Ultrasound Reveals a Potential Recurrence

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KPolasek
KPolasek Member Posts: 184
edited June 2014 in Triple-Negative Breast Cancer

Hi,

I had my lumpectomy on 11/1/07, chemo 12/26/07 - 2/26/08.  radiation ended 5/9/08 (33 treatments).

 I have been having some pain STILL in my boob.  I went to gen phy ... he sent me to surgeon .... his opinion ... scar tissue ...  It still hurt so much that I called my rad oncologist who saw me.  He told me that it may be scar tissue, but he wants to know for sure.  I had an ultrasound last Tuesday.  He will be back in the office tomorrow. 

The ultrasound found a cyst.  Here is what it says:

Ultrasound shows distortion and abnormal echogenicity at 12 o'clock position of left b in region of the scar.  These findings could represent postoperative change and/or current malignancy.  There is a cystic area at as - 1 o'clock which measures approximately 1.0 cm which is in the area of tenderness.  This could represent a focal cyst or seroma.

Impression:

Hypoechoic mass-like area with parenchymal distortion in the region of the surgical scar is consistent with postoperative change.  There is a focal cystic area at 12 to 1 o'clock in the are of the tenderness.  Recurrent malignancy cannot be excluded by ultrasound.  Considerations for breast MRI were discussed with patient if she is concerned about recurrent malignancy.  Mammograms are also suggested and I would suggest consideration for digital mammography given the postoperative changes in the left b. 

Does anyone out there know what some of these terms mean (the ones I used bold-face on)?

I would appreciate any help that I can get.

Blessings,

Kay

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Comments

  • FloridaLady
    FloridaLady Member Posts: 2,155
    edited August 2008

    I did look up these words on the Internet...did not learn a whole lot.  From what I can tell...these comments are referencing how the sound waves reflected back.  I don't want to upset you. I think it is telling you that the sound waves are not passing through these areas.  I would ask for a biopsy and don't keep playings games with scans.  In the end you will need a biopsy any way.

    I pray you get your answers soon, and this brings good news of only a B9 cysts. Also you can have dead cancer cells that stick together and make a cysts.  There is a medical name for this, but I don't recall what it is.

    Flalady

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  • Shirlann
    Shirlann Member Posts: 3,302
    edited August 2008

    Honey, this is sort of a "something is there, could easily be nothing, but we don't know for sure, and so we have to move on this".  Scares you half silly, of course.  Scans and all that are marginal at best, they need to get in there and see what is going on.  For all anyone knows could be just a hematoma or an infection.  Can't tell much until human eyes see it and a microscope sees it.

    Try not to worry, honey, remember, this would be very soon to have anything come up, other than something associated with the surgery.

    Hoping for a great outcome, Shirlann 

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  • KPolasek
    KPolasek Member Posts: 184
    edited August 2008

    Hi ladies!

     My rad onc's nurse called this morning.  I was able to get in for a mammogram .... surprisingly my boob didn't hurt ... but is sore ... I will continue to push them if needed.  My rad onc seems to be the most concerned about me.  I will keep you all posted!

     THANK YOU so much for responding ... I am not scared but I am determined to not let this drop ...

    Blessings,

    K

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  • Joan2844
    Joan2844 Member Posts: 21
    edited August 2008

    Kay,

    I had a similar situation as you, and I would definitely encourage you to follow up on this. I had a lumpectomy in Feb. 2007.  Had hardness/firmness near the incision, and daily pain. Hard to describe, but a constant ache that nawed at me physically and emotionally.

    My mammogram in October 2007 indicated that the area might be suspicious, but we wrote it off as being surgery/radiation related. Lots of scar tissue there. That must have been the cause.

    But, in March 2008, the bad news -- a routine MRI showed increased blood flow to the same area (now very large), and this indicated cancer. Cancer needs blood to grow. I was dx with a recurrence in April, had a mastectomy in May, and now am doing chemo over the summer. It has been very hard, but so far the cancer has been contained in my breast. I'm overjoyed about that. 

    Please do get this checked out more thoroughly. Trip-negs have a high rate of recurrence, as you know. It is hard to find a recurrrence for sure, but the sooner, the better. I wish you all the best.   

     

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