I am a hot mess! Dimples, Ripples, Pucker.

EvilOlive1973

HI Ladies!

I have been lurking in the shadows reading posts for the last week, and would like to introduce myself. I am 42 from the burbs of Chicago. My Grandma (mom's mom) had breast cancer about 35 years ago. She died of a stroke caused by Chemo from her lung and bone cancer (She was in her 80's). The lung cancer was a result of smoking and not breast as they were 32 years (her doc told us this) apart and the bone was mets from the lung.Here is my issue. I noticed in the mirror the my outer left breast it looks like cellulite. Now, I realize that I am over weight about 235 and 5'5' . I recently lost 10 lbs and do lose it in my breast/upper abdomen. I am also shaped "like an olive with 2 toothpicks sticking out it" according to my sister. So, I carry most of my weight in between my chest and hips.These dimples, ripples, puckers could have always been there for all I know. I do self exam, but only when I shower. I never really paid any attention in the mirror until I saw a post on facebook about some lady in the UK with dimpling . They only appear when my arms are down at my side.I cannot see them when I raise my arms. I do have side boob fat . I called my gp and she said you had a clean 3D mammo in Jan of this year, I am gong to order a US of the left breast.Since I am in the Chicago area there many new state of the art breast centers. I got in the next afternoon. I was told I needed a mammo and the doc in charge of the breast clinic ordered me one ..So I got that first and I was told since this is a breast center, i will get results before I leave. I was told mammo was clean.Then I was told that no reason to do the entire left breast US because of the clean mammo, and that they would only look at the area of concern and under my arm. US was also clean. Doc came in to speak to me and said everything looks fine and cannot explain dimple like issue on my beast. She said she has been reading breast mammos for over 20 years and does biopsies and is in charge of the breast center and is considered an expert. She was very nice and explained that this could be normal for me.Told me to not to worry and enjoy my summer and I would see her in Jan for my annual mammo. As I walked out of the US room I walked passed a woman who did not receive good news and felt really foolish being congratulated on my "good news".

Deep down though I still was not satisfied. So I made an appt with a breast surgeon, and he runs a high risk beast clinic he look at my tests and looked at both breasts and he called it rippling and said he is not concerned at all. He reminded me to also check under my arms when doing a self BE and look for lumps. So guess what I did today ..i did just that and low and behold here is a palpable lump and none is mentioned on my US report. said also no enlarged lymphs. So I mention to my hubby and he thinks i am overreacting and said tests say I am fine. I said I know, but i want to be 10000% sure of it. I get an appt today with my GP"s partner and she said she can feel a lump in the underarm area (it is on the same side as dimpling) . She said hmmm you have a clean mammo and US from 6/16 and January..She wanted to order another ultrasound. I said but it showed nothng, what about a Breast MRI and she was not sure if it would show the under arm area. So she is going to call me on monday after she speaks to my doc and radiology to see which test is the best test to order. She told me not to worry that because I have a clean mammo and us it is most likely nothing and whatever it is is pretty small. I have had pain in my inner upper arm to my elbow since this past Jan, a burning pain. An MRI was done on my upper arm in jan and showed no abnormalities or enlarged lymphs . So now I wait. I am sure glad I got my xanax refilled last week ..its gonna be a long next few days.

Anyone else have a clean mammo and US, but have a palpable lump in under arm area? Does this sound like I am being irrational? I certainly do not want to be.

Christina

plumster1

My incident was not exactly the same. But things do just "pop" up sometimes. I had had a mammo on both breasts (clean) ultrasound both breasts on a Monday. That Friday I had to have a biopsy on something on left breast, right was completely clear. Sunday, I felt a lump in my right breast. I knew it was not there before and had just had clean imaging on the right side a week before. So Tuesday when I got my biopsy results, they reultrasounded the right breast. Low and behold a benign cyst had literally popped up. Hopefully, yours is something like that too.

Laura_E

EvilOlive1973, a fe months ago, I had a dimple show up out of nowhere. After ultrasounds, 3D mammo and an MRI, my doctor is satisfied that it is a fibroadenoma causing the dimpling. In her words, she is "99% sure". After a considerable amount of time, stress and expense, 99% is good enough for me. I hope yours also turns out to be a benign condition.

EvilOlive1973

Thank you ladies! I finally got a call from my GP and she said she is not ordering any tests and that I need to go back to the breast surgeon and see what he wants to do.. Talk about a waste.. Now I have to take a few hours off tomorrow and see him when. I thought I was going to have either another ultrasound or MRI which I could have done before or after work. I am glad I am able to get tomorrow. I would like this over with. Thank you so much for the replies

ClareInChicago

hi Christina,

I am from Chicago (still live here on the north side). Anyway, from age 34 to 38, I had "all clear" mammograms, ultrasounds, etc (even though I felt something was off with my right breast since age 34). Last week, at age 40, a 3.2cm lump in my right breast upper quadrant was found thru a routine screening mammogram.The radiologists told my doctor that they think it's "just a cyst". We'll see!! I'm actually glad that now, something is about to be done. I go in for a breast ultrasound on Wednesday and we'll see from there. No matter what the outcome is, I'm happy that this lump is no longer a figment of my imagination. Keep persisting Christina. It's your body and your mind that has to be put at ease

