Changing colors after lumpectomy?

susie09
susie09 Member Posts: 2,930
edited March 2014 in Breast Cancer #1
Hi! I have been reading a lot of the posts on here for awhile, but, didn't post anything until yesterday. You share so much good advice and encourage us newbies.

I had a lumpectomy and have been noticing that the aerola at times changes colors. It kind of turns a whitish tannish color. I know that sounds strange, and, it is. It only lasts for a few seconds, but, it scared me. I didn't know what was going on. My incision is small, but, is kind of like a half circle next to the areola, not on it, but, next to it. My plastic surgeon did it that way because he said it would probably almost disappear eventually. I saw my oncologist and he said it is just healing and that is what is going on. He said there are so many nerve endings in the breast and especially right there, and, some were probably cut, that they are just starting to heal and it will eventually be fine. He said he has seen it a lot. He pushed on my arm and it does have the same effect. Put pressure on a place, then remove your finger and it is funny colored too, like my areola at times.

So my question is, has anyone here had this happen? And if so, how soon did it go away? It has only been a couple of months since the lumpectomy. Even though he said it happens a lot, I feel like I am the only one with this problem now.

Thank you! Susie

Comments

  • DianeBC
    DianeBC Member Posts: 3,881 Member
    #2
    Hi Susie and welcome. I had
    Hi Susie and welcome. I had a lumpectomy, but, I didn't or haven't had that happen yet. But, my incision wasn't near my aerola, like yours is. Your oncologist is probably right. It does make sense. It just takes time for us to heal and you just have to be patient.

    Good luck! Diane
  • outdoorgirl
    outdoorgirl Member Posts: 1,565
    #3
    Susie,
    Mine is the same and I had 2 different surgeries on it. I thought mine might have turned color after rads,but I could be wrong.Never really noticed it before treatments and that was a little over a year ago(sorry to say that mine is still that way when I first expose it to cool air). Hopefully it goes away with time,if not,I guess it's just another "war wound".
  • LRM216
    LRM216 Member Posts: 26
    #4
    Me Too!
    I had my lumpectomy which was a large "batwing" type on March 25, 2009 and re-excision for clean margin on 4/8. Although my scar which starts on the mid section of my right breast to nipple then up and around niple and back down to mid section of left side of breast to sternum is almots totally healed and invisible, I still get many sharp pains in the nipple area and have been told the same thing as you have. I only had a 1.2 cm IDC but it was 5 cms below nipple at 11:00 and had a large amount removed on the first and then second surgery, so alot has to heal in there, but the color change I have as well. Exactly as you have. I think we just have to take more time to heal since my original BS, another BS I have seen as a second opinion and my onc all say it's fine. Makes me feel better too to know I am not alone in this.

    Linda
  • susie09
    susie09 Member Posts: 2,930
    #5
    I am not glad that anyone
    I am not glad that anyone else has this, but, I was glad to read that I am not alone. I really thought I was until my oncologist said a LOT have it. He did reassure me that it will go away. He just said that it takes time, and, even said it could take a year or two. It just depends, but, for me to just be patient and to know that it will go away. So, I hope that it goes away soon for all of us. It just scared me bad when I first saw it. Thank you for posting so that I knew I wasn't alone. :)
  • Alexis F
    Alexis F Member Posts: 3,598
    #6
    LRM216 said:

    Me Too!
    I had my lumpectomy which was a large "batwing" type on March 25, 2009 and re-excision for clean margin on 4/8. Although my scar which starts on the mid section of my right breast to nipple then up and around niple and back down to mid section of left side of breast to sternum is almots totally healed and invisible, I still get many sharp pains in the nipple area and have been told the same thing as you have. I only had a 1.2 cm IDC but it was 5 cms below nipple at 11:00 and had a large amount removed on the first and then second surgery, so alot has to heal in there, but the color change I have as well. Exactly as you have. I think we just have to take more time to heal since my original BS, another BS I have seen as a second opinion and my onc all say it's fine. Makes me feel better too to know I am not alone in this.

