Lump in side of neck

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Hi, all. It has been a year and a half since my double mastectomy. Other than lymphedema and genetic concerns and hysterectomy due to suspected cancer syndrome, things have been pretty smooth sailing.

I recently found a small hard lump in the side of my neck. It is about the size of a pea. It is not painful or tender, and it feels like it might be in a vein. I'm not sick or suffering from allergies...there has been no change in the size of it over the span of weeks. It's on the side of the BC and it's near where my neck meets my shoulder toward my collarbone.

My oncologist always carefully checks my neck, chest, and clavicle areas at my follow-up appointments...should I be concerned about this lump? Could it indicate a recurrence? Would it be wise to have an ultrasound or biopsy?

Comments

  • KBeee
    KBeee Member Posts: 5,109
    edited September 2016

    I would definitely report it. Keep us posted

  • Mommy2Six
    Mommy2Six Member Posts: 119
    edited October 2016

    Thank you for responding. :)
    I went in today to the Cancer Center, and asked them to take a quick look. She called a couple more doctors in and asked what they thought. They decided to do an ultrasound with a possible biopsy and CT scan. They called and asked Radiology to squeeze me in today, but when I went down there, they wanted an insane amount of money, and wouldn't agree to take 80% now and the rest next month. They also wouldn't check and see what the negotiated rate was with my insurance. So I left and I guess will be looking for somewhere else to go. My insurance gave me info on some other clinics that charge 1/5 for the same procedures. I don't know how long the wait will be.
    Thanks for commenting.

  • suzygirl
    suzygirl Member Posts: 22
    edited October 2016

    Last week I noticed two hard, painless pea sized lumps on my upper chest under the skin (I did not have reconstruction after bilateral mastectomy for bilateral invasive disease). In the three years since the mastectomies I have had no symptoms of recurrence, but my oncologist has stressed that I call him at any time when concerned. He took a look and said he is virtually certain that it's not cancer but "conservative treatment" would be to have an ultrasound followed by a biopsy if the radiologist thinks it's appropriate. He said we would at the least then have a baseline ultrasound to monitor over time. His guess was that they are probably fatty growths called "lipomas," although I do not have them elsewhere. Or they could be just tissue changes he said could show up after a surgery, even years later. He said their particular location is not where people generally have lymph nodes (phew!). The UA and possible biopsy is scheduled for next Wednesday. In short, I strongly recommend you continue to seek the ultrasound, if only for peace of mind. But this is unlikely to be an emergency situation -- it just feels like one, I know all too well.

  • KBeee
    KBeee Member Posts: 5,109
    edited October 2016

    mommy2six, that's horrible how they treated you; completely profit driven. Do you have a nurse navigator or patient advocate? Call them (and your MO) first thing Monday morning

  • ganzgirl2010
    ganzgirl2010 Member Posts: 235
    edited October 2016

    Wow...I just posted a similar question! I was having severe pain from my left side neck all the way down my arm so my spine doc did a cervical mri..incidentally the mri picked up a nodule on my left thyroid. So pcp sent me for an ultrasound which showed a 19 mm nodule on my left thyroid and a 6mm nodule on the right. Both nodules showed internal flow with tons of microcalcifications. My lymph node was negative two years ago but of course all I can think is..omg did it spread to my thyroid ??  Has anyone heard of this ??

  • KBeee
    KBeee Member Posts: 5,109
    edited October 2016

    Thyroid nodules seem quite common after breast cancer. Thankfully most are thyroid related, and not metastasi

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