Hi, think I'm just looking for some reassurance. Tomorrow I have an ultrasound on my left breast as the nipple has inverted ( it started sinking inward and now is virtually a closed slit) during the last month. It's very sore but no discharge. Skin is a bit puckered around the areola. There is also a prominent vein. It's the same breast that I had a WLE on in July 2017 ( stage 3 oestrogen/her2+). I can't feel a lump but my breast is very hard after surgery and radiation so I find self examination quite difficult. I do feel there's a bit of swelling as my bras feel uncomfortable and I have more of that strange heaviness feeling that I know is normal after WLE.
I'm trying to stay calm, and wondering if these changes can be down to past treatment? Is it really possible that after 6 months chemo, surgery, radiation, herceptin and 2 years into tamoxifen that I could have cancer? If I have to go through treatment again I will, but today the nerves have hit. I haven't told anyone close to me as I don't want them to worry. My mum has just had a mastectomy and still needs radiation, her diagnosis came within a few months of me finishing herceptin ( no genetic link). Has anyone else had these types of late post-treatment symptoms?
Thankyou so much.
Hi
I guess no-one can give you the reassurance that you want and to calm your nerves, but wanted to pop on and wish you the very best of luck for tomorrow.
When I went for my first ever mammogram, I read all the literature and it said that being my first one it might be that 'they don't know your breasts so it isn't unusual to get a callback" so having had a red mark by my nipple and a couple of raised areas on my right breast for many years, I wasn't in the least bit concerned when I got a letter saying to attend the breast clinic. When I got there, they started discussing my LEFT breast and said they were "very concerned by what they had found" and proceeded to do all the tests and biopsies etc. I knew then that I had cancer in my left breast before I even saw the breast surgeon. I was "only" ER+ for the tumor and ER/PR- for the 2 areas of DCIS, so didn't have chemo. On Friday I had the results of my 2 year annual and it was fine. But my right breast still has the red mark and the odd raised areas on my nipple.
My left breast has settled into a strange shape (I had 8cm removed), but some days it still hurts and my bra can feel tight , the nipple does change - but not a pronounced change such as you are describing. Whenever I am asked if there are any changes that I've noticed, I always say that I haven't a clue as I really don't know what the heck I would be looking for in it. I didn't even know there was a problem in the first place, so how I would know now it's all misshapen and a random shape - Heaven only knows how we are supposed to check.
I guess what I'm trying to say is I didn't have as much treatment as you but take the tablets and had radiation and even they do seem to affect my breast shape, swelling, dull aches every now and again 2 years down the line. I wonder if it is caused by the AI's, so I sincerely hope that the changes you have are down to your treatment and will keep my fingers very firmly crossed for you tomorrow.
Kindest wishes,
