Finding a Lump After Mastectomy

A lump found in December of 2022, in my right breast this time. Probably fatty necrosis, but under the watch of my diligent medical practitioners.

In 2021, I was released by my oncologist to just yearly appointments. Last month was seven years since my first diagnosis with breast cancer, and the date coincided with my yearly appointment. During the exam, the nurse practitioner found a lump and sent me for an ultrasound the next day. I waited in silence and stillness for ten agonizing minutes for the tech to return with the radiologist’s conclusions.

I haven’t had a breast screening since my mastectomy in 2016. What could this possibly be?

The ultrasound tech returned and declared that this was definitely fatty necrosis, nothing to be alarmed about. My surgeon, an elegant and kindly man who has twice saved my life, speaking in his regal Central American dialect that has the calming effect of a luxurious weighted blanket, was not so cavalier about those conclusions. He admonished me to make sure I was doing monthly checks of my whole body for changes, including places on my skin that have changed over time. And, he reminded me that I own a little card that has all the information about my breast implants, and that they can have a shelf life and are recalled for defects, like a car model.

So, this month I am doing my research and making an appointment with a dermatologist. It’s easy to become blasé when you think you have no remaining breast tissue. I will have a follow up in April to see if there are any changes to this lump, and I carry a renewed sobriety about recurrence. I encourage all cancer survivors to not grow weary of your monthly self-exams as I have. Even for those of us who survive, the fight is never finished.