swelling underarm anyone?

tos

It's been 4 yrs since I was dx with IDC on the rt side, 1 node, triple neg. A couple of months ago I noticed a swelling in my left armpit and it seems to me to be getting larger and spreading but not painful and I haven't been sick. Then on to Feb 07 mammo and they found a mass on that side, can't be felt so going in for a lumpectomy next week. Has anyone else ever had swelling like this in their armpit an also does anyone know what shawdowing round a mass means?
Thanks for your help,

ktwist

Pam...

Wish I could help you more. I'm not sure about shadowing, but I recall yesterday reading about another women on here who had a biopsy who had shadowing around mass and it was B9. I will look to see where you can look it up. I am sending prayers and good thoughts your way for B9 results on that biopsy. Hugs to you...

Karen

tos

Morning Karen, I had my lump. yesterday so asked ultrasound tech about shawdowing, he explained that ultrasounds work off off sound waves and! Would you believe
I cannot remember what else he said. Need another cup of coffee. He used a gallstone as an example, you have this solid stone and the sounds waves will bounce of the solid piece creating shawdows, atleast that is what I think he said.
What a mess. lol
Thanks for writing,

ktwist

ok that makes sense. I would imagine that this could also happen with a fibroid type mass. Sorry I didn't go back and find that other post regarding the same issue with a b9 result. I'll go look right now....just can't remember where I saw it. I'm not sure if you had your lumpectomy yet, but I assume you did. I hope it went well. Let me know how you are...I know this is so stressful.

Karen

ktwist

oops, didn't see that you had your lump until now. Hoping for b9 results for you...let me know!

tos

Morning Karen, yes I had my lumpectomy last Wednesday, they told me my results would be in by Thursday or Friday so hubby and I hung around the house and no call. So about 3 Friday I called the Doc's office and found out they aren't even in on Friday! Eek, now onto more waiting.
Thanks for asking,

ktwist

I say the longer they take, the better that is. At least hold on to that for now. With my 2nd lumpectomy and snb, it took 3 1/2 weeks to get my results because they wanted to send it out for a 2nd opinion to another hospital. They wouldn't even tell me what they thought it was until the final path came back. I was prepared for the worst...but it turned out they only found DCIS as in the first lumpectomy. I feel for what you are going through waiting. You have already been through this before...just not fair. Don't you wish they did the surgeries on only Mondays so that you would have your results back before the weekend?? Someone is just not planning right. Hope you get some rest this weekend.

tos

Karen! 3 1/2 weeks you had to wait to get your results!
Lands however did you keep your sanity?

ktwist

ha...I did not. I was a mess by the time they finally came in. I went back and forth in my head....first I thought it was good that I had not heard yet, then I thought bad. My poor husband...I drove him crazy. Actually, he was more stressed than me and without telling me he called my first pathologist (via the surgeon) and got the name of the pathologist at the hospital it was sent to for a 2nd opinion (beth isreal). He tried to get it pushed along, but I was just as important as the next person who was waiting. They did fax it for us instead of the usual mail route. Needless to say, I didn't sleep much. Anyway, you won't have to wait that long....but it makes me feel for all of those who have to wait.

tos

Morning Karen, well we finally got our results and the beast is back on the other side. IDC but don't know the rest yet. It stinks but it's doable.
My daughter is also going thru treatments right now, I felt so devastated for her and wish it had come to me instead and lo and behold it got us both!
Thanks for writing,

ktwist

The beast seems to have a mind of it's own! I'm so sorry to hear your news. Starting this journey over for the second time is the worst, but you know better than me that however difficult...it is doable and you will make it through. I'm also so sorry for you having to watch your daughter face the same situation. I have 3 girls and that would be very difficult for me. I know what you mean about wanting to trade places with her. I hope that you can help each other through it. Have you told her about this board? Maybe the women here can help her along as well. I know it really helped me through the scary part, although I didn't have as difficult a path as you have had. My heart goes out to you both right now. If you ever need to vent or talk....I'll check in on this thread to see if you are ok. I'm here.

Karen

tos

Karen you are so sweet! You are right, it's doable and I know that but honestly I'm scared, angry, all of those things that we go thru. I wanted to be strong to support my daughter and now w/my dx I hope I can stand up to what I need to do for her and I don't want her being upset about me or thinking I'm having a hard time. I tell ya, what a quandry. It stinks!
Thanks again for being here,

ktwist

Pam,

I understand how as a Mom we only want to protect our children and take away any pain or stress they are going through. That said, try and allow your daughter to see that it's ok to feel all of the things you are feeling, and normal. Again, I have not had to go through all of the struggles you already have (I only had DCIS) but from an outsiders point of view, I think it will help her if you don't try and protect her as much right now. Don't you think she will feel more comfortable telling you how she really feels if she knows you can relate and understand? I'm sure you would feel worse if she was trying to be strong for you by not letting you see her own anger or fear. You have to take care of yourself and don't add onto your shoulders the extra stress of having to go through all of this again acting like everything is great. I don't know you or your daughter, but you sound like a wonderful Mom and person, so just be you and I'm guessing you will bond even closer while helping each other through this very difficult time.

Karen

ktwist

Wanted to say this morning that I hope that post didn't sound like I don't understand how difficult this is for you...not at all what I meant. As easy as it is for me to say to try and be open about everything.....as a Mom I can see how hard that would be. I am a very protective Mom myself and so yes...quite the quandry. Nothing about this is easy, is it?

tos

Karen I think you are right, thank you for bringing those thoughts to me. I think this will bring us even closer and yes being honest is best.
No nothing about this is easy that's for sure but we just
do the best we can and things will be ok. I just have to get my brain in the right spot, takes a little time to adjust but my daughter is so brave to me and it's interesting how I have looked up to her and how she is handling all of this, I also see her as a inspiration.
My first go around I was a mess.
hugs

ktwist

Just checkin on you. Hope you are closer to wrapping your brain around all of this once again.

Hugs-

Karen

tos

No, not closer at all Karen! You are such a sweetie, you've been so nice to come here and check on us.
I still haven't received all of my path yet and still have to see the Onc and Surgeon next week, my mastectomy isn't until the 11th and all of this time lagging is making me feel very overwhelmed.
I know this all will finally come to a point where things fall into place but the waiting, ugh.
My daughter is doing pretty good, I'm so happy for her, she reached her halfway, done w/her ac so she feels she's made a milestone in her treatment. We talked on the phone last night, she lives out of state and it helped us both.
My sister and her have started genetic counseling and want me to get the paperwork from my onc so that I can be tested first and I will of course but just something else to "organize" and my brain is oatmeal right now.
Gosh thanks for letting me vent, you are a great gal.
You keep saying you only had DCIS but please keep a watch on yourself and stay proactive.
Hugs,

ktwist

Don't be so hard on yourself....I'm sure it's going to take time once you have your treatment plan to think straight again. I can imagine that you just can't digest it all yet. With time it will get better...probably harder the second go around instead of easier, or I would imagine.

You know Pam, I have been touched in many ways by bc through my life. Outside of my own dx, it's impacted me through loved ones and friends being dx. This board is all about us all helping each other through it, isn't it? Some of us are going through more difficult times than others, but we all understand. You don't have to feel you need to respond to me unless you need to talk. I sincerely just want to check on you from time to time to see how you and your daughter are doing. I don't know, it sounds funny, but I care. I have 4 children and I know how difficult this must be on you watching your daughter go through this as well as dealing with your own situation. So, vent away!!


Karen

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