Found a lump on my ribs

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sandejosgirl
sandejosgirl Member Posts: 57
edited June 2014 in Young With Breast Cancer

I am completely freaking out. I had my expander deflated this afternoon. Came home, dinner, put the kids to bed. Put on my running clothes, turned a looked in the mirror and saw this funny bulge on my ribs under what would be my left breast, if I had one. I thought, is my fat on that side really so different from the other?  Took off my running tank/sports bra and yes, a very discernable difference looking straight down. I would never see it with the expander in the way and clothes hang off it farther out from my body.  So I started feeling around in the area and I have a lump/mass/thing "on"? my ribs about two finger widths under my expander, about the size of a quarter but a raised area the size of my palm about 1/2 inch higher than the other side.

COMPLETELY FREAKING OUT!!!! WHAT THE HECK DO I DO? I mean besides not sleeping tonight and calling the Onc 1st thing tomorrow.

 HELP!

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  • cmdczc
    cmdczc Member Posts: 75
    edited September 2011

    Is it soft or firm?  Could it just be edema (fluid)?  Stay strong.

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  • sandejosgirl
    sandejosgirl Member Posts: 57
    edited September 2011

    It's soft?? I don't know. I doesn't feel like my breast lump. But it would be a lot for edema.  And why on earth would I have edema there? I don't mean this as a criticism of you at all. My husband & I are asking the same questions.  Could I have bruised or injured myself and not remember? Other than cancer, what on earth could it be? It's just such a funny place to get, well, whatever it is.

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  • sandejosgirl
    sandejosgirl Member Posts: 57
    edited September 2011

    I just wanted to add that it is down my rib cage from my expander, as in closer to my navel by 1.5 inches. It is under my expander, not "under" my expander.

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  • jc3win
    jc3win Member Posts: 61
    edited September 2011

    Is it where the breast fold would be after recon? My surgeon tried to leave a bit of the natual fold area at the bottom of my breast so that it would still be there to work with in recon.

    Another idea could be that it is a benign fatty lipoma. I had one of those removed after chemo (finding it really freaked me out). I think the only reason I found it was because the other tissue had been removed and then the swelling went away after rads and then then lipoma was palpable.

    Of course you will have to show your doc but try to stay as calm as you can in the meantime.

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  • sandejosgirl
    sandejosgirl Member Posts: 57
    edited September 2011

    It is under where the breast fold is, by about 1.5" or two to three finger widths. I feel like it is palpable but at this point it is a green monster roaming about under my skin trying to eat me alive :)! So I really have no idea what is my imagination and what is clinical.

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  • Melonda
    Melonda Member Posts: 309
    edited September 2011

    I would be freaking too I swear but I really think it could be fat, could be fluid, anything. When we do recon stuff moves randomly. Which sucks and sends us into a tizzy, I've definitely done that before! Call the onc tomorrow but I really feel like they will feel it and be likeboh no biggie. Keep us posted though!

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  • anonymice
    anonymice Member Posts: 532
    edited September 2011

    I don't know but it really does sound like some sort of bizarre benign thing.  

    (Tongue outI'm pretty sure it's not an alien monster eating you from the inside - the chewing noises would wake you up!)

    I would also be freaking, but just take a deep breath and get it looked at asap for your peace of mind - sounds more weird than dangerous.  I'll take weird over dangerous any day!

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  • Bany
    Bany Member Posts: 53
    edited September 2011

    Could it be the port from your deflated expander?  That's a hard bump!  Expanders are weirdly shaed and perhaps what you are feeling is the expander or its port?    

     Please keep breathing deeply and try not to panic.  There's nothing you can do until the morning.  You could panic all night, but that won't get you anywhere other than exhausted and tense.    And in all likelihood it is a benign case of canceritis, and not something new and cancer related!!   Hang in there!  xo Bany

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  • sandejosgirl
    sandejosgirl Member Posts: 57
    edited September 2011

    Onc. thinks it's just swelling. Went in and he felt me up. Who knows why? Swelling that moved down my ribs because we were messing with the expander?

    I have a appointment in 2 weeks anyway and we will follow up then.

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  • cmdczc
    cmdczc Member Posts: 75
    edited September 2011

    I think edema in the area below surgery, etc. is common. I had it, sort of an asymmetry when you look at both sides.  Sorry if my questions upset you; I work in health care, and just tried to get a feel for it.  Glad it doesn't seem to be anything to worry about.  Take care.

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