New Painful Lump- scared

MaryJC

Hi ladies, lemme first say that in June after carrying heaving objects I found a lump in my armpit along the scar line. I had just completed chemo in April. It was very sore and turned out to be from straining. It didn't feel like a tumor more like flesh. But it started shrinking and went away. They suspected was a hematoma.

I'm a runner and have gained a little weight. My sports bra is super tight and tank tops have built in bra that's also tight. Up until I caught the flu on Sunday I ran vigorously every single day for 7 weeks!

Saturday I took off my bra a found a sore lump that's not really part of my breast more on my side- same side as surgery. It hurts but kinda feels like the same fleshly thing as before with similar pain. I put my bra back on and the seams are kinda in same area. Wondering if stroking my arms irritated the skin but so worried it's another cancer. I was dx idc 1a in October 2014 and currently finishing up herceptin and on letrozole.

I see my onc tmw. I'm sad and scared.

MaryJC

ps: wondering if possible to have a new palpable mass so fast while still in treatment (herceptin) and clear mamo/ultsnd in October.

Worried could be a cancer that was irritated by my bra and that's why it's sore

NancyHB

MaryJC - curious if you had an SNB in or around that area, since it's the same side as your cancer? I had something that sounds similar happen recently (running and sudden painful lump) that turned out to be an infection in my SNB incision. My sports bra wasn't tight enough and the motion created friction which lead to an infection. I've since purchased an "iron bra" and that seems to have done the trick (the girls don't move at all). I made sure my bra didn't have seams in the areas of my incisions, either, to lessen irritation.

I'm hoping for you it's something that simple, but I urge you to mention if to your MO at your next infusion appointment. Don't wait too long!

Good luck!

MaryJC

thanks for your reply. I see the oncologist tmw. Not sure what snb is, please clarify.

The issue is nowhere near surgical site. Rumor was next to nipple. This is not really on the breast really. Thanks again

KBeee

SNB is sentinel node biopsy.

Hoping the lump turns out to be irritation of some sort. An inflammed lymph node from something as little as an ingrown hair can get sore. That does not decrease or anxiety and fear at all though. Glad you can get it checked tomorrow. I hope you can stay distracted today. (((HUGS)))

MaryJC

oh got it. The thing I found in June was in the direct scar line of the snb. This is not even really on my breast tissue but close enuf to be alarmed. More rib cage area. Had nurse at my job feel it out. She agrees that feels fleshy/meaty like my own tissue, doesn't have defined borders. She thinks it's muscle tissue.

I read that we don't have nodes in rib area. Otherwise I currently have the flu. Not sure if that would make a node swell- if there are any in the area.

Doesn't make sense something palpable would pop up during treatment still after having clear mamo/ultrasnd. Also I'm node negative.

Thanks for the hugs!!!