Question re: scar tissue

[macor]

Just wondering if anyone has had "scar tissue" that "lit up" on a MRI ? I had Stage 3 cancer in 2017 with chemo and radiation. I went for my yearly MRI in August and they said the scar tissue lit up on it and to come in for an ultrasound and a biopsy which I did. Now, although it came back benign the radiologist doesn't feel comfortable with report and after conferring with pathologists and other radiologists they want me to come in for another biopsy under MRI. Has anyone else had a similar experience? Thanks.

[RobertaG1961]

All I can share with you is my experience. Six months after I finished chemo, a biopsy of the scar tissue discovered a recurrence. My oncologist was ready to schedule radiation and I was going to do it. However....

Upon re-examination, they were cautiously optimistic that the pathologist had mistaken scar tissue for cancer. Upon second look they determined it was scar tissue. But at that point I didn’t trust them.

My oncologist suggested having the pathology redone at an National Cancer Institute certified cancer center (there is at least one many states - some states have multiples) to confirm. They confirmed it was benign.

I would never have thought to have the pathology confirmed by a second institution. I did that when I was first diagnosed but I was so shocked by this “recurrence” 6 months after a mastectomy and chemo, I was just ready to do whatever I was told.

I firmly believe that a second opinion is critically important. If the first opinion was not at an NCI Certified Cancer Center, you may want to consider a second opinion done there.

Use the link below to find a center in your state

cancer.gov/research/infrast...

Hoping for the best for you.

Roberta

[macor in reply to RobertaG1961]

Thanks Roberta, I am scheduled to have a 2nd biopsy done next week under MRI guidance but I will definitely ask that question of where the pathology was done. Thanks for your reply!!

[Karina66 in reply to RobertaG1961]

Hi Ladies,

I'm curious when you say your scar tissue was examined - is that a general procedure done by Oncology? Is a person suppose to have annual MRI's done on the surgical/cancer area?

I had a double mastectomy plus pre & post chemo treatment, and I know I have scar tissue forming but am curious with the lumps & bumps one can develop with scarring, how is it really determined if it's not cancer., and how often should that area be checked and what type of tests?

[macor in reply to Karina66]

Hi Karina, Because of my own history as well as a strong family history I have a MRI every year as well as a mammogram every year...spaced 6 months apart. They are ordered by my oncologist. I know others who have had breast cancer with chemo etc that do not have MRI. From what my doctor says, MRI can show things that a mammogram doesn't. Ask your doctor about getting one...don't know if it would be that you had a double mastectomy or not...I had lumpectomys.

[Sugarmag in reply to macor]

Hi. I had lobular cancer and had an MRI as my mammograms never caught the cancer but an ultrasound caught a speck sized cell. (Luckily!!!) When an MRI was done it showed that the whole breast was infected. Once surgery was completed they could not get "the margin of safety" like they expected and the tumor was 3xs the size that they expected. I was told to have an annual mammogram and ultrasound afterwards and very strongly advocated for an annual MRI due to the above history. I was told that insurance would not pay for it until 6 months after the mammo. Then Covid hit and I still had to wait another 2 months. Everything was ok. I felt better having an MRI and my report suggested that due to my history I should have one annually. Because of the drs. my insurance will pay that.

[macor in reply to Sugarmag]

I'm glad that you had the necessary tests that caught this for you. Like you, my insurance covers the cost of an annual mammogram as well as an annual MRI. I have them done at 6 mo intervals so hopefully anything in the future gets caught at an early stage.

[AnnieAppleseed]

I was told in July of 1997 that cocoa butter would reduce internal scar tissue (not the scars outside). I tried it and 3 months later the scar tissue that was forcing my right side into an angle, was dissolved. Worked for others as well.

[macor in reply to AnnieAppleseed]

Was the scar tissue bothering you...is that why they told you to use the cocoa butter?

[AnnieAppleseed in reply to macor]

Friends told me, as you know conventional doctors do not discuss any natural approaches. That's why I developed an Evidence-based Handout on reducing (conventional) treatment toxicities.

And yes, I had lymphedema of the left arm so when I began having trouble with full range of motion on the right side (due to scarring from a central port), I had to take action. Worked great.