lump in underarm 4 years after treatment

bcisnofun

Hello,

I was originally diagnosed about 4 years ago - had a double mastectomy, reconstruction, chemo and have been taking tamoxifen with no problems.  It's hard to believe I've forgotten for sure which breast is which but...I think the original cancer was IDC in my left breast and DCIS in right.  Since I had an MRI and double mastectomy with pathology, I doubt they mis-diagnosed the DCIS. 

I found a lump this morning in my underarm/armpit area on the right side.  It was small - maybe the size of a bb and it rolled around as I touched it.  doc has me scheduled for a U/S and to see her on Friday morning.  My question is this...if truly it was dcis on the right side, would I really get a local or regional recurrence on that side? 

Also does anyone know what it means that it seems to move when I touch it?  Is that more likely good news, bad news or neither. 

thanks for any thoughts you have! 

bcisnofun!

bevin

HI there, I am just seeing this now. I don't have experience with this but am certain someone will come along soon who can provide some input. Hoping you are well.

vlnrph

Hi bcisnofun, hope you have good news by now. Do you go to the James? I attended a lymphedema seminar there a few years ago.

I suppose it's possible for some rogue cells to get established in the tail of breast tissue that is not completely removed during mastectomy. Sometimes nodes will enlarge due to infection instead of cancer. Let us know why you find out...

bcisnofun

thank you vlnrph for your reply!  Yes, I go to the James.  They are amazing.  Dr. said unlikely to be a problem in the right nodes unless there's a new primary.  US showed all is fine.  You were correct - node likely enlarged due to recent infection.  How is your lymphedema? 

Marietje1956

Dear Bcisnofun,

I was in the same boat. I had a mastectomy in 2006 with (as they stated) only DCIS in my right breast. In the summer of 2014 I felt a lump, movable, under in my axilla on the right side. I could not believe this had anything to do with cancer as recurrence from DCIS is theoretically impossible and the only chance was that they left some DCIS breastcells close to my axilla, chances will be 0,001 or so.

I turned out to have 6 macro metastatic lymph nodes, grown together. They looked again at the tissues from my breast in 2006 and there it was: a tiny tiny tumor (0,5 mm), hiding within the DCIS cells, missed by the pathologist - but they told me they could see more now because of better coloring techniques.

As far as I know, it is a favorable sign that your lump is not sticked to muscle or so, but that you can move it. My surgeon said that when she felt the lump before biopsy.

Had FEC (3), docetaxel (3), dissection of course and rads. Finished end of January.

Feel good now, just the fear, that's the hardest thing (but you know that already…..)

If you need any more info, I will gladly respond.

Dcissucks!!

Marie

Marietje

sorry, just see that your nodes are clean!!

Happy for you and excuse my too swift reply.

bcisnofun

marietje -  thank you for your reply.  wow, that had to have been a shock.  I'm glad the coloring techniques are better now, but geesh could they have been better just a few years earlier!?!  I felt that way about US.  Mammograms which they knew didn't work for dense breasts was all there was for me.  Mammograms missed it likely for years and even just a few months before I found my own lump.  US was just cleared as a screening method a couple years ago.  Oh sure - now it's cleared I was thinking.  Is your hair growing back?  I'm glad you are feeling better. 

Marietje

Thanks!

i understand you need clearance from your insurance company? Here in Holland mostly the doctor decides.

And yes, my hair is back, very short but I love it!

Did you have a hair issue?