Not bad enough that mom is Stage4...now a new lump on my breast

GoldenGirls

It's like a bad joke or something! My mom was very recently diagnosed with mets after being cancer free for over 11 years and now I have a suspicious lump on my breast! I am FREAKING OUT! I have very lumpy breasts and as a result of that and my mom's cancer, I have regular mammograms -- last one around 9 months ago. Over a month and a half back I felt something that I can only describe as a hard line just above my nipple and behind my nipple. It's what I would image a duct to feel like, only much harder. I waited to see the doctor about it because I was hoping it would go away after my period, but 2 periods later it's still here and quite noticable, maybe even a little bigger. I found it because I had been having sharp stabbing pains behind the nipple. I check  my breasts weekly so I am pretty confident that it hasn't been there more than a couple of months--or at  least I couldn't feel it before then.

Saw the doctor today and he told me he felt something without my having to tell him where it was and sure enough, it's the same thing i felt. He did say it's somewhat concerning and asked the nurse to book me an appt. for an ultrasound, which I was fully expecting when I walked in. What worried me is that he specifically asked her to book it at the hospital instead of in-house (they have an ultrasound clinic on-site). I guess this means if the ultrasound is suspicious then I can have a mammogram there also.

I am beyond stressed and now am wondering about every last little thing I have been feeling, like a tingles/pins and needles sensation i have been feeling in my back and inside of my arm (same side as the lump) and a pain just to the left of my spine.  I have asked about a voluntary mastectomy several times and am always brushed off because my mom was "officially" diagnosed with cancer at 50. Apparantly if she were under 50 I would be considered higher risk even though the lump WAS there when she was 49--possibly even before!

Anyone else have a hard line near the nipple? Imagine a hard vein or a hard duct. A little background: I am 40, no kids and therefore not nursing. I have very lumpy breasts and my left breast has been notably bigger than my right for the last 4 or so years. All mammograms have been normal so far.

Lily55

If its your left breast then you can get pains and odd sensations around back too...as for rest get checked then worry...this could be any number of benign symptoms or could be early lobular symptoms......at least you will get lots of tests in one place and fast....good luck

Moiralf

Aww Crap Canadagirl,

What are you doing?? . No-one likes a copy cat. This is not a competition.

Please please realise I'm joking!!!! Yes, I have a sick black sense of humour and No this is not funny but if you don't find humour you just want to sit down and scream profanities to the world. Hummm, not that I have ever done that. Nope.

Have no experience with that sort of lump but as you know it is better to get the answer quickly and know what you are dealing with.

Your doc sounds like he is thinking ahead and saving you having to run around having scans and then more scans like your mum. Not very re-assuring I guess but so much better than dragging it out like you have already experienced.

Take the same advice you got when this was your mum,one day at a time until you know what you are dealing with. 

My mum got bc a couple of years after me. So we are a switch on your situation(but you don't even know yet, so hold on). It was not considered genetic as she was so old(82) when she got it that it was just luck of the draw. She got stage0 lobular and I got stage 4 ductal. I know which of us won that lottery.

You know that it has been only been there to the touch for a couple of months and you did all the right things in being aware and then not over panicking and giving it time to resolve, then taking it to the doc. Hope your ultrasound and anything else show no problem but you have all the experience to know what to ask and to make sure they do the right tests to check. That is a positive out of your mum's problems. You won't let them muck you about and you will know exactly how far they need to go to make sure they get the correct and final answer. That gives you some power and control over this. Wish none of us needed to know but at lest knowledge is power.

Fingers crossed for your scans and please let us know. Sometimes life sucks big ones. But you can do this.

Moira

GoldenGirls

Thanks Moira.  I am trying not to stress, but we all know how that goes. And I love the sick sense of humor so keep it comin'! Will take all the laughs I can get!

rozem

canadagirl (im in toronto!) they are being extra careful because you have a family history- and thats a good thing.  Remember we all have lots of lumps and bumps and most are b9.  You are being screened and had a clear mammo not long ago so that is a great sign.  If you are on these boards a lot it is easy to get into the "everyone has it" scenario - chances are that it is nothing.  I do believe you are at higher risk if your mother was diagnosed pre-menopausally.  Sending you good vibes for b9 results

GoldenGirls

I have a mammogram and ultrasound at the hospital tomorrow and my anxiety is through the roof! I was only expecting an ultrasound since that's all my doctor ordered but it seems that protocol is to have both when a lump is felt and the radiologist has given the go-ahead to have one even though it's only been 9 months since my last annual mammo. Is there a difference between the type of mammogram they do for regular screening and for looking at a known lump? (And I thought I had all the BC knowledge I could possibly need with my mom's diagnosis! Ha!)

bluepearl

Mammo and ultra sounds are the normal protocol for anything abnormal. Tye last mammogram may have "missed" something, so they will do it again. I had two mammos right after each other before the ultrasound; they needed to see. "Spot Magnification" mammos look at a specific area more closely and magnified. If they didn't say that, you won't probably get it.Depending on what they see, most of the time it's benign. The word "spiculation" makes it more omminous, so if they don't say that, you will probably be ok....here's hoping and sending good thoughts your way!!!!!

bluepearl

Also, look up Mondor's disease too.....it's a benign finding that fits your desription too.

GoldenGirls

Thanks Bluepearl I have actually looked up Mondor's but don't think it applies as the long hard line I feel cannot be seen, only felt. Hopefully I will have some answers tomorrow...good ones preferably!

lostinmo

canadagirl-Hope you get some good answers tomorrow!

Moiralf

Hi Canadagirl,

Good luck for tomorrow, will be thinking of you and hope they tell you results on the day. That is do-able with mammos and ultrasounds unlike CTs and scans. Curse those things.

My first time around they only did a mammo and said they found nothing. A year later same lump and with mammo and ultrasound found the cancer so Yep you definitely need both.

Hold onto the thought that most of these things are B9 but the anxiety is horrible. Apart from the pills and some small amount of alcohol there is not much to do but wait and then get it over with.I'm not a drinker but I sometimes have a small glass the night before some tests. Depends on my mood but the act of just drinking it relaxes me a little.

Will be thinking of you and have fingers crossed. 

Moira

GoldenGirls

I am happy--though not yet 100% relieved--that the radiologist doesn't see anything on either the mammo or the ultrasound. They only told me because I was very visibly anxious and they knew that my mom was recently diagnosed stage 4. They took loads of images, came back for more and all along told me they didn't see anything but wanted to be absolutey certain since myself and the doctor could feel something. The tech also felt it but didn't think by the feel and shape that it was concerning. The ultrasound tech also told me during the exam that she wasn't seeing anything unusual and went to speak to the radiologist about those images as well and when she returned said that the radiologist was very happy with all of the images from both tests today and "sees nothing, nothing, NOTHING! So you can relax now!" She then said that it would take some time to get the final report and that to be even more sure they had requested my mammo and ultrasound images from the hospital I first started getting mammos at 5 years ago in another city. She told me to make sure I always follow up any tests with my doctor but that there was nothing found. Whew! Now if only I could completely relax! I guess being caught off guard by my mom's diagnosis and the long runaround we got, I can't help but worry a little until I know that the radiologist has had time to really carefully examine all the images for the final report.

Now I am off to ice my very sore boobies!

Hugs!

lostinmo

I am glad you got good news!! 

Moiralf

That is stunning news Canandagirl.

Whoo Hoo for you. Such a relief and good to know they double checked everything and looked closely and still found nothing.

So pleased for you.

Moira