Found a lump-scared out of my mind!
Hi everyone. I am so glad to have found this site. I wish I had found it a month ago. I apologize ahead of time if this gets long-winded.
About 1 month ago-September 30th to be exact-I found a small, pea-size lump in the left upper quadrant of my right breast. It feels slightly moveable, it can move side to side but stays in the same spot. I freaked out because my mom died of breast cancer 8 years ago at the age of 44. I called my nurse practitioner who is amazing and she got me in that afternoon. She felt the lump and said it felt "more rubbery" than what cancer normally feels like and that the borders were smooth and well-defined. She said she wasn't worried, but sent me down for a mammo just to be on the safe side. I did a screening and diagnostic digital mammo. It was negative. So, they sent me for an ultrasound which was again negative. I have fibrocystic breasts, but that's not new news, I've known that. Anywhow, after the mammo and US were negative, my NP told me that I was in the clear and to go home and relax.
Well, I don't relax. i worry. I freak out. And I have checked that lump and both breasts out a LOT ever since. I'm talking a minimum of 4 breast checks a day. Sometimes a lot more. I freaked out because my breast with the lump felt a little bigger, maybe a little harder. I gave myself a 1 month time limit on the lump. If the lump was still there after a month, I would see a surgeon. Well, here I am, 1 month later and the lump is still there. It isn't bigger, but it's still there.
I saw a surgeon today. He felt my breasts, said I had fibrocystic breasts (again, nothing new to me). He couldn't feel the lump when I was laying down, only when I was sitting up. Once he found it sitting up, he kept his fingers on the lump and laid me back down and only then could he still feel it while I was laying down. He said that while both breasts are lumpy, he feels we should remove this lump. He said that it's probably nothing, at the very worst it's the early stage of breast (gulp) cancer. He said for my piece of mind he wants to take it out so we know for sure.
I'm only 33! I'm a young woman,with young kids. My life is just starting! How can this be happening?? I am so scared right now. Now that my kids are tucked safely in bed I am sitting here crying. And crying and crying and crying. I am so scared. My biopsy is Tuesday. How long do the results take? And why is he doing an incisional biopsy instead of a needle biopsy? The lump is about the size of my small finger's finger tip.
Any advice, encouragement, or ANYTHING would be so greatly appreciated. I don't know how I am going to make it through the next few days.
Comments
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Amy, I'm so sorry you're going through this, but it sounds like you have an excellent breast surgeon and are really in good hands.
Just a guess, but his decision to do an excisional biopsy vs. a needle biopsy probably has to do with the small size and location of the lump, as well as the fact that it doesn't image on u/s. And actually, taking the whole thing out is a much safer way to go, ensuring that nothing is missed or hiding.
It may help you to know that 80% of breast biopsies turn out to be benign, so the odds are totally in your favor.
As far as making it through the next few days, try to keep busy with things you enjoy doing. I know it's tough, but worrying isn't going to change anything. Yes, it's scary. But it sounds like you've done everything right, and that you have a great surgeon. Let's just pray that this is just a scare. I will be thinking about you. Please let us know as soon as you hear something. (((Hugs))) Deanna
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Hi Amy, the scariest time is between when you realize there's something there to the time you get it out and find out what "it" is. I'm so sorry you're having to go through a biopsy.
To answer your questions, according to the radiologist who did mine, needle biopsies aren't always as accurate. It sounds like your surgeon wants to be proactive to find out what's going on with you since you have fibrocystic breasts and a family history. The fact that it's very small and that he's being proactive is very good.
Statistically speaking, the chances are good that a biopsy will be benign. For the results, there's no set amount of time. It's usually around a week, but some hospitals are faster.
To make it through the next few days (and the days between your biopsy and pathology report) I'd find something that you can do to take your mind off of it. It's so hard not to freak out and research every kind of breast cancer there is, but it can make the fear worse. Netflix was my best friend during the waiting times.
Hugs,
Steph
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Thanks for the encouragement. I woke up this morning and decided it was going to be a GOOD day and I was going to think POSITIVE. Well, that lasted about 2 hours, haha. It's hard. I keep going to the "what if...". What if it's cancer? What if it's spread? What if it's terminal? What will happen to my girls? What if I don't see them grow up...get married....have babies? What if, what if, what if...... I need to stop worrying about the what if's and concentrate on the NOW. I am praying so hard this isn't cancer. But why would the surgeon want to remove it if he isn't suspicious that it is?
