Jan 11, 2022 06:22AM mountainmia wrote:

Hi Orleans. I'm sorry you're in this situation. You're right: something may be wrong. However, even a year after surgery, whatever is going on might be completely benign. Fat necrosis, scar tissue, seroma, some other kind of benign lump are very very common. Last September, 2.5 years after my diagnosis, I found a new lump. I had an appt with my PCP a couple of days after I found it, for something else, and she kind of gasped when she felt it. It grew fast, and by the time I had a biopsy 3 weeks later, I was working hard at compartmentalizing, like you. But it was a benign mass of scar cells. I had NO idea that would happen, esp so long after surgery.

My situation and yours are different. I tell you this story just as reminder and reassurance that not all lumps are cancer. You don't know what this is, which of course is part of the problem. But it might help you manage your fears to remind yourself of just that: "I don't actually know what this is. It could be completely benign. I'll find out pretty soon. Until then, what do I need to pay attention to right now?" And as a young wife and mom, you have plenty of other things to pay attention to right now! :) Take a deep breath. Breathe in through your nose, out through your mouth. Repeat. And just keep going. You can do it.

Good luck. Let us know what you find out.

Jan 11, 2022 11:00AM mountainmia wrote:

Yep, we get it!!

If you can get a full-body hug with someone, probably husband, once or twice a day for longer than just a second, that will probably help, too. And if you have pets, glom onto one of them and just hold on for a bit. Body contact is soothing.