Need Input Regarding Add'l Testing for Poss. Recurrence

collardgreens

July 2013 I received the cancer diagnosis of the left breast DCIS intermediate/high-grade with solid/cribiform pattern which extended into the lobules with necrosis and calcification and LCIS. Test BRACA 1/2 negative. I opted for a bi-lateral skin sparing mastectomy (6 nodes left tested no invasion) (prophylactic right) with expanders than silicone implants (nipples were not saved.). Great recovery and got back to my life.

About a month ago, my husband was hugging me and pressed my left breast, I immediately felt pain in one spot. Ignored it and it happened again about two weeks later. I found the tender spot but no lump. I saw my internist; she examined me and didn't find a lump. She wrote orders for ultrasound and told me to wait a couple of weeks and if it still hurt have the ultrasound. I went the same day because I am preparing to visit my elderly mother. They only did ultrasound on the spot where I was having pain,no findings. The tenderness is still there and now my left breast feels heaving and feel like is pulling and stretching and it looks like I'm starting to form bubble in the upper quadrant of my breast. When I feel along that muscle from breast to arm pit it feels like I have a few lumps.

If it this was happening in my right breast I would write it off but since this is the left breast where the cancer was found I'm concerned. Two years prior to my orginial diagnosis I had to have a biopsy of the left breast which was negative. The DCIS was found because I mentioned to my internist in 2013 that I was having pain in my left breast and I had an early mamamogram to include 3D pictures. I did have dense breast and a family history of breast cancer. I would like to have further testing done (MRI and possibly CT or PET scan). I'm not paranoid or a hypercondriac and understand it was a small area (est 2cm). I have a 13 yr old son, a 85 yr old mother and husband who need me.

Am I being unreasonable to request further testing?

BarredOwl

Collardgreens:

Sorry you are having these changes. Since additional breast changes and symptoms have appeared since the last ultrasound, you are not being unreasonable at all to follow up with your doctors to find out what is going on.

I might ask if I could see my breast surgeon next in view of the new symptoms (the internist can refer you if needed under insurance). The breast surgeon may order the MRI first, since the symptoms are in the breast and underarm. In view of the "bubbling" you describe, I have no idea, but maybe something else is going on relating to the implant (some kind of local infection possibly??). You can ask the breast surgeon if the plastic surgeon should also be consulted.

Please do not hesitate to trust your instincts about your health, and seek medical advice promptly.

I did not have reconstruction and have never dealt with anything like this, so maybe others who have could comment.

Be thinking of you.

BarredOwl

muska

I would try getting an appointment with the plastic surgeon who put in the implant. Weird infections and inflammations are rather frequent with silicone implants. Scar tissue is another possibility. Your plastic surgeon could rule these things out.

chocomousse

I've never had a MRI but did have a PET scan for something else which also detected the nodule in my breast. If you get anything, I'd recommend a PET scan.

I've had numerous X-rays and CT scans over the last 20 months and they detected nothing in my breast.