I’m struggling and looking for input

Northerngirl485

A brief history Oct of 2018 I had a very sore right breast, found some small palpable lumps near my nipple edge then started having clear to bloody discharge. After mammogram and wire guided breast lumpectomy I was diagnosed with LCIS, ALH, and indraductal pallomata.

After discussion with breast care team it was decided watch and wait and I joined the 6 month club. Since then I have had a breast ultrasound in May and MRI in October and was told all was good. In November while scratching my shoulder neck area a noticed some lumps. Of course I started feeling around and I have some palpable cervicle nodes as well as axilla ones. To be honest I ignored them. The 6 month watch and wait club sucks at times. Sometimes I am more than happy to be in this club. I don’t have cancer and going through horrible treatments. But sometimes it really plays on my mind. It’s like being a ticking time bomb.

So I went to my family doc for an unrelated visit In mid December and she had to a physical exam and she felt the nodes. The look on her face I knew she felt them. I told her I was going to wait for the new year and then see her about the nodes. She was not comfortable about this and sent me for a u/s the report came back suspicious for the cervicle nodes and another watch and wait for 3 months then repeat the u/s and I am getting a mammogram at the end of this month.

I am premenopausal but turn 50 soon. I am fit and my BMI is in normal range. I don’t smoke nor do drugs, I drink alcohol once in awhile. I am trying my best to lead my best life possible but sometimes it all gets to me. It has only been a year since diagnosis but it’s been a tough go. I don’t share much with my spouse cause I know he worries too and I don’t want both of us stressed. I didn’t tell him about the lumps until after I went for my u/s.

I guess I was just looking for a place to voice my thoughts as I am really struggling right now. I find this site very helpful but I mostly just lurk and read posts.

Georgia1

Hi there and I'm so sorry you are going through all of this stress. Unfortunately at this stage you have something akin to pre-diabetes or osteopenia -- something bad might happen at any minute but then again, it might not. In the short term, the mammogram should give you some helpful info. and you could also push for an MRI. If it helps, exercise and healthy eating can help prevent cancer and improve your mood, so keep that up. All best wishes.

Lea7777

This is a good place to voice your thoughts, Northerngirl485.

If there is a high risk breast clinic in your area, you could visit, I would recommend making an appointment. Maybe your husband could even go too. A normal MRI in Oct is encouraging news. If the ultrasound had produced something very concerning, I would think a biopsy would be suggested. So that is encouraging also that one was not suggested.

Ask for the reports on all your breast imaging, so you have the exact terminology, which will likely would include the birads #. Perhaps you are already doing this.

For your mammogram at the end of the month, ask now for the 3D tomosynthesis type, even if it costs an extra $60-$100. Perhaps that is already what you are scheduled for, given your background.

Good luck to you.