Waiting and thinking....not a good combo

Hybrids

Hi all,

I'm a 46 yr old female who until recently has considered myself fairly healthy. My Grandfathers' sister & my Mother's Cousin had breast cancer, but no one in my immediate family. I was recently diagnosed with Graves Disease & Hyperthyroidism. I was very symptomatic until about two to two and a half weeks ago (It started about two months ago). Meds have gotten control of my symptoms and I believed I was on the mend. This is my second go around with Graves. It showed up about 9 years ago and was caught during routine wellness bloodwork. I had no symptoms & meds put me in remission quickly.

This time was quite a bit different since it was discovered because of my symptoms. While seeking treatment, my Endo wanted me to get caught up on all health screenings (I've been slacking and haven't had a wellness visit in about 4 or 5 years-I've been in for things like the flu vaccine, & treating the flu, but not an annual well women check), plus I have a swelling above my left collarbone that they were worried was a lymph node, so a CT Scan was scheduled for that. I went to my wellness exam and the Dr. found a slight hardening/difference in one area of my left breast. She wasn't too concerned because it didn't feel like a lump but she wanted it checked out so when she scheduled my first ever mammogram, she scheduled it as a diagnostic out of an abundance of caution and ordered the CT Scan for the lump.

I went for my mammogram & the CT scan the same day. I knew the mammo was probably bad because I had to go back and forth with more mammo pics and more ultrasound pics.After the imaging was done, the radiologist told me I needed a biopsy of the "mass" and of two of my lymph nodes (all on the left side). On the report, he rated my mass as a BI-RADS 5 and noted two left axillary lymph nodes demonstrate mild cortical thickening.The report has an error in it and states in one section (under "findings") it is a 3.7 cm hyperdense spiculated mass w/associated pleomorphic calcifications but in another section (under "Impression"), it says it's 3.1cm, so I don't know which is correct, 3.1 or 3.7cm. I'll ask them about it when I hear back with the results,, but at this stage, I'm not sure it matters since either one is considered large.

The CT Scan of the swollen area above my collarbone (superclavicular mass, I believe they called it) came back as not suspicious. The CT covered my whole thorax and It did show a "rounded mass on the left adrenal gland measuring 2 cm, consistent with a benign adrenal adenoma". I'm hoping it's just a coincidence that everything "weird" is on my left side, but I'm concerned I have a breast mass, the armpit lymph node thickening, the superclavicular swelling and the adrenal tumor all on my left side and I'm wondering if the superclavicular mass & the adrenal tumor really should be ignored at this point. Especially since the CT scan had to be done without contrast because the iodine contrast can negatively impact Graves' Disease and the radiologist who looked at that CT scan was different than the breast radiologist and he was not privy to my breast results, with it being the same day and none of the notes updated yet.

I had the breast & armpit lymph node biopsies today. 5 of one (or more?) lymph nodes in the armpit of my left side and five of the mass on the left side of my left breast. They were needle core biopsies and they placed a metal marker in both places.

Since it was rated as a BI-RADS 5 and there was thickening evidenced on two of the lymph nodes, I'm going to assume my biopsies are going to come back positive and if so, I'll need an oncologist. I'll inform them when I get that far in the process of the superclavicular mass & the adrenal tumor but I wanted to check in and see if anyone has any experiences like this? I'm trying not to worry, and honestly if it was just the breast mass & the lymph nodes, it would be easier to contain the worry because many women have survived this diagnosis and were able to remain strong and pull through, but with the other two things showing up, it has me concerned it could all be from cancer that's spread far. just don't know what to think (other than thinking about being sore from the holes in my armpit and breast, lol).

Thanks everyone.

Peacetoallcuzweneedit

Hybrids - slllllllooooooooooowwwwwwww your roll over there.....:-) breathe...... the waiting is so hard - gosh I know it. I was diagnosed almost a year ago and everything has changed absolutely, but - first things first....if you can tonight find a place to just let it be and get some rest. Adrenal nodules/tumors are fairly common, and if the radiologist described it as consistent with benign, then it most likely is. I do believe some women have posted here with a BIRADS 5 that came back benign as well...just putting that out there. I think when our bodies have something wrong and we don't feel it or have not considered ourselves anything but mostly healthy, the road to biopsies, test, scans, etc is a huge 180 and a quick jolt of "shock" - I remember when one of my colleagues said to me "you have to learn how to trust your body again." I did not identify with that statement at first, and now I am understanding what that statement meant. I am sending you support and strength in the waiting...and absolutely hoping the best outcome for you. You know some ladies may come by with history that is similar to yours.....

mommakat

sending you positive thoughts! Waiting is so tough and somehow we’re wired to think the worst. It must be a defense mechanism. Whatever it is, you will get through it. Keep us posted! Xxx

Hybrids

Thanks everyone. I’m hoping they call with results today and not Monday. I thought I’d be happy to take the compression wrap off today, but it’s definitely more tender without support. I think I must’ve rolled over and slept on that side some because I didn’t sleep well and woke up way to early because the site in my armpit is sore and it bled through the night. I took some Tylenol so hopefully that will help and I can take a nap at some point today after work. I might not work a full day