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Amy: I've been dealing with the same thing for almost three months. I had a standard mammogram and a suspicious spot showed up. We did an US and it showed nothing. I took my films and came back to Florida where I live and met with a bs. He gave me another mammo and the spot was still there. I go in tomorrow and he is once again going to try to bring it up on US so he can do a biopsy. If he can't find it then who knows where we go from there.
It's a waiting game, but no need to panic. Breast cancer doesn't grow that fast unless it's IBC and we don't have those symptoms. I am using this time to educate myself and make diet and lifestyle changes that I've needed to do for a long time. As other posters have said, 80% of these things turn out to be nothing. As for removing the small lump, the surgeon is erring on the side of caution, and is also taking into consideration your feelings...he knows that this continues to worry you and he wants to remove your fear.
All the best to you for a positive outcome.
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You are a smart cookie! Good on you for being active in your treatment and seeking the specialist. Have seen enuf people who suffered from the "it's probably nothing" talk.
You are young and likely have dense breasts. Hard to see anything on mammogram in that case. I will tell you I had a lump like yours, small, could only be felt sitting up, no show in mammo. We biopsied it and it was schlerosing adenosis, a benign finding. My mom died age 59 from bc. I relate to your stress. Yu are doing everything right, hang in there! (((hugs))) -
Thank you so much for all the encouragement! Today is a better day. I do have a question for you all though... Late last night when I felt the "lump", it felt less prominent, almost flatter...like a balloon that is deflating, if that makes sense. I have felt it a ton today, and I still feel that it has changed..like it's going away. It's not as easy to find. Is this normal?? Or is it just wishful thinking?
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Amy- That can be a good thing, which means it could be a cyst if it is going away, but I would still get it checked out just to be sure.
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Thanks Debbie. My husband said if I think I am getting out of this biopsy just because it is shrinking, I am wrong.
He's been very supportive. It feels very different today. I'm not sure what's going on. It feels softer, smaller and more pliable. If that makes sense. I don't know. Like I said, it could just be wishful thinking. 48 hours from now the biopsy will be over. And hopefully I'll have some news. I just want it all to be over. -
Amy, it is very likely that it is not cancer. But even if it is, you've caught it at an early stage. I cannot tell you how fortunate you are. .
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My biopsy is tomorrow morning. I don't know how I am going to handle the anxiety until then. I so wish they would tell me tomorrow the results.
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Did they give you some xanax? It was helpful for me- took 1 about an hour before my appt. I was even gabbing and laughing with the surgeon while she was doing it. Also mine didnt hurt at all, hang in there you will get through it ((((((hugs))))))) and best wishes
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I second the Xanax! I am a chronic worrier too, and Xanax is very helpful. I wish you the best, and hope you will post happy results here soon.
Oh, and I have had two biopsies since getting BC - and got the feeling that the doctors (one gyn, one dermatologist) were biopsying because I was so panicked even though they were fairly certain nothing bad was going on. Both turned out to be benign
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Amy - good luck - hope you got a xanax!! I have had a couple of pea sized lumps removed - they were benign. The surgeon said when they are hard like that it is just best to remove them to be sure. I surely hope yours is benign as well - good luck!!
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Well, I'm home and the biopsy is done. The first thing I asked my doctor was "Did the lump look suspicious" to which he said no. He talked to my husband and I guess the doc took out about a golf-ball sized amount of tissue. This is wierd to me, because the lump itself was only about a pea size lump. My husband says that the doc told him that it didn't look suspicious to him either. I was really out of it and the surgeon had to get to clinic, so I didn't get to talk to him again. Does anyone know why they would have taken so much tissue if it didn't look suspicious?
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Yay Amy - so glad you are out of surgery! They took a larger piece to get a wide amount of tissue around the abnormality. This is called a "margin". If it turned out to be a cancer, they would like to have a large margin of healthy tissue around it so they know they got all of it.
My surgeon told my husband the same thing: that he did not see any cancer. Really they cannot be totally sure, but they must know something...... Anyway, my guy was right, and it was all fine. Hope yours is the same!!
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Amy with mine I wasn't feeling the actual lump, it was deep in the tissue, kind of like a princess and pea effect. And yes, he took more just in case, so you might not have to go through that again in a just in case event.
Feel better!
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Amy- Glad you got that over with!! Now we wait with you for the BENIGN results!!
Some ladies get there results back in a couple of days, I had to wait almost 2 weeks because they had sent it out to another lab- Lets hope yours is sooner rather than later!
Best wishes,
Debbie
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Glad to hear it is over. Wishing you B9 results.
