posted June 01, 2001 01:58 PM           

2. I had two breast sugreries last December, with follow up radiation
treatments. About a month ago I started hurting under my arm and on into my
breast that I had the surgery on. Can you tell me what's happening to me?

posted June 01, 2001 01:59 PM         

Dear Fran,

Thank you for sending Imaginis.com your inquiry. We cannot give medical advice or address specific medical questions, but we can provide general medical information that may be helpful.

Although mastectomy is usually associated with the lowest likelihood of a cancer recurrence to the chest, there are many factors that can contribute to this unfortunate, rare situation. For example, a mastectomy cannot remove all breast tissue. A few breast cells do remain after the surgery and from these cells, it is possible for a new breast cancer to develop. Another
possibility is that a few cancer cells, invisible to the eye, may remain after the initial mastectomy and reconstruction, in the area of the original breast cancer. Sometimes, this can lead to the return of cancer in the same area as the original cancer (called local recurrence). This is more likely if the original cancerous tumor was an aggressive type. If this is the
case, the return of cancer may signal the need for more aggressive treatments, such as the addition of radiation or chemotherapy. If a breast cancer recurrence does occur, patients should seek more information from their oncologist (cancer specialist) and consider seeking a second opinion to review their treatment options.

To learn more about a recurrence of breast cancer, please visit http://www.imaginis.com/breasthealth/bcrecurrence.asp

To address your second question, new pain that occurs after the completion of surgery and/or radiation that was not present before the treatment can signal many things. The cause of pain can be due to anything ranging from post-surgical and post-radiation scarring to fat necrosis (swelling of fatty breast tissue) from the radiation treatment to a small infection or
fluid collection. Any new pain should be carefully investigated, who will order the appropriate testing depending on what he/she believes may be causing the pain.

We hope this information is helpful. Please discuss any specific concerns with your physician.

Sincerely,

Imaginis.com Breast Health Team http://www.imaginis.com/

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posted June 01, 2001 04:08 PM         

I had bilateral tram flap about 3 years ago, and since the report came out from the Univ. of Michigan (I posted it on this board a while back) where they recommend that even reconstructed breasts still need mammograms, my anxiety level about recurrence is elevated and I am very interested in what exactly is entailed when this occurs.

Would you mind if I ask -- where was your friend's lump ... near a scar line ... chest wall (that's where my breast surgeon said would be the most likely areas of finding a new lump)? Did they remove the entire reconstructed breast?

God bless and best wishes for continued good health ...