2 trips to hospital and mass in front of spine?

Hello Everyone,

Well, I might be back, don't know for sure.  I am a breast cancer survivor, 4 years and 11 months out (almost 5 years).  I was stage 2b, ER+PR+, with one positive node, lump, reincision, chemo, and radiation all on the lieft side. I have had the normal aches, pains, and post cancer fears but all has always been fine until now. Let's begin-

Last week, I had an adominal and back pain for a couple days that was unrelenting.  To the point were I called my internist from work and told her about the pain.  To her credit she insisted that I go to the ER immediatley.  My friend took me in her car and kept me company.  They gave me pain medication and performed a CT scan with contrast.  I was feeling NO pain and laughing with my friend in the ER when the doctor comes up to me and starts asking strange questions (i.e. what other medical issues have I been having?).  You know us cancer survivors, I said, "What is going on"?  He goes on to explain that the CT shows a small mass (like small makes it all better-I don't think so) in front of my spine on the left side in the L5 region and they can't tell what it is.  Well, we stopped all that laughing in the ER immediatley.  I was scared out of my mind.

The next day my internist orders a MRI where they find the "small mass" in the same spot.  Radioligists keep saying that don't exactly know what it is but "not really concerned". 

Keep in mind that my pain is still there during all of this.  The adominal/back pain keeps me up at night to point where I am now living off of Tyneol #3 with codiene and that only takes off the edge.  The day after the MRI, I am sent back to the hospital by my internist because of unrelenting pain.  She insists the mass is nothing and that I most have a gastro issue.  Well, the gastro doctors come to the hospital and insist that I am constipated.  They order an enema (not very fun by the way) and leave.  It goes to work and I feel slightly better because of all the pain meds at the hosptial but the pain returns the night I go home from the hospital. By the way, doc still thinks mass is nothing and is now dumbfounded.

Two days later, my onco who receives a report of the CT scan has me come to his office with CDs of CT and MRI.  Bless him because after looking at the CT he shows me where the mass is located on my body.  Guess what?!  It is exactly where the pain is located.  He also has me look at the MRI and shows me the "small mass".   He goes on to explain that the CT and MRI are not of good quality and wants me to repeat the CT with "his guys".  Bad news-He wants me to wait 4 weeks to repeat the CT scan.  I believe he wanted to see if it changes. I still don't get why???  I was too shocked to ask the right questions.  I am still in ongoing pain.  The pain is so bad that my good nipple (the right one) hurts, head poinds, and pain sometimes shoots down my left leg.  I did ask the onco point blank - - "Is it a tumor or cyst"?  He said that he could not tell.  Now, after reading the breastcancer.org threads, I am worried about bones METS.  My CT is sch for Dec 7th.  I think that I can wait it out with the help of pain drugs.  Good news-at least he is not dismissing it and he is a good doc.

I am truly scared this time. Has anyone had this experience?  Any thoughts you might want to share?