I saw my surgeon for my biannual check up. I had a single mastectomy in 2015. I almost got away with the all clear but happened to mention again about a bony lump almost in the center of my chest but back to the left a bit. It often aches and when I move my arm a lot, bruises show up over the lump as its only a thin layer of skin above the bone. I asked soon after the surgery about it and he said it was just the breast bone but this seems higher than the sternum. Anyway, he has booked me in for a CT scan to check it out as the ultrasounds and xrays aren't picking it up. Trust me to be quirky. Could it be a rib broken during surgery or something?

Unlikely to be a rib brokem during surgery as it takes quite a bit of force to snap a rib and you would have had pain on breathing for weeks. It does seem unusual though. Maybe some arthritis. Wondering if it is an internal stitch which irritates things and has formed scar tissue around it. Was he able to feel the lump?

I doubt its sinister but if I was to have some sort of surgery again, maybe they could smooth the bone down or something? Seeing surgeon for the test results in a fortnight. I have two years left of checking for recurrence so might as well be properly sure of everything before then.

I found a round hard lump as I finally got my long term, very large seroma to shrink. Off to my surgeon. He didn't know what it was either, so an ultrascan. Turned out I had a seroma within the seroma! The body can do some weird stuff. Hope it all resolves well.

I hope it's something easily fixed as there's enough to deal with without having extra pain involved. I have not yet worked out how I can be numb in an area and yet get pain from wearing a bra too long. Bloody breast cancer.

Oh Brenda that sucks! Where do they get off with treating you with that little respect? We all understand that doctors get held up. Infuriating as it is we know the person in front of us could be getting the worst news of their life. But how hard is it to make a courtesy phone call, or send an email or text to say you won't be seeing who you actually made your appointment to see? Grrr. That grinds my gears. Do something nice for yourself today, and try to focus on the good news. Big hug, Kate

Does anyone else have a hard lumpy bit in the chest after a mastectomy?

primek
Member
7 years ago
I guess we have to remember that Drs run behind usually as patients before us might have complex health issues needing extra time. I know if we were that patient we wouldn't be happy with tbe Dr saying...sorry your 15 minutes are up. It's frustrating when waiting though.

Good news its only a rib. I guess options might be a bit of muscle transferred over the area. But that would take another appointment of course.
Sister
Member
7 years ago
It's bloody arrogance! For some reason, doctors think there time is worth so much more than their customers - and that's what we are. If you behaved that way in most areas of customer service you would be out the door.

Glad to hear that it was okay though, Brenda.
arpie
Member
7 years ago
oh BUGGER, Brenda! Good news, sort of, but you will still have the pain?? Did they offer assistance re the pain & discomfort? What if the skin breaks thru??

DOUBLE bugger about the big wait and the loss of the fish sale! :( I hope they take your complaint seriously! That is disgraceful that you didn't even see your own surgeon & weren't advised prior so that you could change the date!! I hope you give the surgeon a blast too ..... tho it may have been beyond his control if an emergency had come up?

Take care my friend xxxx
kmakm
Member
7 years ago
Oh Brenda that sucks! Where do they get off with treating you with that little respect? We all understand that doctors get held up. Infuriating as it is we know the person in front of us could be getting the worst news of their life. But how hard is it to make a courtesy phone call, or send an email or text to say you won't be seeing who you actually made your appointment to see? Grrr. That grinds my gears. Do something nice for yourself today, and try to focus on the good news. Big hug, Kate
Brenda5
Member
7 years ago
I waited two hours to see the surgeon and then it wasn't him it was his lackey. My anxiety and PTSD went thru the roof. I have lodged an online complaint. It's just not good enough. I lost a $350 fish sale as the buyer went an hour back home to Bundaberg and got sick of waiting for me. All that to find out its a rib bone that is slightly thicker and coverage of skin is 35 mm on the breast side but only 3 mm on the mastectomy side and that's why it hurts to move my arm a lot and it bruises easily and I get chest chills as there is absolutely no padding. Thanks for nothing Qld health.
Sister
Member
7 years ago
I hope it's something easily fixed as there's enough to deal with without having extra pain involved. I have not yet worked out how I can be numb in an area and yet get pain from wearing a bra too long. Bloody breast cancer.
Brenda5
Member
7 years ago
I doubt its sinister but if I was to have some sort of surgery again, maybe they could smooth the bone down or something? Seeing surgeon for the test results in a fortnight. I have two years left of checking for recurrence so might as well be properly sure of everything before then.
Anonymous
7 years ago
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primek
Member
7 years ago
It just look lie rib cage to me. Maybe the bruising happens as less protection from it, as you said the coverage is thin. Having a scan will help put your mind at ease.
arpie
Member
7 years ago
That's a bugger @Brenda5 So it has been there ever since the surgery? ..... I hope the scans can show it just as scar tissue. As @primek said - you'd really know if it was a broken rib (Keith's was excruciating pain for 3 months - 3 calls to the ambos as well!)

Something must have just come adrift, I reckon, from the surgery & is maybe building up calcification or something? Thinking of you! xxxx

This bloody disease just keeps on giving! :(