I need a little rant! (and question)

CoolBreeze (love that name!), I just wanted to let you know that I've read your post. It's been sitting here for more than 2 hours with no response, for which I am sorry.

I'd like to be able to say something bright and cheery to you right now -- something encouraging, uplifting. You know, like, "Don't worry -- 80% of all new lumps are benign!"; or, "There are lots of perfectly harmless things that can cause what you're describing!"

But we both know those platitudes don't work as well if someone has already been diagnosed with cancer.  Plus, I really don't know how to answer your question. My own tumor was ER+ PR- like yours, but most of the rest of its characteristics were different.  Basically, mine most likely was the slow-growing kind.

You are still "sitting in the waiting room" (figuratively speaking)? And, you'll be having an MRI-guided core biopsy tomorrow (Monday), to pinpoint the tumor(s) you already know are in there?  Please be sure to tell everyone who will listen that you've found those other lumps, and your original lump has been growing a lot, and you are very concerned.  I saw in another post that you've "hit 50."  I was 55 when dx'd (now 57).  Although we're not at quite as great a risk of an aggressive tumor or a recurrence, we're also less likely to be developing new lumps that are benign.

So, take that for what it's worth.  Don't let anyone brush off your concerns.  Tell them you won't leave, or at least you will continue annoying them, until you are satisfied with the answers you're getting.  Yes, you might end up losing that breast.  I chose to lose my breast, rather than hope that my compassionate and very skilled breast surgeon could get adequate margins while leaving me with enough tissue to still call it a breast.  (My breasts were small in the first place.)  I'm still OK with that decision, 18+ months later.

In the meantime, hugs from here....

otter 

I just wanted to say, after my Dx, and pre-surgery, I had the usual battery of tests. I also developed a cough, tummy pain, a sore knee..... all of which magically vanished after the tests came back clear. Don't lose sight of the amount of anxiety you are having and that many of your symptoms could be caused by that. I had no choice but to have a Mx, but also have no regrets. It is not so bad.

Question for everyone:    I thought that cancer could not be diagnosed for certain until the biopsy is done?   Are they jumping the gun on a diagnosis for CoolBreeze? 

CoolBreeze:   It's hard, but don't force yourself to make any decisions until you have as many facts and tests as you can get. The more info you have, the easier it will be to decide what to do.

My lump was very fast growing, also. It turned out that a portion of what I was feeling was just inflammation  caused by the tumor - the actual cancer was much smaller than what I was feeling.  It's so hard to wait, though, I know.   My heart goes out to you.  

Coolbreeze, I hope you get the results you want.

As far as the cough and feeling sick - having cancer unfortunately doesn't mean we won't have other stuff going on with our health! Expecially with your history, you should go back to the doctor about that. An antibiotic or something else might be in order. Your surgeon might not be willing to operate until it's resolved, so it's important to be on top of it.

Best of luck.

Leah

Cool Breeze

I know I have injured myself before and did not feel pain until I saw I was bleeding.  So sometimes I think when we get confirmation there is definitely something up we "feel" it more.

One thing I am sure of from my experience and my Brother in Law's experience for a different type of cancer but a biopsy of a "larger" tumor, sleeping dogs like to be left alone.  Some tumors are sleeping dogs, once they are woken/poked/biopsied I think they get angry and cause us grief, or more grief.  I definitely did not feel well after my biops like a general malaise and my BIL was running a fever.

Good luck in your decision process and feel well.

My own 2 cents.....if I was told I had IDC, DCIS and LCIS I would not want to keep the breast at all and I would want it off my body as soon as possible.  I had IDC and DCIS throughout the breast and I am grade 3 as well.  The relief I felt after my mastectomy was worth it.  I understand that the lumpectomy was very important to you, however you need to live!  I don't want to be callous and say "it's just a breast" but I was only 33 when I lost mine, and you know what, I would much rather lose my breast than my life, it was the right thing to do. 

I'm so sorry you have to have the mastectomy, but please take some relief in knowing it will save your life.  Based on your posting it sounds very medically necessary.  I wish you all the best, be strong, and I wish you all the luck in the world.