BS found "Nodule" on augmented "good" side

Options
StellaG
StellaG Member Posts: 24
edited June 2014 in DCIS (Ductal Carcinoma In Situ)

Hi, looking for some advice because I am getting upset all over again.

Has right MX on Sept 2010 and immediate Strattice reconstruction with tissue expander, then had exchange surger and let breast augmentation just before Xmas. Very pleased with results.

Went to hospital today for post op check up and BS found a nodule on the left, augmented and otherwise good breast. It is at the top about an inch above the nipple, located right next to where the sillicone implant meets my own tiny breast (had 240ml implant to make a size A in to a size C). I could not believe it. It feels abut the size of a small pea, but I can feel other grainy bits there as well. She has ordered me an ultrsound (not got date yet) indicated the might take a biopsy of it and then said she does not think it is anything to worry about (she has said that before and it WAS some thing to worry about so I have absolutely no faith in her attempt at reassurance whatsoever.) I have nevver had any problems with left breast before, always the right one, which was where the DCIS was found.

I am devastated, I thought it was all over and done with. Will this nightmare never end? Has this happened to any one else and if so, what was the outcome? I had last Mammo in July 2010 and next on will be July 2011. Left breast was clear then. Can something have grown in that short time?

I am in UK and whilst we get excellent treatment free of charge, we do not have the luxury of getting a second opinion or a free choice of doctors, unfortunately, so I am stuck with the doctors I have been allocated.

Any advice gratefully received.

Stella xx

· Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Comments

  • NotAgain2015
    NotAgain2015 Member Posts: 223
    edited January 2011

    Hi Stella,

    I'm in the same boat as you.  I had my follow up mammogram this past Friday and they found something on my 'good' breast.  I had my biopsy today.  Now the waiting for results.  Like you, I'm stunned and scared.  I thought I was finally turning the corner and feeling normal-ish again.  Now this.  I hope and pray it turns out to be benign. 

    I hope everything turns out B9 for you also and that you can get you biopsy scheduled and results quickly in the UK.  The waiting and not knowing is the hardest part.

    Trish

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • StellaG
    StellaG Member Posts: 24
    edited January 2011

    Hi Trish

    Thanks for the reply. I am sorry you are going through this too, and I hope and pray it turns out to be B9. They will send me an appointment for the ultrasound, DH made a good point, the clinic I attended was next to the ultra sound area in the hospital and if BS had felt it was very serious, she could have got me in immediately for the scan but she didn't. I expect I will get my scan in a couple of weeks or so. Also this woman is notorious for saying very little to her patients and she said she did not think it was anything to worry about, which is a lot for her, so perhaps I am misjudging her.

    I have calmed down a bit now, thankfully, as I was making myself ill thinking about the possibilities. It was almost a case of deja-vu so I have decided to accept what my BS told me (despite my misgivings) for now and go with the flow, otherwise I feel I have learned nothing from this experience. I will choose to face trouble when it knocks at my door. I think I was feeling deflated when I had previously felt so good and was expecting a pat on the back for doing well, I left that meeting feeling so distressed.

    My next task in this is to get myself back to work on 1st Feb (got to see my GP tomorrow to be "signed on", as we call it here in the UK!) and then it will take my mind off it all by getting back in to my very high profile and demanding job.

    Please let me know how you get on with your biopsy (I'll keep my fingers xxx'd for you!).

     Stells xx

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • StellaG
    StellaG Member Posts: 24
    edited January 2011

    Hi Trish

    Wondering how you got on today with results of your biopsy. I just got my ultrasound appointment through today, it is for 1,30 pm on Thurs 3 Feb, back at the place I was first diagnosed Frown. Ah, the memories that will bring back!!! How thoughtful of them to send me back there.

    Hoping you have good news to share,

    Stella xx

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • NotAgain2015
    NotAgain2015 Member Posts: 223
    edited January 2011

    Hi Stella,

    I'm glad you have your appointment scheduled, but sorry you have to wait.  The waiting is so hard . I don't have results  yet but expect them today.  I hardly slept last night and just know I will dread every time the phone rings.  Still holding out hope but also preparing myself for the worst.  I'll let you know. 

    Please keep me posted on what happens with you too,  Hopefully you will be a-ok like your doctor suggests, but just need to be sure.  It is so surreal to start the process all over again.  Here where I go, the radiologists office handed me the same light blue folder explaining everything.  I had hoped to never see one of those again!! 

    Thanks for checking in...

    Trish

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • CTMOM1234
    CTMOM1234 Member Posts: 633
    edited January 2011

    Wishing you both just so much good news! So true that the waiting is very very mentally difficult, but think it is a good sign, Stella, that they didn't rush you in to get the ultrasound.