    Linda

    I do too
    I also have this and thought I was alone, but, my radiation oncologist assured me I wasn't. He said it is very common and that it does go away. So, let's just hang in there and eventually, it will be gone.
  • cats_toy
    cats_toy Member Posts: 1,462 Member
    #7
    Susie
    I had a partial mastectomy, incision right along the right side of my nipple. It was a dark blue almost black for so long I finally asked the doc about it, they said it is the dye and bruising.

    =^..^=
  • susie09
    susie09 Member Posts: 2,930
    #8
    cats_toy said:

    Susie
    I had a partial mastectomy, incision right along the right side of my nipple. It was a dark blue almost black for so long I finally asked the doc about it, they said it is the dye and bruising.

    =^..^=

    Thank you cats_toy. I do
    Thank you cats_toy. I do feel better knowing it isn't something dangerous. I guess I just need to find some patience. I am just so sick of all of this that I guess, I just want to be normal again. :(
  • cats_toy
    cats_toy Member Posts: 1,462 Member
    #9
    susie09 said:

    Thank you cats_toy. I do
    Thank you cats_toy. I do feel better knowing it isn't something dangerous. I guess I just need to find some patience. I am just so sick of all of this that I guess, I just want to be normal again. :(

    Normal...
    you will find that you now have what everyone calls your "new normal". Nothing in your outlook will be the same. Adjust to the new normal and embrace it is all I can say. Also, have your doc keep an eye on the color changes, then you will feel more secure. Just consider part of your new normal as being a bc survivor, that is what the rest of us do.
    Take care and keep us posted on your recovery.
    Cat
  • survivorbc09
    survivorbc09 Member Posts: 4,374 Member
    #10
    cats_toy said:

    Normal...
    you will find that you now have what everyone calls your "new normal". Nothing in your outlook will be the same. Adjust to the new normal and embrace it is all I can say. Also, have your doc keep an eye on the color changes, then you will feel more secure. Just consider part of your new normal as being a bc survivor, that is what the rest of us do.
    Take care and keep us posted on your recovery.
    Cat

    I am sure that everything
    I am sure that everything will be fine Susie. You just have to give it time like your doctor said. I know it is hard, but, you can do it. Good luck and keep us posted.
  • Noel
    Noel Member Posts: 3,095 Member
    #11
    survivorbc09 said:

    I am sure that everything
    I am sure that everything will be fine Susie. You just have to give it time like your doctor said. I know it is hard, but, you can do it. Good luck and keep us posted.

    Hi Susie! I don't have
    Hi Susie! I don't have that, but, I still have some redness where the boosters were given.

    But, my rads oncologist said that is normal too. So, I guess there are several after g i f

    t s that we are left with. Good luck to you!
  • susie09
    susie09 Member Posts: 2,930
    #12
    Noel said:

    Hi Susie! I don't have
    Hi Susie! I don't have that, but, I still have some redness where the boosters were given.

    But, my rads oncologist said that is normal too. So, I guess there are several after g i f

    t s that we are left with. Good luck to you!

    Thanks everyone! Just glad
    Thanks everyone! Just glad to know that I wasn't the only one. I know it will go away, but, I just thought it was just me that had it.
  • DianeBC
    DianeBC Member Posts: 3,881 Member
    #13
    susie09 said:

    Thanks everyone! Just glad
    Thanks everyone! Just glad to know that I wasn't the only one. I know it will go away, but, I just thought it was just me that had it.

    I still have some bruising.
    I still have some bruising. I thought it would be gone by now. And, some pain. I wonder when that goes away. And, I am getting red from rads. :(
  • Akiss4me
    Akiss4me Member Posts: 2,188
    #14
    DianeBC said:

    I still have some bruising.
    I still have some bruising. I thought it would be gone by now. And, some pain. I wonder when that goes away. And, I am getting red from rads. :(

    Hey Diane...
    Sorry to hear you are getting red from rads. How many treatments have you had and how many more to go? :) Pammy

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