found a lump, waiting 7 days for mammogram, terrified to tears

scaredyMatt

Hello everyone. My name is Matt and I'll be 36 next week. This morning I discovered a very distinct lump in my right breast, an inch or two away from my nipple toward my armpit. It feels like there's a large non-peanut M&M under my skin. It's hard, painless, smooth and mobile. Though I'm pretty slim for my age, my pectoral muscles are anything but hard. The lump seems less attached to the skin than to the muscle underneath.

 

I went straight to the ER in the smallish Northern CA mountain town I'm working in for the next month (I normally live in Seattle). The doctor told me that he's 99% sure it's not malignant. He said that it's a good sign that it's mobile and smooth. I quickly set about reading on the net and found that the mobility of the lump doesn't seem to suggest much either way. He suggested that the lump might be a swollen lymph node because I'm just a few days over a few weeks of bronchitis. It seems to me a strange place for a single swollen lymph node. I do have another lump below & behind my ear that I noticed a week ago, and which has since developed a reddish tenderness to it, possibly from me messing with it.

 

I keep reading and reading, hoping to find some cause for hope and finding only the opposite. One site listed male breast cancer risk factors as including the use of Finasteride, a hormone-blocking drug I've taken since 1998 to stave off male pattern baldness.

 

I'm scheduled for a mammogram at the radiologist a week from now, and a follow-up with a nurse practicioner a few days later. I'm really bummed to read how inconclusive mammograms are, especially after reading on an exhaustive radiology website how male mammograms are so easily misinterpreted.

 

I'm so worried that I keep crying and shaking and thinking off all the things I hoped to do in life, mainly reconnecting with my estranged 7yo daughter.

 

What I'd really like is a bona-fide biopsy. I have no idea how to seek one, or whether I can afford to wait till after the mammogram. 

 

Any input would be profusely appreciated.

 

Thanks for reading! 

Anonymous

Matt ~ Are you having the mammogram in Seattle?  I'm not sure if you know, but there are many excellent facilities that specialize in breast cancer in the area.  (I'm from Gig Harbor) Like Seattle Cancer Care Alliance and Swedish Hospital.  I would obviously express all your concerns with the radiologist and I'm sure you will feel much better after talking to them and having the mammogram done.   Since your lump is palpable and the size of an m&m...I would think that the mammogram would be easier to interpret..and if not, you could ask for an ultrasound. 

The waiting is really so hard.  Try to take your mind off as best you can. Hugs to you! 

scaredyMatt

Thanks for responding! I lived in Gig Harbor for years. I won't be back in the area for another month when I'm done working here. It's unfortunate because there's nobody to turn to to plea for a biopsy. I know worrying doesn't help but I'm not the kind of person that can just turn it off.

 

 

Iwillwinthisbattle

Hang in there, I know how scary it is, butbtry not to put the cart before the horse. Please let us know when you find out!!!

profbee

Matt, hang in there.  The odds are totally on your side...and although docs can be wrong, saying he's 99% sure it's nothing sounds pretty darnn good.  A doc wouldn't say that if he really didn't think it was nothing.  Try to hang on to that, and the fact that most lumps really do turn out to be nothing.  

The waiting is the absolute worst part for everyone who has a scare of any kind, but maybe something good will come of this and you'll reconnect with your daughter.  Good luck. 

Oh...and you can ask the radiologist about an ultrasound to do on top of the mammogram if he thinks there could be something suspicious.  And then, even for an MRI--all before a biopsy.  I'll bet they'll just rule out anything suspicious in the mammogram and you'll be done and not need a biopsy at all.   Good luck!  

catbill

Hi Matt-

I know how scared you must be, but reading on the Internet right now may not be a good idea.  Dr. Google isn't your friend right now.  Try to stay busy with other things, even if it's just a crossword puzzle.  I hit the Internet when I was diagnosed, and scared myself silly.  For a doctor to give you a number like 99%, he must be pretty sure.  As far as mammograms go, one found my cancer and the radiologist knew right away when he looked at it.  It was so small, I couldn't feel it yet. 

 Take a deep breath.  Under this kind of stress, we forget to breathe.  Best of luck.  Let us know how you're doing.

beacon800

Matt, we've been in your shoes - waiting to be seen, worrying about some darn "thing" in the breast.  Most of the time it is not malignant. 

Because you are a man, it is simple for a doctor to discount the chance of cancer in the breast.  Most doctors will never have seen male breast cancer.  I would advise you to be very assertive in getting the clearest diagnosis as possible, including biopsy, unless the mammo is utterly and obviously benign, such as cyst.

As for finasteride, my own oncologist has been taking this for years to reduce hair loss.  He should know if it causes breast cancer and clearly he does not worry since he is using it himself!  So don't worry about that so much.

Good luck to you and make sure they take you seriously.  It's probably nothing, the odds are very much in YOUR favor, but you want to be sure.

scaredyMatt

Thank you all so much for replying! I can tell this is an excellent forum.

