What to do?

ktwist

I'm not sure what to do. I have a fluid filled area that I can (and my husband can) easily feel. I had a breast infection that has since cleared up, but this area that is about the size of a golf ball now is still there. I went to my surgeons a couple of months ago for her to feel it when it was smaller. For some reason that day it moved around a little and she couldn't feel it. She said lets wait on it. I went back last month and saw her NP after experiencing discharge as well. After calling the surgeon and getting back with me, she scheduled an MRI. In the mean time, the area has grown. I went for the MRI yesterday. They called me this morning and told me that 1. nothing showed up on this breast at all except some normal thickening of tissue from scarring and 2. there are two areas of low concern on the other breast that need to be re-evaluated via an MRI in 6 months.

When the np called me, she said...isn't this great news, nothing showed up where you thought there was something. Well, I looked at my husband and said am I crazy or do you feel the same thing I do? They initially thought it was going to be a seroma because I also had discharge on the side that had the area in question. I'm wondering if because the area is directly beneath the skin and not within the breast tissue that this is the reason it did not show up? Perhaps because it is not surrounded by breast tissue? I'm just guessing here. Any advice? I'm frustrated because although I am not concerned that this is anything more than a result of treatment....it's something that needs to be dealt with. The fact that it's larger now really bothers me. I asked the np, "well, what am I feeling then?" and she said, "nothing". Any thoughts? I'm thinking maybe an ultrasound will show more, but I think that my surgeon might be thinking it's all in my head because she did not feel it the first time and she has not felt it recently....and now with the normal MRI..... My husband and I are at a loss...but we know it's not normal. At least I have someone else who can feel the same thing and also knows it's not normal.

Anyone had this or know what to do?

cheryl58

Hi movingforward, I did not have a fluid-filled mass. However, my breast cancer lump was very close to the skin and was very palpable. I could actually grab it and roll it around in my fingers. Mammo and ultrasound were inconclusive (it did not show up) even though it was "right there"! I do think that it is harder for the docs to see it if it is close to the skin. Maybe the skin layers kind of obscure it.

I would see another doctor if your doctor does not want to follow up on it. Sometimes, fluid will be absorbed by the body in time and if this has not happened, then I would find someone that can verify why it is there (just for your peace of mind).

Hugs,
Cheryl

ktwist

Thanks Cheryl. You know, I have a scheduled mammo for April along with an ultrasound....so I guess i will go to that and see what they find. If someone would just say to me, "yes, this is a seroma...and we are going to leave it and let it go away on it's own"...I'd be ok with that. But telling me that it's nothing....well, that left my husband and I angry. It was not the doctor who said this to me, but her new PA. Obviously it has to be something! Honestly, if you could feel it yourself you would laugh that they said this to me.

As for the 2 spots they found in my right breast that they are going to look at again it 6 months...I'm really not worried about that. I guess I figure that they are checking me so close that if they find that anything is cancer again, it will be early. Thanks for your response!

Karen

tos

Hi Karen, I'm so sorry you are going thru this, good grief, why can't someone just tell you what it is instead of nothing, I so understand where you are coming from, give me a name, explanation, something!
I'm glad you have a mammo and US coming in April and pray for good results.
If you can't get these people to tell you what it is that you feel than I too would go somewhere else.
Good luck and keep us posted,

badboob67

Karen,
I'm so sorry you are frustrated with your doctors. I would be too! This is just a thought, but maybe something to consider: perhaps you are experiencing breast lymphedema. I don't really know that much about it except that it is always a possibility after surgery.

I hope you are able to get a satisfactory answer soon. I understand how frustrating this is for you.

ktwist

Thank you Pam and Badboob67-

About 2 months ago the np at my surgeons office told me she thought I had breast lymphedema because I have been experiencing (and I still am) swelling of the breast. I went to the specialist and this doctor actually felt the fluid filled area when it was smaller. He said the swelling of the breast and this fluid filled area are not from lymphedema. He said that if it was, the fluid would also be pooling on the underside of the breast. The area I have is at the 12:00 location. I'm assuming at this point that the swelling is probably still effects from rads. I guess it can happen that months after rads you can start swelling again. I've been done with rads for almost 7 months. As for the fluid bubble, I guess my ultrasound will tell me what it is. If my surgeon is not worried about it, I should not be, huh? I go to my rad onc in a few weeks for my check up, so I will have them look at it too. Thanks for the support, I think I just needed to vent because I thought I was going to get a specific answer this week.

Hugs-

Karen

almost50

Karen: You can ask to see the surgeon again. Have your husband go with, and if HE can feel it, the surgeon will also be able to, and then he/she can explain what it is. My radiation related swelling took 9-10 mos. to go away, and I couldn't even lay on my breast flat until over a year later. Be assertive and ask to be re-seen. Explain you are worried, and ask the surgeon to re-examine you. You have every right to ask for this, and they should be able to accomodate you. Best of luck, and go with your "gut"!

tos

I agree with almost 50. You need an answer for your peace of mind. You said it was her new PA who told you it was nothing, not good enough, take hubby and talk to the surgeon.
Karen you are your best advocate, fight for answers.
You deserve them or see someone else.
Geesh I just read my comment to you Karen and hope it didn't sound harsh, I certainly don't mean it that way, I just want you to find the answers you need. We care about you, you're a good person!

Anonymous

Post deleted by bco-administrator

Ontario

Back to topic. Moderators notiifed

ktwist

I never got back to this and said what it was. It was so simple I was just annoyed after. I had implants prior to my dx. After surgery and then rads, it's damaged that side. The area of DCIS was so large that was removed that the implant is now pushing through the area and popping out under my skin. It amazes me that 2 docs and 2 nurses could not tell me what the liquid filled area was. It's so soft and feels like my own skin will fluid beneath it, so I didn't even think of it being the implant...expecially after the professionals not knowing it was that. Anyway, I went in for my Mammo and the tech told me instantly what it was. She said it's going to continue to push out and I will have to have another surgery to have it replaced. I also now have severe capsular contraction on that side from rads. I don't want to do the surgery until I have my next MRI in October in case they tell me that the area they are watching on my other side turns out to be something. I'll wait and see if I have any problems with the other side first so I don't end up with multiple surgeries. So...a very simple answer that took months to get. Go figure!

Karen