Found indentation when I raise my arm...

JuJuBeez
JuJuBeez Member Posts: 332
in Breast Cancer #1
A couple of weeks ago, I noticed an indentation in the same side as my lumpectomy. My lumpectomy scar is about 12:00, the indentation is probably 3:00. It's about an inch long, and the area is numb. Not tingly-numb, just numb. I do have an appointment for an MRI on Thursday so they can check it out. As soon as they called me with the appointment, I started to get anxious. I waited two weeks to even say anything because my heart dropped to my stomach when I saw it. I've always heard that indentations are bad. And I tend to be more of a pessimist with these things lately.

Has anyone else had anything like this show up? I'm just curious. My friend told me I am just deflating because I've lost a size, and she is going to hook me up to her bicycle pump. Hey, what are friends for, huh? :-)

Anyway, I've just been really nervous about this, and I'm sure it's nothing. I guess I need my pink support team. Any excuse to get on the bus and hoot 'n holler!

Thanks, Ladies.
Julie

Comments

  • mom62
    mom62 Member Posts: 604 Member
    #2
    Indentation
    Did you have any lymph nodes taken out it that area? If so, the fact it is numb could be from the nerves being cut when they do this. I have had this from day one. I don't have an indentation but try not to stress out until you have results. Sending hugs your way.

    Terry
  • CypressCynthia
    CypressCynthia Member Posts: 4,014 Member
    #3
    I can't speak to the
    I can't speak to the indendation (and it's always good to be vigilant and check these things out), because I had mastectomies (first one then the other).

    I have had multiple surgeries over the years and I find that, wherever I have been cut, I am numb. So I would say that numbness tends to be normal after any surgery.

    I'm hoping the indendation is just normal scarring. Keep us posted!!
  • mamolady
    mamolady Member Posts: 796 Member
    #4
    scar tissue
    Scar Tissue has a life of its own. Good to check it out, but don't panic till the doctor tells you to.

    Good Luck,
    Cindy
  • skipper54
    skipper54 Member Posts: 936 Member
    #5
    CypressCynthia said:

    I can't speak to the
    I can't speak to the indendation (and it's always good to be vigilant and check these things out), because I had mastectomies (first one then the other).

    I have had multiple surgeries over the years and I find that, wherever I have been cut, I am numb. So I would say that numbness tends to be normal after any surgery.

    I'm hoping the indendation is just normal scarring. Keep us posted!!

    no details
    just sending hugs and prayers!
  • laughs_a_lot
    laughs_a_lot Member Posts: 1,368 Member
    #6
    A thought.
    It is not the same as I went through but here's an idea. I felt what I thought was another lump at the bottom of the same breast a few weeks after my lumpectomy. I mentioned this on the consult to the chemo doc but he kind of had an agenda all his own. However, when I found this supposed lump I immediately called the surgeon's office and set up an appointment. It was the day after the chemo doctor so I felt safe that one of the two would get to the bottom of it. I am kinda glad the surgeon was the one to answer about this. Here was my thinking at the time. The surgeon has been on the inside of that breast, so he would naturally be the one to know if he had to do any unusual re arrangement of tissues durring my surgery. When he checked it out, it turned out to be an inflamed blood vessel from the surgery. I probably would not have been able to believe that answer from the chemo doctor but the surgeon I could beleive it from him. He probably has seen this before with other patients as we tend to jump all over abnormalities once we have gotten cancer. So if you are not too far out from surgery I would call your surgeon's office.
  • TraciInLA
    TraciInLA Member Posts: 1,994 Member
    #7
    laughs_a_lot said:

    A thought.
    It is not the same as I went through but here's an idea. I felt what I thought was another lump at the bottom of the same breast a few weeks after my lumpectomy. I mentioned this on the consult to the chemo doc but he kind of had an agenda all his own. However, when I found this supposed lump I immediately called the surgeon's office and set up an appointment. It was the day after the chemo doctor so I felt safe that one of the two would get to the bottom of it. I am kinda glad the surgeon was the one to answer about this. Here was my thinking at the time. The surgeon has been on the inside of that breast, so he would naturally be the one to know if he had to do any unusual re arrangement of tissues durring my surgery. When he checked it out, it turned out to be an inflamed blood vessel from the surgery. I probably would not have been able to believe that answer from the chemo doctor but the surgeon I could beleive it from him. He probably has seen this before with other patients as we tend to jump all over abnormalities once we have gotten cancer. So if you are not too far out from surgery I would call your surgeon's office.

