After a lumpectomy, bruising and discoloration typically improve within a couple of weeks. At 6 weeks out, persistent purple discoloration and hardness are worth a call to your doctor. The hardness could be a few things worth knowing about:
- Scar tissue — It's normal for the incision area to feel firm or dense as it heals Show Full Answer
After a lumpectomy, bruising and discoloration typically improve within a couple of weeks. At 6 weeks out, persistent purple discoloration and hardness are worth a call to your doctor. The hardness could be a few things worth knowing about:
- Scar tissue — It's normal for the incision area to feel firm or dense as it heals. Scar tissue feels much denser than normal breast tissue.
- Seroma — Fluid can build up where tissue was removed, causing swelling, hardness, and discoloration. This can sometimes take months to fully resolve.
- Hematoma — Bleeding under the skin can look like a bruise and feel hard. These usually go away on their own, but may need to be drained.
One MyBCTeam member shared that they were still seeing swelling go down at 6 months post-lumpectomy and radiation, so healing timelines can vary quite a bit.
That said, prolonged discoloration combined with hardness at 6 weeks is something your care team should know about. It's always better to check in — as one MyBCTeam member wisely put it, "It's better to call for nothing than not call, and something is wrong."
October 4
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