New Lump After Mastectomy

I cannot comment about what your doctor might offer for treatment. I did not have a mastectomy but I had the top half of my right breast removed and my chest wall and ribs scraped of tissue underneath the breast tissue. They warned me it could come back in the scar tissue.
I did have another young woman that I advocated for locally that had this happen and since she had not had radiation, they gave her radiation after a small surgery. She is doing well 10 years out from that treatment.
It is so hard not to worry, I am really happy that you don’t have to wait weeks to see a doctor. Try and find a way to distract yourself this evening. Watch a favorite movie or visit with a friend or some other distraction of your choice.
Please know that I will be thinking about you tomorrow, and hoping for the best. Will you come back and let me know how you are doing?

Hi @worried1111, I’m thinking of you today as you meet with your medical oncologist and surgeon to discuss next steps regarding a treatment plan since finding a new lump after your mastectomy last November. What a shock!

Allow me to bring other members like @sheilaray @keepmoving2 @trixie1313 @flowers7777 who also had the diagnosis of invasive ductal carcinoma and can share their treatments with you.

Worried, I’m glad they found the lump early. I look forward to hearing what you learned today.

I too had a new lump form close to the chest wall 9 months after a mastectomy on my right breast. At first they thought it was scar tissue at the end of the incision. Biopsy confirmed cancer. After a lumpectomy to remove the new spot I had 12 sessions of chemotherapy and 25 sessions of proton beam radiation at Mayo in Rochester. Oncotype score did not show I needed chemo or radiation after mastectomy. I had no lymph nodes removed. I was prescribed anastrozole after mastectomy but then Tamoxifen after lumpectomy, chemo and radiation. Was on Tamoxifen for two years but due to side effects was switched to Letrozole. I have been taking it for a year now. Still some side effects but managing them. Din’t know why this happens but am grateful it was found early. At the time a PET scan was also done and it showed thyroid cancer. Had half of my thyroid removed the day after my lumpectomy. Grateful to be able to say I just had my three year follow-up and all is well. I have lost 50 pounds in the last three years with healthier eating and exercise. I am so blessed to have a great team of doctors at Mayo! Take care. Stay in touch.

Jumping in a bit late but @worried1111 I am sending you positive support today as well. @mugs24cancer was very informative. The treatment of cancer is still not cookie cutter science because every “body” is different. I wonder if they missed something or is it actually a reoccurrence which would test differently? Either way, based on only 1 lymph node involvement, a wait and see is sometimes a best approach b/c extensive surgery, radiation and chemo might have been overkill when acknowledging their side effects. I suspect now that could be the route they want you to take. Hopefully your visit was informative, the docs reassuring and your questions answered. Speed bumps are part of living with cancer. We get slowed down but keep on going. Please stay in touch and know that you have a team of folks cheering you on.

Sorry to hear of your, of your cancer journey. I had thyroid cancer in 1991, no chemo or radiation needed. In 2015 diagnosed with breast cancer had bilateral mastectomy found to be stage 0. No other treatment was needed per oncology referral. Everything was clear until lytic lesion found on skull 5/21. After lots of diagnostic testing to determine whether it was thyroid or breast cancer, biopsy revealed stage 4 metastatic breast cancer. I too have a GREAT team at the Helen and Harry Cancer Center at Hartford Hospital.
Currently taking Anastrosole and Verzenio along with Integrative Medicine therapies Massage, Reiki and acupuncture. Wishing you the best outcome possible with tons of support and a hug from CT.🕊🤗

I too do Integrative Medicine therapies...Meditation and acupuncture (really helps with my neuropathy which was a result of chemo). Just learned about Progressive Muscle Relaxation so going to try that. I find Music Therapy is calming. I try to walk 1-2 miles everyday. Some days it is too cold to be outside but no longer going to gym because of Covid numbers. I find crafting...making cards or paint by number helps too. Yes, paint by number...I loved doing that as a child and there are some great kits to order online now. Stay warm!

@mugs24cancer I am so happy to hear you are doing well after your cancer journey. I also had a Mastectomy on my right side. I have mammograms done on left side. How did they find the cancer near your chest wall? I’m not getting any mammography or MRI on my right side where I had the mastectomy. I’m now wondering what screening I SHOULD be having. Thank you and God Bkess you.

I felt the spot. It was at the end of the incision. At first they thought it was scar tissue. When they had me come back in 6 weeks it had gotten larger so they did ultrasound which led to biopsy. Otherwise I just do yearly mammograms on left side.

Hello,
Thank you for your message, I am going into surgery for a double skin sparing mastectomy, radiation after recovery and chemo again.
I I’ll learn and watch for new growths.
I am glad it was found early but shocking.
Stay strong

Stay strong., I know this is a bump in the road but you will be healing in no time. Will your oncologist be giving you the same chemo treatment regimen as before?