visible breast change

[cindy3195]

I am 7 years past DCIS, 2 lumpectomies, 2nd due to bad margins, and full course radiation. DCIS high upper left breast, towards armpit. Now, I have a crease, same breast inside from just next to center nipple area, curves around C shaped to under nipple, middle. Slight bulge inside the C. My mammogram is unchanged, extremely dense breast tissue, went on Friday for breast ultrasound, and am being scheduled for MRI this week. Just curious if visible breast changes occur so many years after radiation to others? (if this is a benign finding). Also, no weight loss recently, and area is very much different from untreated right breast. Thanks to any helpful answers.

[ladysmith105]

Hi Cindy,
I also have a strange C like indentation when I lift up my arms.  I celebrated my 1 year anniversary on 4/28/10.  I noticed the change after I lost about 30 lbs.  Now I am 50 lbs lighter & notice it less.  The MD did not feel anything there.  I had my first Mamo in 1/10 .  3 months after radiation my breasts were still sore so I didn't have a 3 month Mamo.  My bi-rads was a 3, "probably benign" as the Radiaologist said he saw what was probably a scar but had nothing to compare it to.  Next Mamo 7/1/10.  No MRI recommended.   My 2 scars, Lett breast at 11 O'clock is ok, but the scar where the sentinel node biopsy was done has a groove & I can feel a slight indentation in the tissue.  After the summer I am going to look into a "fat filler" reconstruction.  I have too many other things on my plate at present.  Wait to see what the MRI reveals, its very good test for women with dense breasts.   Maybe the changes you are seeing could be due to aging and natural changes due to changing hormone levels?  The tissue probably moved around a bit since you & I have had lumpectomies.  I don't think any part of my body is the same as it was 7 years ago.
Best Regards & keep in touch

[katarina777]

Sorry, Cindy, I realize I was of no help to you and I still would not know how to do so now. I think I partially responded to you because nobody else did, and still has not.
Your question is indeed very hard to respond to,(i.e. you ask without telling us what the professionals's thoughts were), but I do understand now your reasoning for asking better.

Then also, your question is very limited by you. 1) The reason for changes must be in the category of 'benign '  2) the condition to anwering is that the answer is helpful.

still, I am really writing to apologize as I should not have responded, especially having nothing helpful to say. kat

[cindy3195]

I'm having a bad day, but don't really understand what part of my question is unclear. At this point, because of visible breast change, my mammogram is a bi-rads 0, (I guess I did NOT indicate that), although this change is visible to the eye, not the mammogram. My mammograms ALWAYS indicate extremely dense tissue, so, due to this visible change, a breast ultrasound was recommended. At that point, too, I was examined by oncology nurse b-4 ultrasound, and the area I spoke of was circled and ultrasound was done. Radiologist came in, (after reading my ultrasound) and said that due to this change and my history a breast MRI was needed to rule out occult tumor, also said that women can experience breast changes for years AFTER completing radiation, but, since this was an unusual finding, our next step is MRI. So, my question was, are there any women on this site who, years after radiation therapy, have experienced visible, unusual, breast change on treated side, but away from original tumor bed? Thank you.
Cindy

[katarina777]

What did your doctor think, and say? Did the ultrasound show something, and what, that prompted your radiaologist to think an MRI is indicated?

I don't think we can play the guess game and of any help therte beyond what you already know? Kat