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Lump Under Rib Cage, Reddening Around The Area. Was Given Chemo For Breast Cancer. Problem?
! year post chemo for breat cancer and doing very well. I had a bilateral DIEP flap procedure to reconstruct the breast and 2 other scar revision surgeries this year from the procedure. I still have some issue with the tummy incision line with some granulation tissue. It seems like there is a suture that is being rejected and trying to make it s way out. I do work out at the gym and play tennis on a regular basis and I noticed that yesterday I had a lump under my rib cage, right below it. It is hard a feels pretty solid. There is some reddening of this area from the outside and slight tenderness to the touch. Any ideas? Could it be a fatty deposit etc?????
Fri, 7 Jun 2013
Hello,
I understand your problem and you had surgery and chemotherapy.
You have some infection in abdominal sutured area from where the flap was raised and seems to be a catgut trying to pass out through the infected area.
If so once the catgut comes out of the body the wound will heal.
Regarding the swelling except for the hardness, looks like an inflammatory swelling which can arise from the skin, sub cutaneous fat, fibrous tissue or an infected abscess. Rarely Post chemotherapy skin reaction, if radiotherapy was given it can also produce reactions
It needs a clinical evaluation and treatment accordingly.
Rarely excisional Biopsy may be needed.
Best wishes
I understand your problem and you had surgery and chemotherapy.
You have some infection in abdominal sutured area from where the flap was raised and seems to be a catgut trying to pass out through the infected area.
If so once the catgut comes out of the body the wound will heal.
Regarding the swelling except for the hardness, looks like an inflammatory swelling which can arise from the skin, sub cutaneous fat, fibrous tissue or an infected abscess. Rarely Post chemotherapy skin reaction, if radiotherapy was given it can also produce reactions
It needs a clinical evaluation and treatment accordingly.
Rarely excisional Biopsy may be needed.
Best wishes
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