Negative ultrasound on lump?!

Anonymous

Negative ultrasound on lump?!

IzzysMom

I am a 38 year old mommy to a three year old and 26 weeks pregnant with baby girl #2. On Christmas Eve I realized I hadn't done a breast exam in awhile, mainly due to sore breasts from pregnancy, and discovered a hard immovable lump in the right breast near my armpit. I panicked but chalked it up to pregnancy. After touching it multiple times per day and bruising myself badly it disappeared. In its place was a movable lump with an oval shape. At that point I decided to call my OB and see if he would check it out or send me for an ultrasound. I spoke with his nurse and she said it's most likely a milk duct and bring it up at my next appointment in two weeks. I had her ask if I could at least go for an ultrasound but she laughed and said no. Two weeks later l went in for my appointment and was placed with a PA. She told me lumps are normal in pregnancy and a breast exam was unnecessary at this point. I walked out feeling very upset and disgusted with the lack of care. I emailed my primary doctor and she immediately called and set up an ultrasound at a breast care Center before calling me back. I love her and how proactive she is. A few days later I had my ultrasound and the tech couldnt find anything. This lump pops around so I'm worried that it moved out of range when the wand went over it? Sigh. The nurse came out to the waiting area to go over my results and she said the ultrasound is negative and what I'm feeling is normal tissue. I was very disappointed because that doesn't tell me anything. I still feel a lump moving around so why didn't it show up? I was hoping that because this was a breast imaging center they would give me answers and I can't take normal tissue as a very good answer. The nurse told me no follow up was necessary but I decided to go ahead and make an appointment with the breast surgeon for next week. I'm really hoping She doesn't tell me it's nothing and send me on my way! My husband is getting mad at me for not trusting the ultrasound results and I can't talk to him about my fears. It's eating me up inside. Does anyone have any suggestions for what I should ask or demand from the surgeon? As mentioned I'm pregnant so I dont know if I can have a mammogram? No breast cancer in my family so an mri probably won't be approved. Should i trust ultrasound?

wrenn

Not sure you will trust us if you don't trust people who have actually scanned you. Cancer tumours don't move around out of the way of an ultrasound wand. Stress isn't good for a pregnancy so I would try to find ways to relax.

IzzysMom

Thanks for responding Wrenn. That makes me feel better. My mom passed away from brain cancer when she was only a few years older than I am now (43) and my biological father passed away from liver disease at the young age of 36 so I have some deep rooted fears. I'm just trying to be as proactive as I can and hope I'm going about things the right way.

wrenn

It's hard not to worry with that history but keep reminding yourself that it is just a worry and try to do something with that worry other than look for signs that you too will die young. I think it is a reflex to prepare ourselves for the worst but not good for immune system to be on edge. Look for ways to notice the good stuff even if you have to fake it. Enjoy your pregnancy and your little one.

Sending peaceful vibes.

djmammo

IzzysMom

"I walked out feeling very upset and disgusted with the lack of care." "...the ultrasound is negative and what I'm feeling is normal tissue. I was very disappointed because that doesn't tell me anything" "I can't take normal tissue as a very good answer."

I am curious, what response from your health care team would have made you feel that you were being taken seriously and that the information you were being given was accurate and reliable?

IzzysMom

Djmammo, thanks for responding. I have been reading your responses to other women and more often than not they have been reassuring. When I say “disgusted by lack of care” I was referring to my OB office for blowing me off and telling me that an office breast exam wasn’t necessary because it’s so common for pregnant women to have lumps. I understand that may be the case and I understand my chances of having breast cancer are indeed slim but I can’t believe anyone in the medical field would deny an obviously stressed out pregnant women a breast exam! Don’t you think that’s odd? It would take them a few minutes and possibly reassure a hormonal pregnant woman.

In terms of the normal tissue, I don’t understand how normal tissue can suddenly turn into a firm movable lump separate from surrounding tissue. I asked if it was a clogged duct but she said that would have shown up on ultrasound. I’m trying to have faith as these techs/radiologists are all in house at this breast care facility and their area of expertise is breast care. But I need to know why it feels that way! It pops all over but I can grab it between two fingers so i know I’m not imagining it. I have seen that other women on here also had a clean ultrasound but did have BC. I’m sure that’s extremely rare, but isnt it better to push for more answers that I can feel good about.

wrenn

Diagnostic tests were not developed to reassure people with anxiety. They are expensive and there are a lot of people who would be demanding endless tests. Your anxiety has to be addressed by talking to a specialist who deals with that and not with more imaging. It seems like you have not trusted the people trained to do that so it is unlikely that "pushing" for more would help.

Hopefully you have a practitioner who can help you to settle down.

IzzysMom

Thanks Wrenn, I agree with you to some degree. Anxiety is a nightmare. I do have a therapist however and have been on anxiety meds for years although I have temporarily gone off them for the duration of the pregnancy at my ob’s request.

Peregrinelady

I am one of the “rare” people who had a palpable lump that was not seen on mammogram nor ultrasound. What I discovered afterwards is that ultrasound is only as good as the tech doing it and that it does not rule out cancer. There are women on here who were dismissed with their lumps during pregnancy that turned out to be cancer, so while it is uncommon, I am glad you are going to a breast surgeon. Please keep us posted.

IzzysMom

Thank you Peregrenady. I’m sorry that happened to you. I’m confused about why the ultrasound failed to see anything which is why I am following up. The tech only does Breast ultrasounds so I’m hoping she knows what she was doing. I wasn’t watching too closely because my three year old was in the room with us and I was trying to distract her.Can I ask what your lump felt like? I know from my own research that cancerous lumps are not uniform and can be mobile/immobile/hard/soft etc. but I’m hoping that because mine is so mobile that’s a good sign. I guess you never know though. My appointment with the breast surgeon is next Wednesday and I’m nervous but reminding myself that the chances are slim.

Peregrinelady

Mine felt like a small marble and was movable. I read afterwards that early breast cancer can be mobile. My small town has no breast center or breast surgeon, much less a breast US tech. I will say that my lump never disappeared as you have said, so that may be a good sign.

IzzysMom

The original immobile lump disappeared and now I have this oval bean sized movable one. I’m thinking the immobile lump was a blocked milk duct and because I pushed on it so often it was able to drain ... but who knows. Sigh. I live right outside of Boston and fortunately have many breast care centers and specialists to choose from. I also read that breast cancers are mobile in early stages, I’m happy yours was caught early. My husband thinks I’m crazy for pursuing this so thank you for your insight