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Good luck to you Amy...I know you're glad it's over. My biopsy is this Friday.
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CAN'T WAIT TO HEAR BENIGN NEWS! it's weird how we all have different surgeons. my mother died of breast cancer in her 40's and my surgeon doesn't want to do an excisional biopsy on me. i wish i knew why. my lump is not small like yours so maybe it would be more disfiguring for me. i hear that both biopsy options are sufficient but the excisional will leave no doubt whatsoever. that will good for you!
kaara- I can relate to your agony as my lump did not show on ultrasound and i was never given a mammogram. nobody told me whether my breasts were dense but i guess many women under 40 have denser tissue. anyway, i ended up having a biopsy by touch which means no facilitating images. i dont know how normal of a procedure that is but maybe your doctor will do that for you. plus theres mri guided biopsies, right? i hate the idea of an mri but it will probably be my only screening tool if the lump is not showing on anything else.
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Today when I woke up, it was the first morning in a long time that the first thought in my head was "Do I have breast cancer?" It was a refreshing feeling! I'm exhausted today..and sore! Holy moly, I didn't think I'd be this sore from the biopsy. I have to wear a large Ace bandage around my chest until next Monday, which is NOT comfortable at all. Anyone have any suggestions on this? It likes to bunch and pinch. I'm still anxious to hear the final results. I know my doctor said it didn't look suspicious and told my husband he wasn't worried, but I will feel 100% better seeing it on paper, so to speak. I have found this to be a huge roller coaster ride..and I haven't even been diagnosed with breast cancer. I MIGHT find out the results later tomorrow, otherwise I shoudl find out Friday. I am thinking positive, that the results will be benign. I would assume the surgeon knows what he's talking about when he said it did not look suspicious. He's certainly dealt with enough bca in his career. Thanks so much for eveyrone's support. I honestly don't know that I could be going through all of this without y'all. THANK YOU!
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Kaara~ Good luck with your biopsy tomorrow. I'll think positive thoughts for you all day!
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Amy and Kaara, hoping for B9 results for you both! Sending positive thoughts your way.
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Amy- what really helped me after my biopsy was to wear a tight sports bra. I wore it day and night for 3 weeks to help with the soreness. Also, did they give you any pain medication? Tylenol or Advil work well. I also iced it off and on (I used bags of frozen peas because they would confrom to my poor boob without poking it.)
Take care. Hoping for B9 results!
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I forgot about the icing! Thanks for reminding me! I tried that tonight, helped a ton. He did give me Lortab, but that stuff messes with my dreams. Like I dream of Tony Danza being the doorman at the local restaurant kind of dreams. It makes me feel fuzzy and out of it. So I've been sticking with Tylenol, which dulls the ache. I was finally allowed to take my bandage off tonight...kinda scared me when I saw the large incision. Major anxiety attack again. I kept thinking "What if the doctor was lying when he said it wasn't suspicious? What if it didn't LOOK suspicious, but is in fact cancer?" What if, what if, what if....the what if's could seriously drive a person crazy!
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Amy,
I am having the same thoughts as you. I have three children and there are times when I look at them and think what if I am not here to see them grow up. I also try to reassure myself that no day is guaranteed and that anything could happen, not just breast cancer. So I try to put it in perspective that I need to just have faith and that everything will work out. Anything could happen any day and if I start obsessing I will drive myself crazy. I am a known worry wart but for the most part I have been able to keep fairly calm about my situation. Still waiting for biopsy as you saw in my post.
At times I feel like I am in a dream and that I am going to wake up and none of this will have even happened. I have my moments when I am scared, I cry, I "what if" everything, I panic. It's hard and hopefully we will both (and anyone else awaiting results/tests) will get great results and that it will turn out to be nothing.
God bless you and your family!
Amanda
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Pathology results are in....BENIGN!!!! It was just a fatty lipoma! And it was quite bigger than what I was feeling. It was 6cm x 3cm x 3.5cm. Not quite the pea-size lump I was feeling, huh? I sat in my vehicle and cried for 20 minutes after I got the results. What a relief! Thank you ALL so much for supporting me, for being there and for helping me through this. THANK YOU!
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Absolutely WUNDERBAR news! Congrats Amy. :0)
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Wonderful news!!!
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That's wonderful news Amy! I'm so happy for you.
Not looking forward to my biopsy, but just want to get it over with. I'm going to dig around in the cabinet for some pills to calm me down so I can lie still on that table tomorrow!
Thanks everyone for all the good wishes.
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