion board for a while now, but this is my first post.  I was diagnosed w/ IDC in Nov 2011 (11cm mass), did chemo,had a bilateral mastectomy (4 positive nodes out of 18) and finished radiation in May 2012.  I just had my expanders exchanged for silicone implants in Oct 2012.  So far, so good, until I noticed a smaller than eraser sized raised red area on my left incision line yesterday (the side w/ the breast cancer).  I'm hoping it is just a stitch that didn't disolve, but I can't help but think about a local recurrance (they could only get a 0.5mm clear margin during surgery).  Have any of you had a local recurrance?  What did it look like and how was it treated?  Did it change your prognosis?  I hate to be a nervous Nellie but I am feeling kind of scared.  I'd appreciate any thoughts you have, thanks!

Comments

  • smalldoggroomer
    smalldoggroomer Member Posts: 1,184
    I haven't had this experience

    I haven't had this experience but I know some one will be along that does. But I am thinking that there is allot of things it could be Scare tissue , stitch, May things. I would try not to worry to much. I'm sure it will be nothing. You didn't say if it was sore or inflammed red any of that. I wish you all the best. Your in my prayers Darling,

  • smalldoggroomer
    smalldoggroomer Member Posts: 1,184
    I haven't had this experience

    I haven't had this experience but I know some one will be along that does. But I am thinking that there is allot of things it could be Scare tissue , stitch, May things. I would try not to worry to much. I'm sure it will be nothing. You didn't say if it was sore or inflammed red any of that. I wish you all the best. Your in my prayers Darling,

  • weazer
    weazer Member Posts: 440

    I haven't had this experience

    I haven't had this experience but I know some one will be along that does. But I am thinking that there is allot of things it could be Scare tissue , stitch, May things. I would try not to worry to much. I'm sure it will be nothing. You didn't say if it was sore or inflammed red any of that. I wish you all the best. Your in my prayers Darling,

    Once in awhile,

    From time oo time my scare under my arm gets real sore, and then it just goes away.

    Call Dr. tomorrow to set your mind at ease.

    Take care Karie

  • camul
    camul Member Posts: 2,537
    I had a hard little bump

    along the scar about 6 months after my mastectomy, it ended up being scar tissue forming. It was removed when I had exchange surgery.  Have your doctor look at it just to be on the safe side. 

    Welcome to this site, there are great people on this board and usually when I have questions, I can get them answered just by reading others posts! 

    Best to you and Merry Christmas,

    Carol

     

  • lynn1950
    lynn1950 Member Posts: 2,570
    Nervous Nellie

    I was a nervous nelly when two small bumps appeared near my incision line about a year post mastectomy.  I went to my surgeon and they were removed and biopsied.  Scar tissue!  Best of luck to you.  xoxoxo Lynn

     

  • PennyJ
    PennyJ Member Posts: 31
    Thank you!

    Thank you ladies so much for your support and kind thoughts!  I haven't heard back from the surgeon yet, but I think the area is a bit smaller than it was on Christmas eve.  My husband and son have been through so much with my illness that I didn't want to scare them with my worries, so I sure appreciate all of you lending an ear.  I'll let you know how it turns out!

  • Alexis F
    Alexis F Member Posts: 3,598
    PennyJ said:

    Thank you!

    Thank you ladies so much for your support and kind thoughts!  I haven't heard back from the surgeon yet, but I think the area is a bit smaller than it was on Christmas eve.  My husband and son have been through so much with my illness that I didn't want to scare them with my worries, so I sure appreciate all of you lending an ear.  I'll let you know how it turns out!

    Did you see your breast

    Did you see your breast surgeon and what did you find out Penny?  Praying for you!

    Hugs, Lex

  • disneyfan2008
    disneyfan2008 Member Posts: 6,583 Member
    I had lumpectomy in

    I had lumpectomy in 2008-about 3 mths ago i went to mammo & an ultra sound (only my 2nd one). Mammos were fine but they saw a SPOT on ultrasound. I had biopsy and said all is good-NO cancer but see a surgeon. I had another Lumpectomy (same side) 4 wks ago. GOOD news ( I thought may  help you a bit ) is "IT was scar tissue". TO ME it was worth the surgery-JUST TO KNOW!

     

    Denise

  • PennyJ
    PennyJ Member Posts: 31
    Will see surgeon and oncologist on Thursday

    Thank you ladies for your posts!  I have my regular 3 month check up on Thursday and couldn't get in with the plastic surgeon sooner, so I decided to wait for that.  In the meantime, the area I was worried about flattened out and became less red, so I'm thinking maybe a little inflammation or something like that?  I don't feel anything there except the thick tissue from the scar and the radiation.  I will let you know later on Thursday and meanwhile I will just keep my fingers crossed for scar tissue.  Thanks again!  Penny

  • PennyJ
    PennyJ Member Posts: 31

    I had lumpectomy in

    I had lumpectomy in 2008-about 3 mths ago i went to mammo & an ultra sound (only my 2nd one). Mammos were fine but they saw a SPOT on ultrasound. I had biopsy and said all is good-NO cancer but see a surgeon. I had another Lumpectomy (same side) 4 wks ago. GOOD news ( I thought may  help you a bit ) is "IT was scar tissue". TO ME it was worth the surgery-JUST TO KNOW!

