high risk worried about metastatic breast cancer

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alwaysworried03
alwaysworried03 Member Posts: 15
edited June 2014 in High Risk for Breast Cancer

Breast cancer has run rapidly in my family. I lost my grandmother, mother, and an aunt to the disease. I have one aunt who is a surviror and has been for over 15 years now. I am 41 years old with two small childen - 18 months and 5 years old. Currently my husband is out of town for work and will not return March 27th.

I am extremely worried right now. My last mammogram indicated a suspicious lump in my right breast. I am scheduled to have a core biopsy of that on Tuesday March 23rd. In the past I have had 2 fibroadenomas removed from my right breast. Looking at my film the surgeon stated he didn't think this was anything to worry about. He was suggesting that I consider genetic couseling.

When the surgeon examined my breast he felt a lump in my left breast. He wanted to look at the mammogram but the radiation center only gave me copies of the right breast where they saw the lump. The surgeon stated that the mammogram is much better than his hands but requested that I get the film for my left breast and bring them to my biopsy appointment. He said it was nothing to worry about but he wanted to look at it and possibly do an ultrasound. I also had a core biopsy on my left breast about 5 years ago and everything was fine. But this seems to be a different lump.

Well since then my left side has been giving me problems. I have since felt a burning sensation in my left arm - off and on. I know feel pain in my left quad of my back. I have also felt pain in the area where he pressed down on the lump. This really has me concerned because it shows signs of metastatic breast cancer.

I don't know if I am jumping the gun here but I am very worried. When I look at the symptoms for metastatic breast cancer - one of the first places it attacks is the bone. I am wondering if that is what is going on with me. I don't have any of the other symptoms - but what else could it be?

When my husband is out of town I often sleep with the kids on the couch. My arm has felt this way in the past and my husband said it was due to me sleeping hanging off of the couch. But that usually goes away after a few days. This time feels really different to me and it has also impacted my back. I've not slept on the couch in the past 2 days and I still feel this dull pain in my chest (upper breast where he felt the lump), left arm and left quad of my back. My back pain seems to be constant but it doesn't bother me when I sleep. Like right now I feel my back pain but the other two areas are more dull. My eating habits are normal outside of worrying about the biopsy. It almost feels like a pinched nerve in my back - but I've never had that before so I am not sure that is the same feeling either.

I've decided to go forward with my biopsy on Tuesday. At that time I will share my symptoms with the surgeon and give him the mammogram film of my left breast. I think this is the best solution so he can check out the right breast and then he will probabaly send me for an ultrasound of the left breast. Besides I figure by then my husband will be back for the results.

Does this sound like metastatic breast cancer? Does anyone know the specific symptoms? Would this have not been picked up on my mammogram? Now I am worried about both breast.

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  • LISAMG
    LISAMG Member Posts: 639
    edited March 2010

    With a significant family history as yours, you need to seek genetic counseling for the best advice by a certified genetic counselor. Will your surviving aunt be willing to test for the BRCA gene? Always recommended for an affected family member to test first. You need vigilant surveillance and perhaps a high risk MRI. Do not go where you are traveling with thoughts of cancer at this point. What type of biopsy are you having done? Having a comparison sonogram with the mammo would also be recommended. Depending on your results, the MRI would give an accurate assessment. Wishing you benign results and keep the genetic counseling in mind. Try talking to your aunt or even try suggesting she go along with you to see a genetics expert together, especially if she also has children who may also be at risk...this would help the both of you trememdously by understanding your true hereditary predisposition.

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  • alwaysworried03
    alwaysworried03 Member Posts: 15
    edited March 2010

    LISAMG - thank you soooooooooooooooo much for the response. You don't know how much this has meant to me. With such a deep family history your mind just starts wondering to places that it shouldn't. I was in a dark place earlier today and despartely seeking advice. I am not going there anymore! I refuse to let this consume me!

     I am having a core biopsy on Tuesday. I pray for negative results. I have spoken to my aunt and she is more than willing to seek genetic counseling with me and my sisters. My aunt did not have any children. I have always been terrified of this disease after seeing my mother suffer so much and ultimately losing the battle. Well I shouldn't say she lost - she was a great woman who lived her life in an exemplary fashion. I only pray I can be half the mother she was to my children. Thank you for the advice - I am definitely doing genetic counseling. No one has ever suggested a high risk MRI...do you know if that is something that I can request from my doctor who ordered the mammogram?

