What to Know About Scar Tissue After Breast Cancer Surgery

What is the possibility you may get scar tissue or lumps after breast cancer surgery? What should you expect? In this video, Dr. Jennifer Griggs explains everything you need to know about scar tissue after breast cancer surgery.
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[@CGyog]

I love that you encourage us to “honor the scar tissue” and highlight the important role our scars play. Thank you! I agree that loving and honoring our bodies and all our scars - emotional and physical - is key to healing and contentment.

[@yerbba]

Thank you for your kind words. Embracing our scars, both physical and emotional, is essential for healing. Thank you for watching. We appreciate you!

[@alexandramuradas4619]

I love you doctor. I feel you are here saving us and calming down all of us. Thank you so much 🥰

[@yerbba]

You are very welcome, thank you for watching.

[@naththomas9946]

Thank you for your educational advice.

[@yerbba]

Thank you for watching and your comment.

[@breast-cancer-rehab]

Your videos are packed with helpful information. I watched a bunch of them when I was going through the various stages of treatment. Thank you for the time you put into them!

[@yerbba]

Thank you for watching and your positive feedback. We are so happy to hear that you find Yerbba videos helpful!

[@angelacharles4573]

Your video was very informative and to the point where i less concerned about what bis happening to me thanks a lot looking forward for more from you because it's to the issues and not a whole lot of unnecessary long talk bless you

[@yerbba]

Thank you for your kind words and positive feedback!

[@irisflores7659]

Your video was very insightful.❤ 😊

[@yerbba]

Thank you for watching. Yerbba appreciates you!

[@snowcat4895]

Thank you so much for this video. Could you speak more towards how long it takes for scars to fade, especially for women of color who usually scar badly. Can you also speak to scar revision surgery/procedures or ways to minimize the scar appearance. I realize this is not directly related to breast cancer. I don’t mind the scars under my breasts but I hate the scar from my port and even where they did the lymph node biopsy. The port scar is especially visible in v neck and scoop neck clothing. Thank you for the comprehensive and practical videos. They are very helpful

[@yerbba]

It can take months to years for a scar to heal. There are some newer therapies that can help, such as silicone gel and laser treatment. It may be worth asking for a referral to a dermatologist who specializes in this type of care.

[@amb7412]

Thank you!

[@yerbba]

Thank you for watching! We appreciate your support.

[@christinejohnson8375]

Thank you so much ❤

[@yerbba]

You're welcome 😊 We're glad you found this video helpful!

[@user-it9yz9ud2h]

Please do a video on lymphodema and fibrosis in the breast and how to treat ongoing pain in the breast from scar tissue and hypersensitive nerves. In my case, I still have pain 20 months after radiotherapy and despite 8 months of lymphodema massage. Thanks.

[@yerbba]

You may want to check out our video on lymphedema: kzbin.info/www/bejne/f3_OfmWQe9iBe5I. Thanks for the suggestion about scar sensitivity. We'll add it to our list.

[@lanacampbell-moore6686]

Thank you💐💗

[@yerbba]

You are so welcome, thank you for watching.

[@thaisqueiroz5674]

Helpful

[@yerbba]

Thank you for watching! We are so glad you found this video helpful.

[@andreabrowneyes3534]

Thank you ,

[@yerbba]

Thank you for watching!

[@juanitagee9511]

My scar tissue after 10 years developed a swollen area - started out looking like a cyst within a week it broke open & had a lot of discharge a year later after treatment with specialist I still have a hole - that I have to clean out, pack & keep bandaged due to drainage & blood - no one can seem to figure out what happened or why the hole will not close up. Thank you for covering this topic.

[@yerbba]

Thank you for sharing your experience with the Yerbba community. We appreciate you.

[@nenettecooley567]

I feel like that too,after 6 yrs,swollen my surgery, my Surgeon advice me to do mastectomy, until now I'm still thinking to go that route.

[@butterflyfrancis]

Good afternoon can you speak more on calcification in breast

[@yerbba]

Calcifications are normal within breast tissue. If the calcifications have a particular pattern on mammography, it can prompt us to do a biopsy.

[@trmon8890]

I have the issue of my skin stuck to my ribs but the doctors are saying they can fix it. I'll learn more on the 16th or march

[@yerbba]

Sending good wishes.

[@kathyspencer3292]

Yes, I have had a tram flap reconstruction breast surgery, and my scare tissue is in the breasts and my low bikini line. I also have a large lump of hard tissue the size and shape of a baseball above my right breast. I'm really hoping that in time they will fade. .

[@yerbba]

These long lasting effects can be hard. Your medical team may be able to make some recommendations about ways to decrease the scar tissue.

[@JennyontheStreet]

Thanks for the information. I am 5 years out of my 2nd bout of BC. I had a double mastectomy about then too. Why are my scars so itchy I can't stand it? I tried Vaseline/ lotion etc, and don't want to scratch. It is so uncomfortable. What can help? Thank you.

[@yerbba]

That sounds really uncomfortable. It is possible that there is histamine being released. Applying ice, not directly on the skin but over a tea towel or similar cloth, may help. Make sure you let your medical team know as well. They are likely to have other suggestions.

[@warroom17]

I haven't had surgery, but after chemo infusions, my breast began to shrink significantly and the skin has puckered and folded into itself. It is rather difficult to clean because the area seems to have seized and is not as flexible or pliable, making it more difficult to clean. Do you think this is cause for concern or do you think it will remedy itself?

[@yerbba]

These kind of changes can happen as the cancer responds to treatment. While it's not necessarily concerning from the standpoint of your medical prognosis, it sounds challenging overall. It's hard to know what will happen over time without being able to do an exam. This would be a great question for your medical team.

