Recurrence?

Hi E G hoping so sorry you are going through this again. I have had something similar.  I had a lumpectomy almost a year ago, followed by radiotherapy and tamoxifen..  

A couple of months ago I contacted my surgeon about some pain in the breast that had cancer so I went in for mammograms and then ultrasound.  They found some areas of concern which were all less than 1mm in size.  They spent ages trying to get a biopsy sample and eventually did.  Come results day I was told that the pathologist couldn't find the part of the biopsy that was suspicious, so I went back, they spent ages trying to take another sample and again the pathologist couldn't find it to examine it.  So I was told there was nothing more we can do for now except keep an eye on it but that they felt confident that it was post surgery or post radiotherapy changes. 

So it is possible that it can be post surgery and radiotherapy changes -  I can't be completely certain that it is in my case but it seems like it is something that can happen and the boob that had radiotherapy definitely feels different to the other one.

Hope it turns out to be nothing for you to worry about.

I found a lump near my scar and went to breast clinic to have it checked, sent for uttrasound and they were able to tell me that it was just scar tissue. However, a biopsy is going to tell you definitively and it may just be a matter of different policies in different places why you had a biopsy and I didn't.

They said to me that the healing can take a very long time to settle (my op was in Feb) and that radiotherapy can make changes that last years.

It is hard not to worry but I also had chemo, clear margins and no lymph node involvement. On balance, it seems more likely that your lump will be scar tissue than anything else given how good your outcome was post-surgery so try not to worry too much.

Do you know when you will get the biopsy results?

Thanks for yoir reply.  My mind is just working overtime.  Why couldnt they tell me without biopsy that its just scar tissue.  Did yours feel like round hard lump?  This is making me feel so sick and anxious.  Results are on 31 December.  Cant believe ive got to fsce another Christmas out of my mind with worry.  I only had a clear mammogram 8 weeks ago x

Hi E G hoping, I  had a round very hard lump in my mastectomy scar 7 years post op. Ultrasound was encouraging as it looked like a cyst. The surgeon wanted to be sure, so excised it under local, just before my wedding. I had to wait until after the wedding to find out the results! It was OK, radiation necrosis producing a cyst. I was very grateful to the surgeon for acting so quickly, and it did not spoil the wedding. Radiotherapy can cause a lot of after effects even a long time afterwards. Good luck xx

Thanka for your reply.  Im worrried as mine isnt  a cyst.  The radiogrepher just said hopefully post surgery and radiation change.  Concerned they couldnt tell me for definite that its scar tissue and not a recurrence of cancer.

E G hoping it is most likely post radiation scar tissue, but of course you won’t stop worrying till you have the results. Horrible over Christmas, sending hugs xx

Hello, i had my lumpectomy end of May this year and 5 x sessions radiotherapy.  Margins clear and nothing in sentinel nodes. For 2 months after I just got on with my life with the attitude that im cancer free. Only now 8m getting pains under my armpit in side that had cancer. Pain spread to my shoulder blades...no idea what ot is but its hit me like a brick wall ...the concern ot will come back will never go away. I'm on Letrozole . Anyway went back to consultant last Friday as also been getting tingly fingers hands and arms..like mild pins a.d needles. Consultant said might be after effects of radiotherapy but now looked up side effects of Letrozole amd rare side effects are tingles in hands etc. So I stopped taking but I know I will have to restart and carry on for 5 years min. 

Consultant has referred me for CT scan...going tomorrow.  Xmas Eve. Wonder why a CT scan.  Might be that they were so busy, they didn't have time to do so easier to send me off for scan. Dont know what to think. Worse thing is that im putting on a positive front to everyone and being dismissive of the pain because as far as everyone is concerned I've beaten cancer ....I really hope thats the case. Sorry for long monologue

Don't apologise TJC17 this is what this forum is for, for us to vent, laugh, cry, share and be honest especially when we are hiding so much from our loved ones.

I'm like you, I lead everyone to believe that it's gone and I'm cancer free so nothing to worry about but of course that's not strictly true as we know it can come back at any time and every change or pain is always a cause for worry that like you I keep to myself.

Chances are that we are cancer free and will stay that way but once bitten twice shy, so it's normal that we will always worry.

I still have some pain in my arm and breast after all this time and was told that it's the effects of radiotherapy.  No tingling but I did get a funny cold sensation in my arm and some swelling and I know the swelling can happen after lymph nodes are removed.  Swelling gone now and it was only minor.

They are probably giving you a CT scan just to be safe because when you've had cancer once doctors tend to be more cautious and investigate everything just to be sure.  I had a post viral thyroid problem and my doctor sent me for an ultrasound of my thyroid straight away and only because of the breast cancer.  She told me that if I hadn't had cancer they would have done nothing and waited a few weeks first to see if it would go back to normal.

Hope all goes well with your CT scan, it will probably all be fine and they are just being overly cautious. Such a shame it's happening over the Christmas holidays but better safe than sorry.  Hope you have a great Christmas x

I forgot to say that I asked the lady who discharged me after radiotherapy about the chances of cancer coming back and she said for the vast majority of us it doesn't, it only seems common to have it return because those are the stories that are reported and written about so those are the stories we are aware of.  For all those who stay cancer free they go on to live their lives and it's not written about because it's not news. 

 maybe ask pharmacist for different brand of your tablet if that's found to be cause.  I still get breast pain 6 years on. Found out last month they left clips in there to mark tumour bed !