Luckily I have my work to keep me from worrying myself sick most of the day. It's 1am and I just got done a little while ago. Otherwise, it's back to worrying, at which I am the reigning champion. Well, for my age division. My mom holds the >37yo title. I could kick myslef for telling her about this earlier.

I profusely appreciate you guys' kind encouragement of optimism, but I wish I could better heed some of your suggestions about satisfaction with mammography. After reading what I've read, it seems that false negatives utterly prevail in the flow chart leading up to full excision; even aspiration biopsy is useful only when it shows positive, as it's simply so easy to miss the target cells. 

This page is an example of online documents that rattled me up a bit on my iphone after the doc walked away and I was waiting for my discharge paperwork:

 http://www.radiologyassistant.nl/en/49a3cce262026

I mean, it either shows positive in which case ---> <biopsy>, or negative, whose false incidence is sufficient to mean ---> <biopsy>

I'm worried that between now and the time I manage to find someone to cut this thing cut out, malignant cells might migrate.

Anyway, thanks again for replying and trying to lend me some hope.

Matt 

debbie6122

Matt- Im sorry that you are going through this, does breast cancer run in your family? Usually they take you more seriously when you are at high risk. and being a male they may not take it as serious as they should, It is rare but does happen we have men here with breast cancer.

Usually 87% of lumps are cysts and are b9 but that is good you are getting it checked out to make sure, with out a biopsy the dr and techs can not be sure, some are told they are sure it is, and it turns out to be b9 and some are told they dont think it is and it is, so be delignet  and push to get the biopsy especially for your own piece of mind.

Let us know how you are doing, we are all here for you (((((hugs))))))

Hugs,

Debboe

profbee

I guess you could call a breast surgeon and see if he'd see you.  I don't know if your insurance requires referrals for that sort of thing, but if that's really the onlly way you'll feel relieved, maybe you should call and see if someone would take it out and biopsy it for you. 

steelrose

Hi Matt...

First of all, I'm so glad that you didn't delay and are seeking help. And the odds are definetely in your favor that it's benign and you will be just fine. But please do not let anyone dismiss you, and push for answers until you are satisfied. My Dad had male breast cancer 15 years ago, and there was so little awareness or understanding of the disease... you're an example of a new generation of men who are taking action! Good luck to you and please let us know the outcome.

Wishing you the very best...

Rose.

beacon800

Wow Matt, I read the page you posted from radiology asst and it is the most interesting thing!  What this tells me is that you need to be sure the radiologist viewing your films is well versed in male breast films.  Also, be sure your mammo is done on a digital mammogram.  Since you are in a small town they might use the other kind.  You only want digital.  Have them give you a copy of your films for reference in case you want someone else to view them for a second opinion.

My own breast surgeon, one who is very well known at a major teaching hospital (Stanford) has only treated male breast cancer around 3 times.  It is so very rare.

What is good is that there are many things in the male breast that are NOT cancer and in all likelihood you are ok. 

Letlet

Matt...push for a biopsy...go with your gut.

scaredyMatt

Thanks Letlet, but to whom do I push for it? I have to wait another 6 days for my mammogram. I'm thinking about just looking up the nearest specialist, driving to her and pleading with her to cut it out this coming week.

profbee

Depends on your insurance I would think.  I'd start with my primary care...and then call a breast surgeon.  

beacon800

There is a method with this stuff matt.  First clinical exam, which you had.  Next mammogram which is scheduled.  Depending on how the mammo looks they may do ultrasound as well at the same appointment.  These films are then read and it is then determined if a biopsy is needed.  So you are  on the right track.  Try and meet with the radiologist and hear their impression of your mammo.  The radiologist is the one who will make the call as to whether you require biopsy.

In general breast cancer is considered a slow growing problem and waiting 6 days for your mammo will not change the outcome at all.  Keep steady.

buttercupwithab

Try to calm down - I know that you are scared but 6 days won't matter physically.  It can wreak havoc on your state of mind though.  You need to be as calm as possible to hear as much as they will tell you through the process - if you can take someone with you try to arrange that.  If you can get back to a less emotional state, you can look at some of the questions on the boards.  Have questions written down for each step in the process - this may make you feel more control and less terrified.  Also talk with your family doctor about a short prescription for Ativan or another anti-anxiety med that they deem appropriate.  It seems that many people can have problems at night when their minds are racing.  Good Luck and keep us posted.

EricV

Matt,

I went to SCCA for my  second opinion, and they were great.

I pushed my primary care for another look at my lump.  We went to have an ultrasound, and found that we needed a biopsy due to size of my lymph nodes.

 How did your Mamogram go?

raincitygirl

It seems if your doc were truly concerned, your mammo would have happened in a matter of days or even hours.  Any news yet?

BK12

Hey Matt. How did it turn out? I am a 23 yr old who has taken propecia for 7 years. I started losing my hair when I was 16, and I didnt think anything about the drug until i started researching it about a year ago. 

 Recently I found a lump similar to the one you discribed in my armpit. I am scheduled for an apt tomorrow but i was curious what they found in your testing. Anyway, thanks for sharing your story.