[@mtrimble7517]

Are the silicon scar reduction patches safe to use for breast cancer patients?

[@yerbba]

There's no reason to think that they are not safe.

[@wonpilscindy]

hi im not sure if my comment would get notice but i had a surgey to take out fibroadenoma 2 months ago and ive realised near my incision scar, i can feel a tiny lump and hurts a little if i press it hard ... is this normal 😢 ?

[@yerbba]

Thank you so much for writing! It's not uncommon to feel a small lump or scar tissue near an incision site after surgery like fibroadenoma removal. This could be due to normal healing processes, such as scar tissue formation. However, if the lump is painful or changes over time, it's important to have it checked by your surgeon or healthcare provider to make sure that everything is healing properly.

[@tgadd9825]

Is it common for breast cancer to come back in the incision scar where a double mastectomy was done?

[@yerbba]

Not common but also not rare.

[@Beesting4789]

Hi, I had breast cancer. It’s been a couple of years and I have a lump inside of my lower breast. I was cut across the whole bottom of my breast, had a lumpectomy and a long scar. I have checked recently and a quite large lump has formed. My partner says is scar tissue and it probably is but it’s formed a long lump. Is this normal scarring or could it be a recurrence?

[@yerbba]

Without being able to do an exam, it is difficult to say. It would be prudent to reach out to and be seen by your medical team, especially your surgeon.

[@Beesting4789]

@@yerbba Hi, thanks for answering me. I had and MRI and I’m all good! Have a lovely day 🌸

[@marymacwilliam8927]

In March last year I had a lumpsectomy and radiation therapy, although the pain in my breast has eased I've noticed swelling near the top of my ribs which is soft ..I'm guessing it's just where its still healing or should I be worried?

[@phyleasherkeeten424]

Hello Marymacwilliam8927. I had my last surgery in August. I also had lumpsectomy and three of them and radiation. I'm just getting the ease from the start stabbing pains myself. And my doctor did say it will take time ti heal

[@phyleasherkeeten424]

Three surgeries to get all the cancer. I just went to my first follow up Thursday and I ask her about the pain. She said it is normal for some it goes away and for others could be.life long on and off. I pray you speedy recovery and good health.

[@marymacwilliam8927]

@@phyleasherkeeten424 Thank you, you have eased my worry x

[@ElinorG]

Hi @@phyleasherkeeten424 Did you have all three lumpectomies in the same breast? I am wondering because that is my situation and one doc wants to do the lumpectomies and the other wants to do a mastectomy because he said it is too many lumpectomies in one breast.

[@phyleasherkeeten424]

Hello Mary yes all three in my left breast and they were about three weeks apart. After the second it was up to me and i requested one more time. I had less then a fourth left so I had 20 treatments of radiation. Right now my oncologist is trying to get my iron up. Anything I can share to help please reach out. Many prayers and blessing and love to you. I haven't send my radiation doctor yet not until next month I believe.

[@farmanmed9164]

👍

[@yerbba]

Thank you for watching.

[@user-bn7fi1on1l]

I AM ONE OF THE WOMEN WHO, BECAUSE AT THE TIME OF THEIR LUMPECTOMY, MY BREAST WERE VERY FATTY AND MY SURGEON FELT THAT SUTURES WOULD NOT HOLD AND THEREFORE SHE DID NOT ATTEMPT TO REAPPROIXIMATE THE BREAST TISSUE TO TRY TO MINIMIZE THE DEFECT. THIS HAS CAUSED A VERY LARGE BALL OF SCAR TISSUE GOING ALL THE WAY FROM THE SURFACE OF MY BREAST DOWN TO THE PECTORAL MUSCLE AND PINNING THAT PART OF THE BREAST DOWN. THIS NOT ONLY CAUSES A GREAT DEAL OF DISCOMFORT WHEN I TRY TO SLEEP BUT IT ALSO HAS PINNED THE SIDE PORTION OR WING OF MY BREAST BACK SO THAT IT CANNOT MOVE WITH MY THE FORCES OF GRAVITY AS MY BODY CHANGES POSSITION FOR EXAMPL BENDING DOWN. IT NOT ONLY LOOKS VERY BAD BUT I WAKE UP FREQUENTLY DURINGTHE NIGHT WITH PAIN BECAUSE I HAVE ROLLED OVER ONTO THAT SIDE. THE RADIATION TREATMENTS THAT I RECEIVED CONTRACTED THE AFFECTED BREAST GREATLY AND THAT HAS MADE IT FEEL AS IF THE SCAR TISSUE IS BEING STRANGLED CREATING ALMOST CONSTANT PAIN OR AT THE VERY LEAST A DISCOMFORT THAT IS DEMINISHING MY QUALITY OF LIFE TO A SUBSTANTIAL DEGREE. I HAVE SEARCHED THE INTERNET BUT THERE IS VERY LITTLE OUT THERE ABOUT ANY RECONSTRUCTIVE POSSIBILITIES FOR PATIENTS SUCH AS MYSELF. WOULD YOU PLEASE ADDRESS THIS ISSUE FOR THE MANY WOMEN LIKE MYSELF WHO EXISTING RATHER THAN LIVING AT THIS POINT IN THEIR LIVES THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME

[@yerbba]

This sounds extremely difficult. Oncoplastic surgery can address many of the problems you describe, and it would be worth getting an opinion about all of your options. It is also likely that physical therapy could be helpful. We are wishing you all the best.

[@SD-qt6ix]

I'm so sorry you're having all those issues. I pray you get relief at some point. God bless you.

[@kathysteiner9468]

Sad. Doesn't sound normal