Sore breasts post treatments (lumpectomy)
Hi guys had my first year mammogram February 2nd 2021 all clear thankfully Apparently I have skin thickening post radiation and quite a bit of scaring etc but I was wondering does anyone still have tenderness in their Breast 9 months post surgery my dog jumped on me the other day and landed hard on my operated breast which really hurt will they ever feel normal again? or is this part of the new normal I also find if I stop stretching my arm for a few days my armpit feels tight again
One year post surgery
I had a lumpectomy and one node removed February 2020, node all clear and good margins taken from lumpectomy, then radiation for three weeks. I have an appointment with my oncologist in 2 weeks and saw a surgeon ( not mine, I’m public so whoever was on I suppose) in December. I had to ask him if I was going to need to have a mammogram before seeing the oncologist. Is it normal to have a mammogram one year after surgery?
Do I or don’t I ?
I am 66 yes old - 3 years post lumpectomy and radiation Each review I’ve had means painful mammograms ( due to dense breasts) and ultra sounds - finishing off with a mammogram biopsy - yes at every review ! I’ve just had my third year review with the inevitable biopsy - results came back today as negative So here I am - emotionally spent - if it was just the mammogram and u/s then I could deal with that but it’s the lonely humiliating experience of the mammogram biopsy and the wait for results - I can’t explain to anyone who has not experienced the impact of a cancer diagnosis - then treatment and the emotion that you go through during the reviews I want to focus on life not think every time there is pain - my mind starts thinking and while I can bring my mind into the now - this is taking it’s toll i want to have a mastectomy - I need to do something positive - take control of this monster and be boss of it - not it of me My daughter is also on this journey - I know what to expect - I don’t need or want reconstruction - I want peace My husband thinks I’m nuts going down this road - how else do I find this peace ?
Contrast enhanced mammography
Another year down and happily another clear scan. My surgeon said that from next year Peter Mac are doing contrast enhanced mammograms where they pop an iv in, inject the dye then take the pics. Royal Melbourne has been doing it so PM have decided to try it too. Done in conjuction with tomosynthesis it gives a far clearer picture of any early stage breast cancers that can sometimes be missed particularly if you have dense breast tissue, like me. Also it can lessen the need for further ultrasounds, MRIs and biopsies. Don't know whether anyone here has had one yet? If you want to know more there are several good sites on the net. I looked at www.breastimagingvictoria.com.au It gave a pretty good overview.
So ... I received a Breastscreen NSW reminder for my 2 yearly mammogram!
Who else has received their Mammogram Reminder after being diagnosed & treated? Last week, I was a bit surprised to receive a reminder to have my 2 yearly mammogram as I thought there might be some sort of communication between the various health professionals & the organisation .... then again - why WOULD they know about my ILC BC? So far, I've received a written letter, an email & an SMS to my mobile phone - so they are really keen to get me back!! I thought a letter explaining why I wouldn't be going back would be in order. This is what I wrote. I'll let you know if I get a reply!! Hi guys, I’ve received my reminder for a mammogram, but I was diagnosed with invasive lobular cancer 6 months after my previous mammogram, which wasn’t picked up by it. There is no breast cancer (or any cancer) in my family, so this was (and still is) a real shock to me. I’ve had surgery (Jan 2018) and also radiation and am now on hormone tablets for the next 5 years+. Apparently I have dense breast tissue, but I wasn’t advised of this by Breastscreen NSW and that it would be beneficial to have an ultrasound for earlier and better detection rates. Breast Screen Western Australia advises their clients with dense breast tissue to do this. It is time for Breastscreen NSW to do the same. I will be having yearly mammograms and ultrasounds as a part of my ongoing breast cancer management, so would request that you remove my name from your reminder lists. I only hope that I am not one of the 30% who then randomly go on to develop metastasised/Stage 4 breast cancer, irrelevant of the ‘good outcome’ of my surgery, Rads and tabs. It really is a lottery. Much more research is needed in this area, to determine WHO will get Stage 4 and WHY? Tissue and bloods should be taken from all having surgery, to provide material for researchers to work with! I would be interested if a radiographer could take a closer look at my last mammograms with Breastscreen NSW in 2017 ... to see if, in hindsight, anything could be detected on them, now that we know it was there all along? It was in my right breast. What do you reckon? Not too rude??
Re tests
Just wondering if anyone has had any tests after chemo and radiation has finished. I am TNBC, my oncologist said that there is only mammogram/ultra sound follow up. I am 64yrs old she said no to removing ovaries as it's not oestrogen feed cancer. I had bone and ct scan before lumpectomy September 2018 nothing since. I am grateful for any feed back.Xxx
Does anyone else have a hard lumpy bit in the chest after a mastectomy?
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?
All clear after a false start
15 Oct had my mammogram and ultrasound 3 yrs exactly to the day after the first ones that diagnosed me. Radiographer told me the Radiologist found something on the mammogram and they had to redo the ultrasound. In the end they re-did the ultrasound 3 times before I finally got the all clear. I was surprisingly calm. I guess a part of me believes that one day BC will come back and I am ready for that. But for now I am celebrating another year of all clear. Also, it's good to know they are so thorough. Now counting down the days until my major Heller Myotomy surgery for Achalasia on 30 Nov. Can't exactly say I am looking forward to my new stomach and oesophagus, but it will be so good to be able to eat solid food again.
Lumps n bumps
quick question which is probably irrelevant but for moving forward. If I have lumps that pop up again is my go first course of action or breast care nurse at hospital? Asking generallybut I have another lump which might be a cyst ? Anyway have gp appointment in the morning but nervous as all f*** right now.
Fine needle biopsy suggested 3 years past original treatment mascetomy side
hi all I haven't been on here for a couple of years. I'm 3 years to the day of original diagnosis, lumpectomy then mascetomy expander chemo radio. At my annual 6 month ultrasound/ bloods a what they call suspicious newly found lump has been found only small in mascetomy and node clearance side - first my oncologist said don't worry looks like possibly a cyst then he consulted with original bc surgeon who suggested fine needle. I'm totally freaked out. After all the treatments and trying to return to work neuropathy finally got the better of me. I'm just wondering my oncologist said up to me to biopsy or to wait 3 months have another ultrasound. Over the past 3 years I've had 3 cysts turn up in remaining breast that was suggested to do biopsy but I said no and now they are smaller and not suspicious I'm quietly terrified that this is happening again and I never thought it could reoccur in totally removed side - thoughts / experiences appreciated hugs