Is One Third Of Breast Still Quite Hard/Firm 3 Weeks After Lumpectomy, Normal?

Hi Dedalus

I can't help with your question but noticed that you hadn't had a response yet. By replying to you it will 'bump' your post back to the top of the first page where it'll be more easily seen.

If you're at all worried then please don't hesitate to give your BCN a call.

x

Hi Dedalus, I meant to reply before, glad latchbrook has bumped it up. I hesitated because it’s so hard to say what is ‘normal’ as we each have variations in terms of tumour size, position, depth etc, so it’s hard to generalise. Which of course you know. And it’s a while ago for me so can’t remember details and time frames that accurately! From what I recall, I did have a sizeable area of solid boob for many weeks after the lumpectomy. Like your wife, I didn’t have bad pain but it was definitely ‘sensitive’ for ages, especially the nipple. And it felt as if there was a big stone inside it so I was wary of certain movements. The scar size also varies hugely and may be a factor. I have read one person’s description here of a 1 and a half inch scar, while mine is the length of my index finger plus knuckle! But I have just the one long scar instead of 2 separate ones, as the surgeon used the same incision to get the beast and the sentinel nodes out. I also had a huge haematoma which took a good while to disperse itself, and provided quite the rainbow effect along with the blue dye. So I had various shades of black, blue, red and yellow over the post op weeks. It definitely felt far from ‘healed’ for weeks, I remember being glad that I had a 10 week gap between op and rads, even though the wait was a source of anxiety in itself. In the end I think it was better in my case to have had the longer healing time. 

Sorry that’s a very long winded way of saying that it sounds like I had a similar post op experience to your wife, but can’t offer such detail. I don’t want to provide false reassurance though so would echo latchbrook’s advice to contact the breast clinic or GP if your wife feels she needs a medical opinion. And definitely if it seems like it could be an infection. I had several post op visits to the clinic because of the haematoma and it was so helpful to have that easy access follow up. It’s so different in these horrible COVID times. But that shouldn’t stop you phoning them, they’re still there! Wishing you both well, love and hugs, HFxx

Hi Dedalus,

First of all let me say that each of us reacts in different ways ,so it is hard to generalise.I too had a lumpectomy just over 3 weeks ago and some parts of my breast are firmer than others but I wouldn't describe them as firm /hard.However  the firmer ares are a little more so in the evening I think. Bruising colours and  are still apparent in some parts but I do bruise easily. I had lumpectomy in other breast

21 or so years ago and was told then by the breast care nurse that the tissues are moved about a bit in the remaining breast tissue to give a better shape post op. I have no idea if this is common practice now.

I hope that you have been in touch with your breast nurse or GP by now as they will be able to advise you best as they know all your details. I wish you all the best on this journey and can assure you that little steps pay dividends in the end. xxxx

Thanks Latchbrook for the 'bump up' and Happy Feet and Kwissy for taking the time to provide really helpful replies.

There are so many similarities to my wife's situation, in both your replies.

Like you HF my wife did have a single long incision, of about 10cms through which both the lump and nodes were excised.  I have since rooted around and found in various posts on sites, that there seems to be a correlation with this method and the prevalence of haematomas.  Your description of the pain and sensitivity is very similar.

Kwissy as per your previous experience the surgeon did say that he had moved tissue around inside her breast to assist with a better cosmetic appearance.  What drug(s) were you on after your first lumpectomy?  I am assuming it was Tamoxifen?  If so, how did you find it?

Irrespective of all the bruising, swelling, hardness, and redness we were not sure if this was the post-surgery norm and held off contacting the BC nurse.  When we did leave a message for the BC nurse, there was a wait for a reply, hence we posted on the MM site.  Due to COVID we had to send photos and they concluded it was a largish haematoma.  They did not want to aspirate due to a potential risk of infection.  My wife was told to let her body do the work of clearing the haematoma, and to make further contact if things deteriorate.

Although we were concerned about the haematoma we were given a boost, because the BC nurse also had my wife's pathology results to hand, and they were better than we feared.  There was no LVI or node involvement.  Now we have a longer than usual wait for radiotherapy and subsequent drug regime, once again due to COVID.  Perhaps a longer wait would be necessary anyway due to the haematoma having to be absorbed.

We have now moved onto the next conundrum of type of radiotherapy and/or drug regime.  My wife is very fearful over the drugs, particularly, but not solely due to a significant inherited eye condition for which she has had fairly recent surgery in both eyes.  They all appear to have a negative effect on the eyes, but at the moment and after much research, she is favouring Tamoxifen for this and a number of reasons.  At the moment, she feels she is not brave enough to contemplate no drug regime.  Having also read much of the US oncologist, Avrum Bluming's compelling book, she considers that Tamoxifen may be a better option for her.

Wishing you all the best.

D xxx

Hi Dedalus, glad you have had advice from the BC nurse and good news re the pathology results! They left my haematoma alone too, I think current practice is to leave well alone, mine sorted itself out even if it was a ‘slow but sure’ progress rather than anything dramatic. Re the drugs, interestingly in my Maggie’s Centre ear acupuncture group which I attended for a number of weeks just before lockdown, I was the 1 out of 3 on Anastrozole, the other 2 were on tamoxifen. We were all post menopausal and similar in age (though I was the oldest). They had other issues (not discussed in detail) which meant they were recommended tamoxifen instead of AIs. So it’s clearly not that unusual. Have you an oncology appointment coming up? Good luck with it all, HFxx

Hi Dedalus,

I'm so glad that the results were good when you contacted the breast care nurse and that she was able to give advice about the haematoma.The body will gradually reabsorb the haematoma.

Yes I did have Tamoxifen but also Anastrazole as I was on the ATAC trial  (Anastrazole,Tamoxifen Alone or Combined) for 10 years post op.So, when I was told I had been on both drugs at the same time this explained (I thought) the amount of hot flushes etc that I had.But , and it is a big but I am still here 21 and a half years later!! Who knows if I would be if my medication had been different? While the side effects may not be pleasant at the time,they in conjunction with surgery and radiotherapy were life saving I feel.

All I can suggest is to ask questions when you see your surgeon / oncologist and if you feel it necessay seek a second opinion so that you feel confident to go ahead with the proposed treatment. Maybe speak to theMacmillan  excellent support team too,they have a lot of information to hand.

Hope it all settles down and you become more comfortable as time goes on.xxx

Thanks again HF1 and Kwissy for the additional information.

My wife hasn't received an oncology appointment yet, but she has been told it will be a telephone one.

Best wishes.

D xx