     Truth is, there are lots of nothing/benign things that it could be -- one of the most common "things" is what I've have monitored for a few years now, a fibroadenoma, perfectly benign, huopefully will go away after menopause (but I'm still some years out from that). It's such a trade-off between having everything biopsied or being selective, and at least for me, the ultrasound confirmed it and is how I'm monitored. When I inquired about removal, was even informed that they can sometimes grow back (always benign),

    Hard to play the odds when the only thing that matters is what's your pathology, but just wanted to assure you that there are lots of other things it could be besides BC.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • StellaG
    StellaG Member Posts: 24
    edited January 2011

    Hi CTMOM, thanks for your good wishes and advice.

    You are right, of course, and having scoured the internet for information, I am inclined to think that it may be as you say, a fibroadenoma or may be a small cyst. I have had both before but in the other breast. The culprit in question is very mobile and firm and hard. I wore a push up bra yesterday and it disappeared altogether. Even though I am thinking it may most likely be one of these, my stupid mind is still allowing all the other bad scenarios and possibilities to creep in to it. Horrible!!!

    Good news is I am returning to work on Tuesday, just 3 hours every other day for the first 4 weeks, then to be reviewed. I am very pleased but just need to get this thing over and done with now.

    Stella xx 

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • NotAgain2015
    NotAgain2015 Member Posts: 223
    edited January 2011

    Well I have IDC in my other breast.  I'm pretty devastated.   I still think the odds are way in your favor Stella.  Just wanted to let you know how it turned out.  Now going to try and make sense of it all....

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • StellaG
    StellaG Member Posts: 24
    edited January 2011

    Trish - Oh no, so sorry to hear your bad news. How awful, I can't begin to think of the right words to say, just wishing you well and hoping I can do better next week. I have started going to church recently (it's not for everyone but it helps me) and I will pray for you that you will have a good outcome. Have they told you yet what treatment will you need?

    Sending you big, big (((((((HUGS)))))) from over the pond.

    Stella xxxxx

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Letlet
    Letlet Member Posts: 1,053
    edited January 2011

    kickon2it, I am so sorry that you got bad news again and that it is IDC. I can't imagine getting "the call" again, it devastated me too.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • NotAgain2015
    NotAgain2015 Member Posts: 223
    edited January 2011

    Thanks Stella. Don't let my bad news bring you down.  I meet with my oncologist on Monday and will know more then.  I'm a big believer in prayer myself so thanks you so much for yours.  My guess is bilat mastectomy and chemo.. just from my reading.  At some point I'd like to know how your mastectomy went.  This is all new territory for me now.  Thanks again.  And let me know how things go next week.  I bet you'll be fine !!!!!  I'll say a prayer for you too!  Take care.

    Trish

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • StellaG
    StellaG Member Posts: 24
    edited January 2011

    Hi Trish, hope you are keeping your spirits up and that you have a positive meeting with the Onc on Monday. Do let me know how it goes.

    In UK, on the NHS we are so fortunate to get all our treatment free of charge but the downside is that we don't really get a lot of choice about our treatment options - I was toldthat for my DCIS, I would have lumpectomy and Rads - it is a perfectly acceptable treatment regime for DCIS but I would have preferred to be offered a choice like you guys get. I had the lumpectomy but it transpired that at biopsy stage and/or wire insertion stage, there had been some kind of c*ck up and they had caused damage inside my tiny little A cup breast. BS was cross about it. He spoke to me and offered me Mx with immediate strattice reconstruction (I think you call it Alloderm in US). This is a relatively uncommon procedure in UK (and as I found out later, he is top man in UK for this) but I jumped at it because right from the start, I wanted a MX as I am not a risk taker and actually would have had a double Mx if it were offered. I had that on 20 Sept and it has been fine. I had tissue expander in first then on 16 Dec I had exchange surgery and augmentation of left breast at the same time. I am very pleased with the outcome and am now a curvy C cup. Still have to have a tiny bit of lipofill to sculpt the false boob and to have my nipple done - after my March check up I will go on the BS's list for that and wait till I am summoned.

    I just need to get Thursday out of the way now. I am dreading it. It is very mobile and I have noticed that the more I fiddle with the "nodule of doom", it increases in size like I am inflaming it, then it goes down when I leave it alone. I fiddled with it last night and managed to make it sore. AAAAGGGHHH!! OH keeps saying that cancer doesn't do that, I know he is trying to reassure me but it is hard to get my head to think that way. It is probably best to leave it alone between now and then!

    Stella xxx

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • StellaG
    StellaG Member Posts: 24
    edited February 2011

    Hi Trish, been thinking about you, how did you get on at Onc on Monday?

     Stella xxx

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Categories