is pain normal?

Hi Kat,

I didn't have pain with my tumor, but I definitely felt mine growing bigger!  The doctors said it was most likely either swelling from the biopsy or just my increased awareness of it, but I really felt it was getting noticeably bigger.  They kept trying to reassure me that BC tumors typically double in size every six months or so, and therefore mine had probably been there for a long time already and surely wasn't noticeably bigger in mere months.   Unfortunately I had a bad sinus infection after my diagnosis, so my surgery was delayed.  By the time of my mastectomy 6 weeks later, it ended up being 5 cm, and all the docs were quite surprised.  

Of course I realize the anxiety and fear and biopsy-related swelling, and the constant touching/pressing, etc - can make you think the worst.  On the other hand, there's a possibility that yours, like mine, could really be growing right before your eyes.  With all my heart I hope that's not the case for you, but please don't dismiss the possibility.

After my pathology came back later, and after doing a ton of research here and elsewhere, I now know WHY it really was growing fast and not my imagination.  First of all, my tumor was triple negative, which is very often a really fast grower - in fact, it's called an "interval" cancer since it often comes up out of seemingly nowhere.  I was young (39) at diagnosis, so that was another common factor for aggressive disease.  My Ki-67 was at 100%; the ki-67  is basically the number of cells actively dividing at any specific time.  Again, for triple negative disease, Ki-67 is often very high. My tumor cells were  high grade, poorly differentiated, with large degree of central necrosis and lymphatic invasion.  My tumor size of 5 cm put me right at the border of an even higher stage and increased my prognostic risk.  My total Nottingham score was 9.  UGH. 

I share this not to scare you or anyone.  I share this because I see a lot of similar characteristics between your cancer and mine, and I want to encourage you of two things.  First, PLEASE take this very seriously- see if you can get another appointment sooner if they have a cancellation or a different doctor or another center.  Second, in case your tumor does turn out to be TNBC and/or aggressive, just know that chemotherapy treatment is especially effective for these tumors (since it has the most effect on fast-growing cells!) and there are a lot of TNBC success stories!  IMHO, you can't afford to wait and monitor and "try out" unproven and/or disproven treatments.  Your best chance is NOW.  TNBC is especially sneaky and unpredictable, and we don't have some of the recurrence-preventive options that are available to other types.  

Anyway, please let me know, either here or via PM if there's anything at all I can help with.  It's so critical that you get accurate information to help guide your choices.  I wish you nothing but the absolute best whatever you choose.  Hang in there and let us know how you're doing.

Hi Kat,

Not sure if you have a surgery scheduled....if you do, then there's less of a rush to see the onc, since you wouldn't be able to start chemo until a few weeks after surgery. But if you are considering doing chemo before surgery (it's called neoadjuvant chemo) than you should see an onc ASAP and get that started.

If you're considering that, I agree with the others above that you should push for an earlier appt. Call the various docs office and explain that you are 32, receptor negative, and would like to see an onc as soon as possible, to discuss your options. Be the squeaky wheel, it could save your life. 

Good luck!

I would definitely try to see an onc earlier.  I haven't had surgery yet, but when I saw the BS (one week after biopsy results), she tried to get me into see the onc that same day.  She was too busy, but made an appointment for me the very next day.  I would see if either your PCP or your BS could make a call to the onc and get you an earlier appointment.  By the way, my BS measured my tumor to be 7.5 cm, at the ultrasound a week earlier, it was 4 cm.  The BS also ordered a MRI which I got in about a week and that measured it at 3.5, so I think the difference was swelling from the biopsy.  It was particularly painful.  I don't think I've heard other people have as much pain with it as I did.  I also had three biopsies, the breast and two lymph nodes, which were all cancer.  Chemo has worked really well.  There is scar tissue from around the tumor, but they can't even measure the tumor now.  I'll see at surgery what the real story is. 

Good luck to you.  A call from another doctor is typically very effective.  It is worth a try IMO.

I am having the same problem. Since my needle biospy I am having more pain in my breast, and it seems to radiate to my shoulder and down my arm.