I have a sore lump near underarm.

Apolli1

I have a sore lump near underarm.

Apolli1

I was diagnosed with invasive breast cancer 1/08. I had a mastectomy and they took out a 4cm malignant tumor and I had just the sentinel node come back positive. Afterward I kept saying, i'm tender under the opposite arm close to breast. The sent me for an MRI and said there is nothing there. I can feel something there without touching, it feels like a bruise and I can actually feel something there now. I figured that if the MRI said no, then it was nothing but all week i've been having my period and it is the same, sore, tender and if I touch it, I can barely stand it. I start chemo on Tuesday but what if this is something. I told my surgeion and this has been going on! He looked at the MRI and said "I have nothing on that". What should I do?

Rebecca

You know your body better than anyone else.  If you feel something is wrong, stand your ground and insist that they take you seriously.  Tell your onc if the surgeon dismissed you.  If you have a palpable lump, there is obviously something THERE...not that it is necesarily something bad.  You must advocate for yourself.

Be strong, keep your head high and smile.  Be well, and stay in touch...the women here are wonderful, supportive and a bottomless well of information.   

TenderIsOurMight

By all means, do persist as Rebecca suggests.



If you feel a lump, make sure they examine you and feel it too. If your doctors can't feel what you feel, then ask for an ultrasound at this point.



Ultrasound has the benefit of being able to be pointed right at the place you feel your lump and then the reflective echoes analyzed for a diagnosis. Perhaps there is a lymph node, some fibrocystic thickened tissue, or other.



As no single imaging test is 100%, differing modalities can be used to check lumps.



The risk of bilateral breast cancer is very low, but regrettably it does occur. Your doctors know this, and they need to listen to you beyond just doing an MRI.



So sorry you are having this added on to your primary breast cancer diagnosis and undergoing chemotherapy. Come on back and post again should you wish. We're here to listen and support.



Best,

Tender

Beesie

Since you're just recently been diagnosed with BC and are just starting your treatment, it's understandable that this has you worried.  But keep in mind that swollen lymph nodes can occur for lots of reasons, most of which aren't serious at all. 

Having said that, I agree with the others.  Hopefully this isn't related to your BC and hopefully it isn't anything serious, but it's always important to check out anything strange or new.  Ask for an ultrasound.   Good luck!