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  • LISAMG
    LISAMG Member Posts: 639
    edited March 2010

    I also have a strong family history of BC/OVCA with 3 members all testing negative, including myself. Been told there is a definite genetic component with other un-identified genes out there. Get the core biopsy and find out the results before doing the MRI. If your aunt tests positive, you can do genetic testing for the specific identified mutation. Testing for you and others would be far less costly & quicker since the gene would be isolated. If she tests negative, there would be no reason for you to test, but close surveillance is a must. You are doing all you can at this point...deep breaths and one step at a time. Remember, knowledge is power and you will feel much better after speaking with a genetics expert.

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  • alwaysworried03
    alwaysworried03 Member Posts: 15
    edited March 2010

    Thanks LISAMG - Deep breaths and one step at a time. That is what I keep telling myself. Thank you for the support. I've gotten so self absorbed - I must ask how are you doing?

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  • alwaysworried03
    alwaysworried03 Member Posts: 15
    edited April 2010

    Thank God my biopsy of the lump in my right breast came back fine. My surgeon also did an ultrasound on the left breast and stated that the tissue looked good over there and the lump looked like a cyst. Nothing to worry about. I told him about my back pain and he said it was probably stress about the biopsy. He suggested that I see a genetic counselor in the near future to put some of my worries to rest. That was my plan but....this back pain is still there some 3 weeks later. I went to my primary doctor and he gave me some back exercises and told me to take Advil. I really don't feel like I need Advil. The pain is not really bad - it more like a dull achy feeling that just will not go away. I have since had it in my neck, lower back, and hip. I went back to my primary and insisted on some type of scan - it just doesn't feel musclular to me. So he ordered a spine x-ray. That came back and said I have moderate degeneration in my C-5. So he says that is what is causing my pain. Well I looked on the Internet and it said that the majority of people have some degeneration - it comes with age. I am 42 and a little over weight. I also read that disease usually attacks the C-5 and on the left side - which makes me wonder if this is more than what I've been told. I am not satisfied with his findings. I have decided to see how it goes over the next couple of weeks. Can anyone tell me what bone mets feels like? Which test should I request...I am thinking MRI will disprove any mets. Also would a spine x-ray show bone mets?

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  • shadow2356
    shadow2356 Member Posts: 393
    edited April 2010

    Hi always worried. I know how you feel about the family history. My mother died of BC. My grandmother (maternal) and my first cousin also had it. I always knew I would get it. I was so worried about getting it that I put off having children for fear of passing it to them and also dying young and leaving them. Finally I realized I had to get over it and live life. After tons of fertility treatment I had my daughter. She is a pure joy. When she was 18 months old I felt a "thickening" in my breast and I knew it was it. It was. Because of my hypervigilence it was stage 1. My prognosis is excellent.

    What I have to say now is that a life lost in worry is still a life lost. Do everything you can do. Get checked, get mammos and sonos or MRIs. Get your vitamin D level checked. But, live your life, enjoy your babies and don't be lost in worry.

    Even when I found out I did have it it wasn't as bad as the worrying. I did get the BRCA tests and I am negative. They figure it is hereditary, just not something they can currently check for.

    Best of luck to you. I am sorry for all the loss you have had from this disease. I know it leaves holes in your heart you can never fill.

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  • alwaysworried03
    alwaysworried03 Member Posts: 15
    edited April 2010

    Thanks Shadow3256 - I know you understand my worries. I have 2 sisters and 3 female cousin and we have all lost our mothers to BC - they were sisters. I figured out of the 6 of us at least one of us will probably get BC. I think I am leading the pack since I had my cycle early and my kids late. But I have been vigilant with my testing. I refuse to let this ugly disease consume me or take my joy of living. It is just discouraging when you have doctors who are not on your side. Up to this point my primary care of 10 years has been great. I rarely see him as I am generally a healthy person. Now I come with this back pain that came from no where and he seems to think its stress or this disc generation. But with my family history I believe it is worth getting an MRI. I have had this back pain for over a month now and I don't recall any physical activity that could have bought this on. Furthermore it doesn't feel muscular to me - it feels like my bones. Something I've never felt before. The fact that the onset was from no where and it is basically my left side is making me worry. I don't know what it is but I am not buying the disc degeneration theory. It may not be cancer but what is it? I wonder because I just had a mammo in February and ultrasound on both breast in March. I wonder if it could have been missed. I think an MRI would give us a better idea of what is going on.

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  • shadow2356
    shadow2356 Member Posts: 393
    edited April 2010

    I would try to get the MRI if you can. I hope it comes out fine and you can take a deep breath. Good luck!!

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