Here we go.....worry, worry, WORRY!!!

SOMYLUCK

I just had my 1st mammo follow-up since surgery and treatment. I was dx about a year ago with DCIS, comedo necrosis. Rec the letter in the mail today, here's what it read:

Your recent mammo examination showed an area that we believe is benign (not cancer). However, in 6 months, you should follow-up mammo to confirn that this area has not changed.

OMG! Here we go again. Having to wait without worrying! How do you do that?! Especially after going through this
once already!!!

Why couldn't it have just come in and said, everything is fine! I swear, nothing ever seems to come easy for me.

wallycat

Can you request an MRI follow up to ensure that things are benign?
That may give you peace of mind between the 6 months.

Best to you.
I hear you about the waiting and worrying. It is one of the reasons I'm leaning towards a bilateral proph. mastectomy.
Some docs think I'm being radical, but the thought of 6 month follow ups for life is even less appealing.

SOMYLUCK

I agree with you on that! Thanks for the advice. I think I will see if I can have that MRI done so I can hopefully have some peace of mind.

dashley

Wish I could escape the worrying, but I have too many weird pains, lumps, swelling not to worry. I'd like to know if other people are having any of my pains, etc. My blood work so far has been okay, but I don't know if that is a completely dependable way to catch a reoccurrence. I'd like to have a CAT scan, but I have a $5,000 deductible insurance, so I'd end up paying for the scan, which I can't afford. The thing I'm most concerned about is a feeling of swelling in my arm pits, especially the side where the cancer was found (had a 4.8 cm lump in that breast, but no lymph involvement); had both breasts removed just to be safe. Anyone else having this kind of stuff going on -- chest pains, swelling in armpits, etc?

dashley

I might be wrong, but I think that even if both breasts are removed, you will still need 6-month checkups, since the cancer can spread to other places. I had the other breast removed because of a tumor marker indicating high risk to the 2nd breast; I still have to have 6-mo. checkups.

wallycat

I know my internist says she has bad groin pain and under-arm pain when she ovulates.

I worry about ovarian pain that is past ovulation...that i have ovarian cancer.
Seems like I am always worried about something.

Good luck gals!

Anonymous

Quote:

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he thing I'm most concerned about is a feeling of swelling in my arm pits, especially the side where the cancer was found (had a 4.8 cm lump in that breast, but no lymph involvement); had both breasts removed just to be safe. Anyone else having this kind of stuff going on -- chest pains, swelling in armpits, etc?

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I had a 4.5 cm tumor. I did have nodal involvement. That side, under my armpit, always feels swollen. I have mild lymphedema. I just saw my onc Tuesday and she wasn't concerned. However, if she were wearing my clothes and fell how uncomfortable I feel, she might change her mind.

I just get so angry at times with these doctors. She didn't think I had any LE going on at this time. Sure feels like it. And I have the darn doggie ears. I mentioned having it removed and she suggested not to. Seems like there's more involvement with surgery than I thought. Plus I wouldn't looke the same on each side. It's very annoying to feel this fat crap.

I'll shut up!
Shirley

Anonymous

Quote:

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I know my internist says she has bad groin pain and under-arm pain when she ovulates.

I worry about ovarian pain that is past ovulation...that i have ovarian cancer.
Seems like I am always worried about something.

Good luck gals!

---

That's funny you mention the groin pain. Sometimes when I walk I have some pain, like a catch, in my groin. I haven't seen the gyn since March '04. That's the year I found my tumor AFTER my mammo. Anyway, I've just forgotten..gotten out of the routine. Anyway, I am seeing him in July. I've been a little concerned about the groin discomfort.
Shirley

dashley

Shirley, You're the only one who replied to my query -- thank you. At least I know I'm not alone in feeling the swollen, lumpy feeling in my armpit. I was hoping to get lots of replies, so I would know that it's fairly common, and not anything to worry about. This is my first attempt at using this Discussion Board, but wanted answers to my question. Is there a better place to post the question, so more people will reply? By the way, what's LE? And what's doggie ears?

talaw

I seem to be suffering from a mild case of lymphedema now and then. I thought I'd mention that when it occurs the first place I feel it is in the armpit. I suddenly feel like I'm walking around with a wad of tissue under my arm.

wallycat

I'm sorry if you didn't think I replied.
I thought that perhaps the reason you were feeling "full" in the armpit is because you may be ovulating.
Apologies if it didn't apply

dashley

That's interesting! I asked my oncologist if she thought that "wad of tissue" feeling in my armpit might be lymphedema, but she said it would be in the arm, not the armpit. Do you wonder sometimes if they really know what they're talking about?

dashley

I'm 62 years of age. Would I still be ovulating at that age?

wallycat

Dashley, You didn't indicate your age.

