← Return to Breast skin texture change (orange peel-like) after lumpectomy?

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@rene1636

I was diagnosed with DCIS in my left breast. I had a stereotactic biopsy, then a lumpectomy on 9/21. There were no lymph nodes taken with the lumpectomy. The DCIS was located in the upper, outer portion of my breast, around the 10:00-11:00 position. The lumpectomy pathology report had no cancer present stating it was removed during the biopsy. After the lumpectomy I had a spot near the incision site that was numb, which I understand can be normal. I developed a large Seroma that my surgeon drained a few weeks after surgery. 3 months later my breast still gets shooting pains & the nipple is hyper sensitive so I wear a comfort bra to keep my clothes from brushing up against it. The texture where the lumpectomy was has remained normal. Now I’ve noticed that the skin texture at the bottom, inner portion of my breast has changed. It’s hard to explain but the texture has changed, the skin feels thicker (I’m 62 & my skin is thin elsewhere) & a little rougher with less sensation, feeling kind of numb but with a bruised feeling if you apply pressure like a light pinch. Most of the shooting pains are in this part of my breast. The skin color is the same across my entire breast. Has anyone else experienced a change in their breast skin texture or thickness after a lumpectomy?

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Replies to "I was diagnosed with DCIS in my left breast. I had a stereotactic biopsy, then a..."

@rene1636 absolutely this is more normal than you might think. Because this breast tissue isn’t like muscle tissue, there are all kinds of different tissues in a breast, when you cut through ducts and glands you get a different response.
I went through a period of all kinds of weird and sometimes painful sensations for the first year. Lessening throughout, I still have some funky scar tissue.
Try to be patient with yourself, you have been through a lot. Your body has had a trauma as well as a hit to your mental well being. If you are feeling anxious about this change notify your doctor and ask them to check it out.
Is there any other treatments in your overall plan? Follow up?

Hi Rene,
I moved your message and @auntieoakley's reply to this existing discussion that @lindaalexis305 started here:
- Breast skin texture change (orange peel-like) after lumpectomy?https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/orange-peel-skin-after-lumpectomy/

I did this so you can read previous posts and connect easily with others experiencing skin texture changes after surgery.