Wellness

[QVCPhobe]

A month ago I had a stereotactic breast biopsy. Thankfully, the results were benign. However, for the past few weeks, when I make a sudden turn I feel some pain. A friend told me that it was scar tissue and suggested massage with warm oil. Before I go to the doctor again if this does not work, I would like to ask those of you who have experienced this if it goes away on its own. I hope that this is an appropriate question. I am not asking for medical advice, but only some experiences by those of you with a similar situation. Please no horror stories. I dread going back to the doctor b/c I have a fear that I may need surgery or something invasive again. Anyway, I would appreciate some information. I really cannot find anything on the internet and I do not know anyone who had this procedure. Thank you.

[Campion]

I only had a scar from the bandage--allergic to latex. They used a latex strip to hold the wound closed. It was a small cut and I hardly noticed them doing anything during the biopsy. The actual snip was invisible afterwards but I had redness from that darn latex band! It too faded and I have to remember to insist on no latex if I'm ever getting another.

The inside of your breast is disturbed by this procedure, like a bruise, and it's healing up. As it heals, it pulls a bit. This pain should go away. If it doesn't call the dr to see if it's normal. They will tell you if it's expected to be sore for a bit. Mine was sore but nothing too bad. Went away after about 2 weeks.

No biggie.

For those who are facing this: They went into the side boobage and made less than a 1/4" tiny cut and reached in with the sampler probe to get what they wanted, using an imaging machine to see where they were. Then they inserted a teeny "clip" for marking on future mammograms. You don't feel it--it's miniscule and just a small bit of x-ray dense material that shows up white on a mammo to show you the area of interest.

It is surgery because they are going inside flesh but it is not bad. The doctor DOES have to be skilled not to mess the stuff inside and spread it around--so you do have to go to an expert in this field at your medical center--another reason it's hospital. I only had local anaesthetic.

[violann]

My "cyst" was the size of a large lemon, and I have NO visible scar. The incision was about 2" long. I would not massage or manipulate the delicate tissue until you have clearance from your surgeon. It may still be healing. Hope all goes well! I should add that the breast from which the cyst was removed is quite a bit smaller than the other. I'm currently looking for solutions for my asymmetrical sisters.

[Still Raining]

I was advised to gently keep the scar tissue stretched so it would not ""freeze"" in a shortened state. Over the years they do become less noticeable.

[jlkz]

Had a biopsy done 10 years ago: the scars ( two big red ones ) are called " keloids". I inherited the tendency to keloid from my father. For some reason, scars on the face do not keloid -- had my eyes done 18 yrs ago and no one can see any scars still!!!!

[Annabellethecat66]

A Dr knows more than any of us. I had a tumor removed many years ago from my breast. I've also had several operations.

I can only tell you what my Drs told me when I have said I sometimes would feel pain there (for the several months afterward.

The Drs told me that nerves were 'knitting' back together. This was for the first several months. They were right. Eventually it went away. It wasn't all of the time and it got to be less and less.

Again, only Drs can give you the right answers.

[Doodica]

My thoughts are with you. I remember what an emotional time that was for me. The roller coaster of emotions was exhausting! My scar was raised and puffy (but not to keloid) for two years before it started going down and becoming less noticeable, but I never had pain. If there is pain, I say go back. Good luck with it!

[QVCPhobe]

Thank you for your responses. I got the nerve to call the doctor's office and talked to her nurse. She told me that it would take 6-8 weeks to heal and it had been a little less than a month since the biopsy. She told me that the tissue was healing and I should not message because it might tear tissue and/or interefere with the healing. She called it surgery and for some reason I never thought of the procedure as that. If it continues for another month or so, I can make an appointment with the breast specialist. Meanwhile, I guess I just will put up with it. No one told me about this possible complication and I really could not find anything on the internet about it. So, I guess I will do as she said and take it easy on that side. I can still do exercise and stuff. I am just so thankful that the nodule was benign and there was no cancer.