     

    Denise

    So glad

    you got good news!  I completely agree that whatever you need to do for piece of mind is really worth it.

  • Noel
    Noel Member Posts: 3,095 Member
    PennyJ said:

    Will see surgeon and oncologist on Thursday

    Thank you ladies for your posts!  I have my regular 3 month check up on Thursday and couldn't get in with the plastic surgeon sooner, so I decided to wait for that.  In the meantime, the area I was worried about flattened out and became less red, so I'm thinking maybe a little inflammation or something like that?  I don't feel anything there except the thick tissue from the scar and the radiation.  I will let you know later on Thursday and meanwhile I will just keep my fingers crossed for scar tissue.  Thanks again!  Penny

    What did you find out Penny? 

    What did you find out Penny?  Praying for you!

  • PennyJ
    PennyJ Member Posts: 31
    Good news, phew!

    I saw my breast surgeon and the medical oncologist on Thursday and they both thought that it was probably an inflammed gland or pore and nothing to worry about.  I haven't gotten the lab results from the tumor markers yet, but everything else looked good and I have graduated to every 6 month visits!  That feels like a real acheivement.  Thank you all for your concern, it really helped.  Most of the time I am ok about the future and feel really lucky to be done w/ active treatment, but every now and then the risk of recurrence thing just gets really scarey for a little while.

  • survivorbc09
    survivorbc09 Member Posts: 4,374 Member
    PennyJ said:

    Good news, phew!

    I saw my breast surgeon and the medical oncologist on Thursday and they both thought that it was probably an inflammed gland or pore and nothing to worry about.  I haven't gotten the lab results from the tumor markers yet, but everything else looked good and I have graduated to every 6 month visits!  That feels like a real acheivement.  Thank you all for your concern, it really helped.  Most of the time I am ok about the future and feel really lucky to be done w/ active treatment, but every now and then the risk of recurrence thing just gets really scarey for a little while.

    Very good news! I am happy

    Very good news! I am happy for you!

    Hugs, Jan

  • Gabe N Abby Mom
    Gabe N Abby Mom Member Posts: 2,413
    PennyJ said:

    Good news, phew!

    I saw my breast surgeon and the medical oncologist on Thursday and they both thought that it was probably an inflammed gland or pore and nothing to worry about.  I haven't gotten the lab results from the tumor markers yet, but everything else looked good and I have graduated to every 6 month visits!  That feels like a real acheivement.  Thank you all for your concern, it really helped.  Most of the time I am ok about the future and feel really lucky to be done w/ active treatment, but every now and then the risk of recurrence thing just gets really scarey for a little while.

    Penny, I am so happy for you!

    Penny, I am so happy for you!   For future reference I have had local recurrences (yes, plural).  The first was resolved with an additional surgery.  The second current one, we are treating with chemo.  (There isn't enough tissue left to remove it surgically, and the area has already been radiated.)

    And a local recurrence isn't so bad.  Like the original dx, you deal with it one step at a time.  Again, I am really happy for you!

    Hugs,

    Linda

     

  • Janetgag
    Janetgag Member Posts: 1
    PennyJ said:

    Thank you!

    Thank you ladies so much for your support and kind thoughts!  I haven't heard back from the surgeon yet, but I think the area is a bit smaller than it was on Christmas eve.  My husband and son have been through so much with my illness that I didn't want to scare them with my worries, so I sure appreciate all of you lending an ear.  I'll let you know how it turns out!

    Local recurrence

     My comment was a little bit late but I thought it was still worth writing to you. I had recurrent invasive ductal carcinoma appear 2 cm below my mastectomy scar. I had it removed 3 1/2 years post mastectomy and now I am facing chemo and radiation. The new cancer was   On the abdominal wall. There is no other cancer showing up on the pet scan but my oncologist advises that there are microscopic cells that may be existing in my body. So yeah, I am facing chemo

    beginning July 11, 2019. I hope you are doing well . Please let us know how you were doing today. 

  • anniemshe
    anniemshe Member Posts: 91 Member
    Awesome

    That’s great news!! You need to have a celebration! Go out with family or friends. Whatever makes you happy. Stay positive 

  • jhshi
    jhshi Member Posts: 1
    weazer said:

    Once in awhile,

    From time oo time my scare under my arm gets real sore, and then it just goes away.

    Call Dr. tomorrow to set your mind at ease.

    Take care Karie

    sdfs

    thanks