some help please

chanel000

Hello,

I am hoping you could give me some advice.  I was dx'd with LCIS two years ago--I had an excisional biopsy.  I have been going for mammos every year and seeing my BS every 6 months.  Last year I felt some thickening in the same breast where I had the biopsy--but NOT in the same area.  I told my BS, he also felt it, but the mammo came back clear (I did not have an US).  

For the past 3-4 months, I have some shooting pains in the same area as the thickening, and at other times a dull ache, and I think the thickened area is larger.  I am seeing my BS and having my annual mammo next week.

 If mammo comes back clear, should I still ask for a US?  Do you think my symptoms are anything to worry about?  

I am not sure if I should post here for answers.  Please do not get offended if I have posted here and I shouldn't have.  I am stressed out and looking for answers.  Thank you all for all the great information you provide. 

Wendyspet

I would ask your BS to write you an order for an ultrasound when you see him.  That way, when you go for your mammo, they will do both at the same time no questions asked.  Although you might check with your insurance company first, because mine only covered "well visits" 100%, and anything over a baseline mammo was not considered a "well visit".

I hope it truly is nothing bad for you, but why live with the doubt?

Anonymous

My oncologist describes me as a classic case of Lobular BC.  Remember that these Oncology types only see infrequent cases of Lobular.  My BC onc at the university said that only 10% of the BC she see's is Lobular.

My BC did not show up on mammo's for years and has never appeared on a Pet Scan and is difficult to track on a CT Scan.  If I were you, I would move heaven and earth to get a biopsy done on this area.  Please don't take no for an answer.  Hopefully, it's nothing and you will be done with it.  If not, you need to know now. 

chanel000

Wendy & nurse-ann, thank  you!

I will do as you both suggest: get a US and a biopsy.  I am a little worried, and I would rather be safe than sorry (I know that is a trite saying--but it is true).

Did either of you have pain in the area of the thickening?  

Again, thank you so much for your replies.

Anonymous

No, I did not have pain and I was not able to feel the thickening.  When they called me back for additional testing, the technician showed me where she felt thickening and it was still difficult for me to feel with my untrained fingers although the area was pretty large. 

Good luck to you with this - hoping for good results so you can put this to rest.

Southamptonmom

NurseAnn said it all: Move heaven and earth for a biopsy. If your BS won't do one, you can find one that will. My skin thickening was gradual, but significant. It was itchy, too. I'd also suggest a breast MRI. My BC didn't show up on ultrasound or on mammo. I presented with lymph nodes on mammo, and primary tumor only showed up on MRI. Hoping for the best for you.

chanel000

Thanks again everyone.  I will insist on a biopsy.  I like my BS, but he is a little tough to talk to.   He also didn't think tamox would really be helpful for me, and I am ok with that.  I have been going to him for almost 20 years--I was 28 at my first biopsy (it was a fibroadenoma).  He operates out of a well-respected university hospital, but even after all this time, I still feel uncomfortable certain procedures. I should have asked him for to do an US and biopsy last year.   I think I need to become more proactive.

Also, my nipple retracts when I lift my arm.  Is this significant?

nash

I just wanted to echo what Southamptonmom said--get a breast MRI. My tumor (pleomorphic ILC) did not show on mammo (until they knew where it was, then they could go back and find it on the films), barely showed on U/S, and was there in all its glory on MRI.

I know that nipple retraction can be significant, but I don't know under what circumstances. I don't know if it only happening when you move your arm is different than bc symptomatic retraction that happens w/o movement. But it's definately something to have checked out.

My PILC was an actual palpable lump. The thickening part for me was really hard to feel, and apparently also hard for all the docs who did clinical exams through the years who missed it. And yes, I had pain, but that was b/c the tumor was starting to grow into the pectoral muscle.

Gitane

Hi chanel000,  Just jumping in to say an MRI is the only thing that showed my BC.  The gyn. didn't feel it, mammograms didn't show it.  It was an incidental finding after a routine mammo when deciding if a minor focal distortion on ultrasound might be fibrocystic change or DCIS and a biopsy was done.  It turned out to be extensive PILC.  It had to have been there a long, long time undetected.

wallycat

Mammograms and ultrasounds failed me.

MRI found it.  Get an MRI and GET IT BIOPSIED!

My new eye doctor (that I just fired...sigh) said his wife had a lump and they bx it but got the wrong spot...turns out the area they intended to biopsy was negative but the wrong area ended up cancer.

chanel000

You women are wonderful!  Thank you so, so much for taking the time to respond.

As I said previously, I am seeing my BS next Tuesday.  I will request an MRI and US as well as my usual mammo.  I may have to fight for the MRI, but I will pay for it myself if he doesn't agree to do it at the hospital.  

It is so unbelievable to me that for many of you your ILC did not show up on a mammo or US. That is really scary.

Again, thank you so much for your reponses.