Grade 2, ER/PR Positive, HER2 Negative

Howcanthisbe39

CORRECTION: GRADE 2 (don't know Stage) INVASIVE DUCTAL CARCINOMA

Not sure how to start this... I guess no one is ever prepared for a cancer diagnosis.

BACKGROUND:

I'm 39 and have no history of breast cancer. I had saline implants placed in 2003 when I was 21. I had very minimal breast tissue and come from a line of big chested women. Hence, my deep deep desire for some boobies. Got married and had two beautiful boys. Had a mammogram and ultrasound in 2013 because I felt some bumps in my right breast nipple. Diagnosed with fibroadenoma and had follow up ultrasound in 2016 and they were getting smaller. Life was good.

March 2020 comes around and by this time the implants were almost 17 years old and I started experiencing some weird burning/sharp pain in my left breast by my areola. I knew I needed to get them replaced asap but because of the pandemic I decided to only do immediate removal of both implants. The pain was gone and I was hoping to never ever do implants again!

July 2020, I started feeling the weird pain again in my left breast. I had a mammogram and ultrasound done and they did not find any reason for the pain I was experiencing. They mentioned I have very dense breast tissue and should be rechecked annually.

October 2020, I got greedy and stupid and not only did I get silicone implants but also had liposuction to my armpit and "bra bulge" area. Recovery was hard from the lipo and even harder on my right breast. Lots of swelling on the right and underarms.

March 5 2021, I noticed a very painful lump on my left breast at 1 o'clock 9cm from nipple. I was pretty confident it had something to do with my implant healing process.

March 12 2021, mammogram showed spiculate mass on left breast and ultrasound confirmed solid mass. Axillary lymph nodes looked good.

March 30 2021, pathology came back as invasive ductal carcinoma. I was boarding a plane with my family when I got the call. Brutal.

QUESTIONS:

I am so sore from the biopsy. My left chest area, my left breast, as well as my underarm! Is this normal??? Before biopsy I only had pain when I touched the lump. Now it's everywhere.

I also noticed that my 2nd rib above my left breast is bigger than the right side. Are there lymph nodes there? I was told they didn't see anything but I'm not sure if the ultrasound or mammogram even check those areas. It feels like bone. So now I'm thinking it has spread to my rib? But then I remember that I think I was always not symmetrical to my right side. It looks protruded compared to the other side if I touch it and feel around. Is this a thing? The area is also very sore but I don't know if that's from the core biopsy.

Also, developed a uti same day after my diagnosis. I'm on Day 2 of antibiotics and now my chest is getting itchy on and off. So of course, I'm thinking I have inflammatory breast cancer.

Does anyone have any input. I have an appt with a surgeon on Monday. I am trying to pretend that everything is fine but it's not. The only one that knows what is going on is my husband.

I'm so lost and confused. I want to see my boys grow up. I worry about my husband and my parents. My parents will be devastated and that hurts me so bad.

Thanks for letting me vent.

tntnsd

I am so sorry that you have to be here with your diagnosis.

My ribs (and also breast) aren’t symmetrical neither. The left side (where I got DCIS) also more flared and slightly bigger than the right side. I was told that was not uncommon at all.

I don’t have much knowledge to ease your worry. I hope that you will get answers from your doctor appointment on Monday. Until then, please try not to let anxiety get the best of you. I know it is harder to do than be told. Please distract yourself with some activities with your family. Hang in there

Howcanthisbe39

Thank you soooo much for your reply!!!

That actually make me feel A LOT BETTER! That's exactly what I see above my left breast. It's like a flared/bigger bony rib area than my right. My left breast is also bigger.

I can't wait till Monday too see what are the next tests/steps. I hope they can remove my implants asap as well.

Thank you again!

AlwaysMeC

I was just diagnosed this afternoon with IDC 14mm, grade 2, and a positive lymph node found during biopsy. Unfortunately, I don't get the ER/PR/HER results until next week.

The women in my family are similar to yours, but I've always liked my small boobs because they were perky. Now I absolutely hate that perky also means dense! I was feeling weird pains at the 1 o'clock about 3 cm from my nipple in Sep 2019 or so. The doctor took me seriously and did an ultrasound and concluded fibroadenoma, so I wasn't too worried. I breastfed my last two kids, who are now 6 and 7, and during that time I had mastitis, so I thought maybe it's just the milk duct acting up.

The next month, I went in for my first mammo at 40 years old, and the radiologist also said fibroadenoma. Somehow I missed my next yearly, which was supposed to be last October 2020, but the breast clinic was proactive and made a new appointment for me. Because of all the Covid rescheduling it got pushed to March 2021.

I have been going between mad at myself for not being worried enough, to resigned to my diagnosis, to wanting to fight like a warrior, to just not even caring about the world in the span of eight hours. I'm sure I am not the only one who feels/felt this way.

Anyway, I'm here because I thrive off of information. It makes me feel like I at least have some control. To partially answer your question about ribs, I also have uneven ribs. The left side sticks out more than the right like I could press it down a little. It's always been that way. I'm not sure about whether or not there are lymph nodes there. I had a previous biopsy for my right breast and that one healed up well. This time around, on the left side, I'm sore mostly when my boob shakes. The site is very bruised. It looks like a baseball hit me. My biopsy was on Monday. They did a node biopsy too, but that one doesn't look too bad and I don't have any reaction in the surrounding areas. Chest bony area feels normal.

