Breast feels solid after excision...

Hi, I had a vacuum assisted excision last week. Apart from needing two extra shots of local anaesthetic it all went ok and the pain isn't as bad as it was initially, although the whole of my breast is a lovely shade of purple :)

It does, however, feel quite solid and not soft like my other breast, and it feels quite hot to touch (I don't feel unwell though, and the pain is bearable with painkillers). I can also feel a really hard lump under and around the needle entry site. I don't have a date yet for my clinic appointment as I was told that someone would phone with a date once they have the results, so I just wanted to check this is normal. I do have a number to call the breast care nurses, but I don't really want to bother them if it's nothing.

Also, I removed the pressure dressing after 72 hours, and then the smaller dressing and steri-strips the following day, and the hole started bleeding again, not much, but I could see blood through the plaster I put over it. It wasn't much, but when I changed the plaster this evening it started bleeding again, is it normal for it to take a while to heal? 

Also, at the appointment with the breast consultant I was told they'd found flat epithelial atypia on the needle biopsy. But the copy of the letter that was sent to my GP said flat epithelial atypia classical LCIS. Is the FEA related to the LCIS, or does it mean they found two different things? Also, this is in the same place as a fibroadenoma that was diagosed 8 years ago...so is that likely to just be a coincidence, or can fibroadenomas turn into something else?

Sorry for all the questions! Any help will be appreciated.

Thank you

Cherry x

 

  • Hello and thank you for posting

    I'm sorry you are having these worries after your biopsy. Healing is different for everyone and it can take a while for things to calm down after an excision. 

    Bruising could be making the breast tissue feel harder and there could be a bit of scar tissue around the needle site. But I am not sure why it feels hot or it is still bleeding as we can't really assess it on the forum. It's probably best to give your breast care nurse a call as that might reassure you. Do leave them a message and they will get back to you when they can. 

    I'm unsure of exactly what the letter to your GP means but FEA (flat epithelial atypia) and LCIS (lobular carcinoma in situ) are different. I would suggest you discuss this further with your doctor when you do get the appointment through, so it can all be explained fully. I think the location where the fibroadenoma was is probably coincidental, but again do talk to your doctor.

    Take care and if you want to chat with one of the nurses on our helpline.  The number to call is 0808 800 4040 and the lines are open 9am till 5pm, Mon to Fri.

    Sarah.

  • Hi Sarah,

    Thank you for the reply. It's actually feeling a little less swollen now, and less hot, although I now have a sizeable and very hard lump in the area of the excision. I was going to call the breast care nurses, but I don't really want to bother them now it feels a bit better, so I'll wait for my clinic appointment.

    I just wanted to say thank you for the reply

    Cherry x