A lot of symptoms and very scared! Searching for imput!

Mdempsey

Hello everyone...I'm a 6.5 year survivor of IDC. A little history - I was 35 when I felt a lump in my breast. Of course when thru all the steps. I was stage 1 with no lymph node involvement.  My cancer was extremely aggressive so I had surgery, chemotherapy and radiation and have been on Femara for 5 years and still on it.  I have Zometa treatments every six months.

Now....I found a lump under my left breast (cancer breast) May 29th. PCP ordered an ultrasound that showed a 0.5 x 0.3 x 0.2 cm hypoechoic foci which was moderately defined.  The radiologist had a hard time viewing it and recommended an ultrasound follow-up in 3 months. My oncologist agreed. Are you kidding me???

I have had diarrhea for 6 weeks, constant indigestion, fatigue and now I have a constant ache on the side and back below the lump.  The pain kind of wraps around my side to the back. I have this back pain on and off for a while but just hit and miss.The symptom that is really scaring me now is weight loss!!!  My appetite has not changed and I have lost a pound a day for the last 4 days!!!

I'm begging for any stories and/or outcomes like mine. I feel certain that my cancer is back

Thanks to each of you!

Melissa

 

tgtg

Mdempsey--I'm not a physician but I'd hazard a guess that (1) your weight loss is tied to your 6 weeks of diarrhea and that you should get in touch with your PCP about both the prolonged diarrhea and the weight loss. Diarrhea that lasts as many weeks as yours has (not just several days) should be evaluated by a doctor, since it depletes your body of all kinds of necessary nutrients as it dehydrates you. Whether the diarrhea is caused by anxiety about a recurrence or by a medical condition unrelated to the bc, you should consult a doctor about it--six weeks is too long.

Mdempsey

Thanks tgtg!

The PCP knows about the diarrhea but it hasn't been discussed since I found the lump.  I lost my Dad in October which I have not dealt with very good and my daughter is bipolar and has been unstable which gives me extreme anxiety.  I had the shingles almost 2 months again also. My PCP thought the diarrhea was stress related.  I need to discuss it again with her since I now have weight loss. My oncologist also knows about the diarrhea and told me to go to a gastro doctor and have it checked.  Thanks again for your imput

farmerlucy

What about asking for an MRI? Seems like that would be a reasonable request for someone your age and with your history. Can you go back to your original BS?

Mdempsey

Thanks farmerlucy,

My BS has retired but I know another one that is really good.  I would love to go straight to an MRI and get all the second guessing out of the way.  I'm past due on my blood work so I called and scheduled that today. It's definitely worth a try. My PCP and oncologist doesn't seem as worried as me. I was told that if I hadn't found my first cancer myself and early that I may not have lived 6 months so of course I'm extremely scared.

KBeee

Keep pushing for answers. It sucks that you have to work so hard to be your own advocate, but sadly you do. Hoping for all good news.