How worried should I be?

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Booboo2
Booboo2 Member Posts: 59
edited June 2014 in Not Diagnosed With a Recurrence or Metastases but Concerned

Hi, my name is Jan and I had breast cancer last year.  I had surgery last July and it was followed by radiation treatments.  At my first 6-month examination I was given a completely clean bill of health, but this week, at my next follow-up I was told that my breast feels "nodular" and it needs to be checked out again with a mammogram or ultrasound.

How worried should I be?  Is it common for this to happen without being a sign of recurrence, or is there a high possibility that I have had a recurrence? I'd be interested to hear from anyone else who had this experience about a year after the original diagnosis, and were you okay?

 If I'm okay, it's great news, but I need to be prepared for the worst.

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  • Fearless_One
    Fearless_One Member Posts: 3,300
    edited October 2011

    For what it's worth, my BS said cancer is rarely "nodular", but more "star-fished shape" (those were her words).   But def get it checked out.

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  • ma111
    ma111 Member Posts: 1,376
    edited October 2011

    I wouldn't prepare for the worst. Tumor markers, scans or symptoms usually pick up reoccurances.

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  • susan_02143
    susan_02143 Member Posts: 7,209
    edited October 2011

    Radiation can change the texture of our breasts, even long after the treatments. I wouldn't be too worried. Get the follow up tests. No doubt your doctor is just being cautious and confirming that you are doing well.

    *susan* 

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  • Booboo2
    Booboo2 Member Posts: 59
    edited October 2011

    Thank you for your responses.  You all sound very reassuring, that I probably don't have anything to worry about.  Still, there's that nagging anxiety.  I'll feel much better when I know for sure.

    The oncologist who examined me said it may just be scar tissue. I know my breast is sort of puckered up around the incision area, and she may have felt some of that on the inside. I have an appointment this Friday to have an ultrasound done.  If I don't need a biopsy as well, I can relax then.

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  • ma111
    ma111 Member Posts: 1,376
    edited October 2011

    Nagging anxiety is normal, otherwise no one would pick up early stage cancers. I wish you the best.

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  • Booboo2
    Booboo2 Member Posts: 59
    edited October 2011

    Good news!  It was just scar tissue.  I didn't even need an ultrasound.  They did a mammogram, and about 5 minutes later they came out to the waiting room where I had been told to wait, and said they couldn't find anything to worry about and that I could go.  I had been dreading all the awful things that might happen, and I'm fine.

    So I'm okay for now.  You never know when this vicious disease will come back, but for now at least, I can stop worrying.

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