EvilOlive1973

Thank you. My appt is at 10:10 at the hospital in Naperville. I think my lump under my arm is hugh.. Feels like a ping pong ball ..very round and smooth and big! Funny I had an ultrasound on 6/16 they looked in that area but only for like 10 sec..and said was clear. The surgeon hopefully will do one in his office today. I'm so nervous i feel as if I'm gonna be sick . I will post my visit details when I get home

EvilOlive1973

Doc said he cant feel any "lump" said that since my GP felt one and sent me back to him, it is now in his lap (made me feel really special..not!) . he said he dont think its anything and is not worried (i am worried), but is sending me for a Chest CT with and without contrast. The area of the "lump" is behind my pec muscle. It is scheduled for 7/7. So another freaking week of waiting and worrying. I cried all the way home. he said he is looking for enlarged lymphs and that the area of concern has no breast tissue in that spot. I think he if full of it... I have read people get lumps in this area.. It's under my arm right in my arm pit.. He even has a video explaining how cancer may never show in boob and only be seen in the under arm area. I guess ill find out sometine next week

ClareInChicago

Hi Christina, how are you? Naperville..I know it well. My brother lived there for 10 years then moved to Plainfield. Anyway...

I'm sorry that you're getting the whole back and forth runaround thing. It's incredibly frustrating!!!!!

It's funny that you mention the armpit...

just had my breast ultrasound and got results within 2 hours. The radiologist told my doctor that the 3.2 cm mass is a "simple cyst", however....they found a mass in my right axilla (armpit) near the 3.2cm mass. So, I call and make my appt tomorrow because the radiologist wants to aspirate and biopsy both masses. I'm not freaked because I've been going thru this breast drama since I was about 34 years old and feel relieved that something's finally being done.

I know you're worried but see this as relief that you're taking care of things and the ball is starting to roll with the chest ct..and as always, keep persisting

Keep us posted on everything! ((Hugs))

EvilOlive1973

Thank you Clare. I really can't wait for Tuesday. I just want it over with and some kind of results. I keep touching it to see if it's still there and of course it is.. So now I have irritated the heck out of it. It's deep not superficial. Feels round and smooth .. What worries me is that it feels large. Like a large grape. I have had numbness and pain near my elbow since January and sometimes it radiates up the arm I am hoping the lump is from this and nothing more

EvilOlive1973

Radiology called to confirm for tomorrow and I asked if they had an opening for today, because I would like to get this over and done with. She said since my insurance was approved, I can have mt Chest Ct today. it is at 530P ..

crmnsuga1973

let us know how it goes!

Hugs!!

Jennie93

I have had two occasions where there was a palpable lump in the armpit and it turned out to be nothing. They were on the cancer side so I was sent for an ultrasound right away even though the docs weren't concerned. I bet if I had no history of cancer they would've said watch and wait. Anyway, first one was just an enlarged lymph node, but perfectly normal looking, they said not to worry, it was probably just irritated from radiation. The second one, about a year later, was even weirder because everyone can feel it but the ultrasound saw nothing whatsoever! They just shrug and say, maybe scar tissue, don't worry about it. I admit that doesn't really put my mind at ease but they insisted that if it was "anything bad", it would be visible. OK......

EvilOlive1973

Thank you so much ladies. It's over so now I wait. The tech gave me markers to put on the area and then can out and asked where is the lump again, so I'm hoping that is good. It was a ct with and without contrast. I will update as soon as I hear somethin

crmnsuga1973

Big hugs and good vibes Olive!

EvilOlive1973

I called radiology and they said results were sent(electronically to doc this morning and still no call. It's torture. I'm hoping no news is good news. I know they don't do it on purpose and are very busy.. It's cruel... Just venting

EvilOlive1973

Well WTF. I called and finally got the doctors nurse. She said doc not in and will be in the OR(he is a surgeon) tomorrow and either he or she will call me. But, she said I cant be given my results until doc reads them first. and who the heck knows when that will be.. They are MY RESULTS THAT I AM FREAKING PAYING FOR! ARRRGGGH!

EvilOlive1973

Well no call . just got an email that I had results in my chart: it measures just under a 1/2 inch.. I am guessing that there is nothing further I need to do. I cant even get the decency of a phone call.

Mediastinum: BBs were placed in the left axillary region around the area of palpable concern.
Directly underneath the BB is a approximate 12 mm oval structure which probably represents a small
lymph node. This has a very thin cortex with a large fatty hilum suggesting benign process. No other
surrounding masses or fluid collections are seen. A few other subcentimeter lymph nodes are seen in
the axillary region bilaterally.

IMPRESSION

1. A BB in the left axillary region, in the area of palpable concern, directly overlies a small 12
mm probable lymph node which appears unremarkable. Bilateral axillary lymph nodes are otherwise
identified and appears similar. No other masses or cysts are identified.
2. Lungs are clear. There is no mediastinal adenopathy.
3. Small hiatal hernia.

alicki

Hello,

Just popping in to say that the lymph node sounds B9 to me too. As far as I know from what I have been told, as long as they are fatty with a thin cortex they are ok. I got several after an inflammation process and some of them are 2cm. I even went to the extent of getting two biopsied. Results: B9

Good luck, sometimes are bodies do weird things!

Alicki