Breast lipoma questions and concerns

ceanna

I'm still a little unsettled and concerned by a recent scare. A mammogram did not show anything but during a physical breast exam after, the PA found a thickening in the non-LX breast. After finally getting an ultrasound to explore what was happening in this area, and following delays caused by the number of patients needing additional tests, the radiologist thinks it's probably a lipoma, but wants me to keep having it checked. Has anyone experienced something similar? How often did you need to be rechecked? Did they ultimately decide it was for sure a lipoma? What have you done about the lipoma? Is your lipoma painful or swollen? Love to hear of others experiences.

AliceBastable

I've never had one on my breast, but I had one on my neck. Because it was in the front, between my jaw and chin, I had a problem getting it diagnosed because that's an unusual location. I finally got sent to an ear-nose-throat doctor, who walked in and said "Hi, that's quite a lipoma you've got there!" I had it removed because it was in my way when I tried to lower my chin and it was starting to press against a nerve. But if a lipoma isn't pressing on a nerve or vein/artery, they're just a cosmetic nuisance. Mine was 7 cm so I was starting to look like a bullfrog. Good luck!

ceanna

AliceB, thanks. I have had a lipoma elsewhere also that hasn't bothered me for decades, but this one keeps me worrying because they want to keep checking it! It showed up within the last year and is quite large, about 8cm. They didn't mention, but I wonder if I should have biopsy?

AliceBastable

Have you had a CT? With a biopsy, they'd only get a tiny bit of it so, to me, it wouldn't necessarily show the full picture, if it's all lipoma or encasing or abutting something else.

ceanna

Thanks, maybe a CT would be better. They haven't offered yet, but I will ask when they want to check it again in a few months. I don't want to worry, but it seems a long time to wait to explore again, and, because it grew so fast, who knows if it will be bigger then!!