2019whatayear

Howcan- UTI and a cancer diagnosis - I’m sorry this happened. The more you worry the more weird stuff you’ll find. my ribs are diff on one side too. It’s very unlikely you have IBC . You will have a plan Monday after you visit the surgeon and that will help. For now the best thing you can do for yourself is stay hydrated and enjoy your kiddos

2019whatayear

Always me C, I need info too to help myself feel in control. Sorry you got this diagnosis! It sucks! My understanding is that the lymph nodes in the chest are not like under the arm where you could feel them.

Howcanthisbe39

I am so sorry about your diagnosis today. I think I might have overdone it from traveling the next day after the biopsy. I didn't carry anything through the airport but still. Pretty stupid, I know. But I swore I had a fibrous tissue and it wouldn't be a big deal. Boy was I wrong. So here I am in a hotel room in Texas trying to have family time.

And I totally understand the frustration about not taking it seriously enough back in March 2020. Part of me thinks that if it weren't for Covid I would have pushed for more tests because of the weird pains I was feeling on my left breast. But instead, I believed I was totally fine and wanted new boobs because I was left with horrible saggy skin. I just wanted to do something to make me feel not so depressed about our lives being upended from Covid. Oh and to top it all off, I did armpit/bra bulge lipo. So then thoughts of did I already have cancer and somehow spread it because of the armpit lipo? And will I now have cancer all over my body. Oh and did I mention these past few days my hearing on my right side is wonky. Kinda feels like I have earwax in there but then I think, nope I have brain cancer and I'm losing my hearing. Which is probably not the case and I probably just have ear wax in there (happened to me like 10 years ago and just need a cleaning). But a cancer diagnosis and good ol google makes you believe the end is nigh. Which it probably is, but you know, that's me being doom and gloom again.

So yes, I have been going from f*ck it all- to I can do this- to my world is ending all within the same day. I still can't believe this is real.

Let's keep in touch. Our cases seem very similar and the more info to share the better.

Howcanthisbe39

Just realized I should probably address who I am replying too. Oops! Still learning how to navigate.

2019whatayear- The uti was like the nail in the coffin for me. I was so upset when I felt that horrible burning sensation. I hate UTIs!

But you are right, I need to enjoy my kids and take advantage of the warm sunny Texan weather before we return to Chicago. Our lives are about to get turned upside down. Best to enjoy the next two days.

Thanks again everyone!!

Redcanoe

I'm so sorry you are joining us. I had all sorts of phantom pains and moments of panic feeling my ribs and spine in the time period between diagnosis and starting treatment. It's such a scary time when you are still processing and don't know everything. It's really easy to worry and question if your body has always been the way it is. I dont think the rib thing is anything to worry about but it's still something you can ask.

jhl

Hello How,

First, slow down. Your thoughts are a bit disconnected and rambling. This is a difficult diagnosis so I understand the terror and feeling of helplessness. However, you are 39 years old, with children and have had multiple breast surgeries. Your cancer diagnosis is new to you but not your body. Breast cancer is a relatively slow growing cancer so it has been there awhile. Your ears have nothing to do with your current pathology so put that aside. It may be anxiety or what you have predicted - ear wax and will be easily resolved. Your UTI is most likely a coincidence so take your antibiotics. Have you taken these antibiotics before? Perhaps your itching is a bit of an allergy?

Your breast issues will become clearer when you have your appointment Monday. It seems like an eternity between now and then but it is not. There is no time like the present to learn to live in the moment. Enjoy your boys and your husband. Hold each other tight in the darkness and know there will be brighter days ahead.

I will keep you in my thoughts,

Jane

LivinLife

I want to welcome you Howcanthisbe even though it stinks royally you need to be here! You received a lot of good info and feedback thus far. I'll ditto the uneven, somewhat jutting out of some ribs after surgery. For down the road..... myofascial release and exercising my upper body helped a lot though it is what it is with what's left and not the most important thing - perspective.... I wonder if the plane ride through off your ears/hearing, etc. I have sinus issues and have issues with my ears for days to a week or more after flying - my right ear is the worst.... Just a thought... contact your PCP about this after returning to Chicago if you continue having trouble... I realize you will have a lot of follow-up appointments for cancer as well.... Best Monday! Please let us know how things go....

LivinLife

I want to welcome you too AlwaysMeC! And again, sorry you need to be here..... You have already found what a wonderful site this is for information and support. I totally get you taking in all the information you can get - it is empowering and helps us feel like we can/are doing something. It's also important so we can talk intelligently with our docs and make the decisions we are most comfortable with. I have a number of medical issues and this is a time, almost like no other, where one really gets to say "This is what I want." It's not quite like that with many other medical conditions....

Moderators

Hi Howcanthisbe39 and AlwaysMeC,

We're so very sorry for the reasons that bring you here, but we're really glad you've found us. As you can already see, our Community is full of amazing members always willing to offer advice, experience, and support -- we're all here for you!

Please continue to keep us posted on your diagnosis and treatment plans. Try to stay calm as you learn more, and the more you learn, the better you'll feel about your situation -- knowledge is power!

Please let us Mods know if you need anything at all as you learn to navigate our Community. Welcome again!

--The Mods