    Agree with Cindy - could be just scar tissue
    Not time to panic yet, Julie!

    I'm glad you're getting it checked out, but I also agree with Cindy that scar tissue has a life of its own.

    I had lumpectomies on both sides -- everything looked great until I did radiation. One day during radiation, I lifted my right arm, and there was this LARGE dimpling/indentation on the right side -- it's almost like my right breast twists. Put my arm down, everything looks perfectly normal. Raise it up, does it again.

    Of course I ran to my surgeon, who called it "retraction" and said it's a normal effect of scar tissue. He thought it might ease up a little after radiation, but I've been out of treatment nearly 18 months now, and it seems to be permanent. He checks it carefully every time I see him, and is still not concerned, other than cosmetically.

    I call it my "party trick" -- though no, I've never been drunk enough to actually rip off my shirt at a party and demonstrate it!

    Traci
  • Cinkal
    Cinkal Member Posts: 161
    #8
    Hi Julie. I am praying
    Hi Julie. I am praying everything is ok and it is nothing of concern. I am sure your anxiety level is high right now. Waiting for results is nerve racking. Good luck with your MRI. I will be praying for positive results.

    Hugs
    Cindy
  • JuJuBeez
    JuJuBeez Member Posts: 332
    #9
    Cinkal said:

    Hi Julie. I am praying
    Hi Julie. I am praying everything is ok and it is nothing of concern. I am sure your anxiety level is high right now. Waiting for results is nerve racking. Good luck with your MRI. I will be praying for positive results.

    Hugs
    Cindy

    thanks...
    Thanks, Ladies. I have been more nervous about this than I was waiting for the original biopsy results. I thought then there was no way I could have cancer. Even the dr said I had about a 25% chance it was cancer. So now I know better, I'm worried. And my follow-up isn't until 6/30.

    Cindy, are you going to come to Dad's party? I'd sure love to see you! Erin, Abby, and Eric would have a good time together! My cousin David has a 9 yr old daughter and an 11 yr old son, so there will be plenty of kids to hang out with.
  • Alexis F
    Alexis F Member Posts: 3,598
    #10
    skipper54 said:

    no details
    just sending hugs and prayers!

    Prayers and hugs for you
    Prayers and hugs for you today Julie!


    Lex
  • sbmly53
    sbmly53 Member Posts: 1,522
    #11
    Julie,
    I've been waiting for an update. How are you? Did you get your MRI results?

    Sue
  • sinee
    sinee Member Posts: 196 Member
    #12
    dent under arm
    Really can be quit common if you had lymph nodes removed, and losing weight would make it more pronounced for sure.
    Take it easy, it is good to check it out, but sounds perfectly normal. Is it close to a scare? And I love your friend with the
    bicycle pump....don't forget to Breath...keep us posted.
  • JuJuBeez
    JuJuBeez Member Posts: 332
    #13
    sinee said:

    dent under arm
    Really can be quit common if you had lymph nodes removed, and losing weight would make it more pronounced for sure.
    Take it easy, it is good to check it out, but sounds perfectly normal. Is it close to a scare? And I love your friend with the
    bicycle pump....don't forget to Breath...keep us posted.

    Doc said MRI was clear. He
    Doc said MRI was clear. He said it was scar tissue most likely from radiation. He did say it's more common with the longer rad treatments. I had 2x/day for 5 days, and it's not as common. He is going to make a note of it because I'm in the trial study for effects of partial-breast radiation 2x/day for 5 days.

    I'm VERY relieved. I can't believe how worked up I got over this. My BP was up 20 pts on the bottom number. Calgon, take me away! :-)

    Thanks, Ladies for checking on me!

    xoxo
  • mamolady
    mamolady Member Posts: 796 Member
    #14
    JuJuBeez said:

    Doc said MRI was clear. He
    Doc said MRI was clear. He said it was scar tissue most likely from radiation. He did say it's more common with the longer rad treatments. I had 2x/day for 5 days, and it's not as common. He is going to make a note of it because I'm in the trial study for effects of partial-breast radiation 2x/day for 5 days.

    I'm VERY relieved. I can't believe how worked up I got over this. My BP was up 20 pts on the bottom number. Calgon, take me away! :-)

    Thanks, Ladies for checking on me!

    xoxo

    Great news
    I am really glad it was just scar tissue!!
    C

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