Forum Discussion

Vietjennie's avatar
10 years ago

Lumpectomy and inverted nipple

I am recovering from lumpectomy done just over two weeks ago. The scar is healing well but in the words of my oncologist, I have a "huge shiner" on my breast, a large, colourful haematoma. Over the last couple of days I have been watching my nipple retract. I think it's an inverted nipple. It's very tender around the nipple area. I'm due to start radiotherapy in two weeks and am worried about the effect of radiotherapy on an inverted nipple. Does anyone have any experience of this? Can massage assist to coerce the nipple back to its former place?

5 Replies

  • More poking and prodding for you....  You are brave.. Just notice post date.  How is it all going?

    Carol

  • Hi Jennie, I just now, joined the group.  It sounds like you are onto it so I wanted to ask an unrelated question.  Seeing as your surgery was so recent, when did you take the dressings off?  I am at day 6 post op for 3 lesions (1 cancer, 1 cyst, 1 lymph node). The surgeon said 3 days, the nurse said 3 weeks so I thought maybe somewhere in between?

  • Hi pink sisters,

    It's such an awesome forum, I thought I would update my first post, in the hope it helps someone else along their own journey. I contacted my breast nurse who suggested I go back to see the surgeon which was great advice.

    The surgeon thought the swelling was a seroma and so sent me off to have it drained - ultrasound guided fine needle drain. The doc who did the draining did a great job but explained that it wasn't a seroma that was being drained, but the haemotoma. It was difficult to drain as it was 'thick like treacle' in the doc's words and draining through a fine needle was almost impossible. But he persisted and managed to drain about 50% of the treacle like blood from the haemotoma. Having had that removed, my breast was immediately lighter and over the next few days the swelling reduced and my nipple came back to say hello, which was very reassuring. Amazingly the big black shiner has almost disappeared, although the haemotoma remains. 

    I'm starting rads tomorrow, so hoping the radiation doesn't harden up the hard mass of the haemotoma even further. I'm hoping the rads nurses will have reassuring words for me tomorrow.

    Jennie

  • Thanks for the cuddle Trace. Spoke to breast care nurse today and back to surgeon tomorrow. Love the way everyone responds so fast and so caringly. Including you, Trace. 

    Thanks,

    jennie

  • Anonymous's avatar
    Anonymous

    Hi Jennie, sounds like "ouch" and vey uncomfortable for you. I would be contacting my breast care nurse, as they know what is normal post op from a lumpectomy. The inverted nipple sounds concerning, the breast care nurse can talk to your surgeon, in case it needs to be reviewed.

    Sending you a big cuddle, Trace xxxx