Has anyone had stitch start to push out after mastectomy?

Posted by lilacs777 @lilacs777, Oct 24 8:40am

Has anyone had stitch start to push out after mastectomy? 8mo post op for stage 1 and there is one very small area on the scar line that is darker pink than the rest of the scar and in the center of it is a very very tiny dark dot. When I press on it, it almost seems to me like maybe I feel a stitch there but not sure. I think its pretty much been this way since the incision healed but I really didn't notice it as much til now that my skin and scar are pulling tighter. My MO was quick to dismiss and said everything looks / feels fine, but I know sometimes your body can spit out stitches. I'm hoping thats all it is, of course terrified of any possible mets. Would love to hear if anyone had anything similar.

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Chris, Volunteer Mentor | @auntieoakley | Oct 24 9:35am

Hello @lilacs777 , I think you are smart to keep asking.
I did not have this on my breast, but a few years back I broke my clavicle in multiple places and had to have a steel plate screwed in. Such a long scar I guess it is difficult to get all of the stitches and I had one in there that was quite annoying (like my bra didn’t already annoy me after BC). I finally asked my PC to take a look and he got it out with a local and all I needed was a band aid.
Keep asking if it annoys you, I wouldn’t get too worried about mets unless it starts changing. I am sure there are even more things it could be, but I wouldn’t stop until I had an answer.
Are you comfortable asking the surgeon, PC, oncologist, or oncology nurse?

Miriam, Volunteer Mentor | @mir123 | Oct 24 10:14am

I really agree with Chris about asking for medical opinion. My experience is with a huge scar across my back--about 25% of my torso. It was done under emergency conditions 50 years ago and it still bothers me! It looks weird, it hurts, tight clothes bother it etc. I've made great progress with it with exercise, bodywork, and more. Just to say I know how uncomfortable a scar can be--and emotionally too. I hope you get the info you need for some resolution.

colely | @colely | Oct 25 2:35pm

OMG Yes! A year after my mastectomy, my O.T was working on my, "iron bra" problems and said that she saw a stitch poking out. She took a picture of it for my medical chart, and got a kit with a sterile tweezer and pulled it out! And then there was another one a few months later. The O.T. said that they don't always dissolve.

lilacs777 | @lilacs777 | Oct 26 10:51am

Thank you ladies, you made me feel much better! Yes, I'm going to have another doc, preferably a breast surgeon or breast plastic surgeon look at it.
@colely Thank you for sharing - that is what I've had happen after other surgeries, so I'm hoping thats the case here too, just one stitch thats misbehaving!