And actually, a nurse friend of mine is 62 and is still getting regular periods...so technically, yes, you could.
Sorry.

dashley

Thanks for your reply, but I don't think ovulation is the link, as this swollen feeling in my armpit is there almost all the time. Do you think the fact that only one other person has responded with the same problem, might mean there's something about which to be concerned? I was hoping to get a lot of women saying their having the same problem.

talaw

Dashley,

Hopefully we aren't the only 2 with that feeling in our armpits! I haven't been too worried about it!

FLtricia

I had modified radical mastectomy with no node involvement 9/06. To this day my underarm swells and is uncomfortable (some days worse than others). Sometimes I feel it under my shoulder blade as well. I liken it to having a piece of wood stuck under my arm. I have mentioned it to my surgeon and my oncologist. They both nodded their heads and said it was nothing to worry about, sometimes it just happens. I feel it might be fluid as I had my husband massage all around the shoulder blade and when he finished the pain was not there, but the "wood" was under my arm.

dashley

Got another reply about the arm pit swelling, so that makes three people. I'm guessing this is just another problem that goes along with this cancer journey. I tend to be a worrier, which is something I'm trying to stop, as it doesn't really help anything to worry.

Chelee

dashley, Your NOT alone on this one. I had a MRM when first DX with a SNB on right side last year. That side has ALWAYS felt like a big wad of crap is stuck in there under my arm pit. I HATE IT! Feels just awful. Then I had my Prophylactic mastectomy this last March and this side I DIDN'T have a SNB....just a simple mastectomy. But that side feels JUST AS BAD under my arm pit. I complained to my surgeon and onc and they just BLOW me off like its nothing to worry about and no big deal. Its a BIG DEAL to me...I'm living with it daily. I wanted that big fat pads or whatever removed. I tried to explain to my surgeon how tight it feels there. Even up around where my bra strap goes...it feels so tight like its cutting off the blood supply. But under my arms is by far the WORSE!!!!!!!! I am surprised I haven't seen more women complain about this? So your NOT alone on this one.

As to HOW you can get more replies. I am not sure if your pretty new here or what...but sometimes its better if you "start" a brand new thread verses asking a new question in someone elses thread. (Hope that makes sense?)

Try that next time and you might see a big difference. People see whats in the "subject" title and thats what makes people click on what interests them. Hope that helps.

Chelee

BoobsinaBox

Dashley and others,

I had a bilateral mastectomy on 4 May 2006 for DCIS, and I have had a sense of swelling on my sides below the armpits ever since. At first they were numb, but as feeling has returned partially, they still seem swollen. The left side, where the DCIS was diagnosed, was more swollen, and the bs aspirated it on my first visit after the drains were removed. No one seems to think this is LE or anything else to worry about, and it doesn't seem to have gotten any worse. I have concluded that it is fat, perhaps because the fat that might have gone to my breasts now has nowhere else to go nearby, with most of the fat cells removed. I insisted on having a one-year check-up last week, even though the surgeon thinks it is unnecessary. He is willing to do it, and that is what counts. He says everything is fine. My personal theory is that doctors shouldn't be allowed to do anything to a patient that they haven't had done to them! I'll bet a lot of us would get better treatment then! HA!

Dawn

Anonymous

bump

dashley

Chelee, I'm glad to finally be getting some response re underarm swelling/lumpiness. I think there are enough of you with the problem that I actually feel quite relieved. My concern was that it might be more cancer. I can live with the discomfort, I just don't want the cancer to have spread.

dashley

Dawn, I love your humorous user name; one needs a sense of humor during this journey. It's a relief to know that other women are having this underarm swelling problem. I can live with the discomfort, as long as it isn't the cancer coming back. I'm surprised that you're only having a one-year checkup. Aren't you having blood work every four months, along with a checkup?