lump after double mastectomy

greenmeadow

Hello everybody,

I was diagnosed with DCIS on my right breast a year ago. I had a bilateral mastectomy due to ATM gene mutation and a lot of cancer going on in my family. A week ago I discovered a tiny, pea-sized lump on my chest, right at the edge of the top of the implant, but on the left side, which was the healthy breast. My BS was not available so I saw her PA, who did an ultrasound of the area and discovered a small fluid-filled mass with irregular edges. She said the fact that the edges are not smooth is "mildly worrying" but she sent me home and recommended I should observe this and come back if it grows?!? Needless to say I am very uncomfortable with her decision, and I am going to get a second opinion. It feels irresponsible to ignore a new change after breast cancer and a high genetic risk, but is there anybody here who had a similar situation and it turned out the new change was recurrence/ new cancer in the initially healthy breast? Thank you!

Gravitas

Hello, greenmeadow~

I am in a very similar situation. I was diagnosed 2 years ago with IDC and DCIS in my left breast. At 44 I had a bilateral mastectomy in order to avoid radiation and because there were some cellular abnormalities (found after MRI and MRI-guided biopsy) in the right breast which, although benign, did not sit well with me. My pathology report revealed the original IDC tumor and two spots of DCIS (including one by my chest wall that had not been seen on the MRI) in the left breast. Chemo was not recommended by ONC or 2nd opinion ONC and I was told I was in full remission.

I just found a blueberry sized (larger than a pea, smaller than an olive) lump near the scar on my left side. I, too, am about to see my BS's NP and have an ultrasound. Personally, I don't care if the ultrasound reveals it is a cyst, scar tissue, fatty deposit, that random Raisinet I swallowed whole when I was 5, or some other "benign" abnormality...I want it removed and biopsied ASAP. It was not there 3 months ago during my ONC exam and I am not aware of a "wait and see" approach ever benefitting someone with cancer. If it isn't cancer, then the NP and BS can tell me they told me so every single time they see me, annually, for the next 10 years. Win, win.

I hope your second opinion gives you good news, or at least some more information to assist you in your decision.

Best wishes,

G