Lumps & Bumps Years After Mastectomy

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livingwithit
livingwithit Member Posts: 39
edited August 2018 in Stage IV/Metastatic Breast Cancer ONLY

Hello all,

Hope everyone will have an energetic, pain free and worry free weekend. What a blessing that would be for all of us!

I have a question about lumps and bumps. My cancer was in the left breast but I opted for a bilateral mastectomy, no reconstruction. At my last MO appt in December 16 the doc noted a hard, smaller than pea sized lump, along the incision line on right side. She said it felt like a stitch. Since then the lump is now larger than pea sized. I know this could be an undisolved stitch- which amazes me 2 1/2 years post mastectomy. Possibly a cyst or possibly fat necrosis. But possibly a new met.

If my MO is still unconcerned at my January 18 appt what type of further testing should I push for? Just need confirmation it's notching to worry about, ya know?

Another concern I have is the pain from bone mets in humerus and shoulder is back 16 months post-radiation. I understand that radiation pain relief doesn't always last forever and doesn't necessarily mean progression, esp since my last bone scan in October showed no new mets. Kind of worried though that the pain is back at same time my lump along incision seems to be growing.

Any insight, personal experiences with the lump/bump thing will be much appreciated as well as any tests I should request in case MO still not concerned.

Thanks so much!!

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  • blainejennifer
    blainejennifer Member Posts: 1,848
    edited January 2017

    I don't think your MO is going to remain unconcerned as the lump has grown. Three months between scans is not unheard of for us. Is the shoulder pain in the same upper right quadrant as your lump? How is your blood work?

    My bet is that you'll be scanned if your blood work is 1) diagnostic for you and 2) TMs are increasing. My MO fires ups the scans for symptoms, as well as for increasing TMs.

    It could be nothing, but it pays to be paranoid.

    If your MO doesn't react, ask when you should be scanned next and how she interprets your blood results. If you don't like her answers, pester her until you do.


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  • Casun19
    Casun19 Member Posts: 111
    edited January 2017

    If you want to push I would ask to see a dermatologist. I had a similar issue with a few pea size or smaller lump / bump / cyst on my scalp that changed size but my oncologist was not concerned about. A dermatologist immediately identified and biopsied. Turns out it was a metastasis.

    And this did not show up on my scans.

    Your MO probably knows best but doesn't hurt to ask for a second look by another doc. Good luck

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  • livingwithit
    livingwithit Member Posts: 39
    edited January 2017

    Hi, thanks for your replies! My blood work has all been normal for months. Unfortunately my tumor markers "don't work." When I was first diagnosed with bone mets in left arm, left shoulder and left hip via bone scan and MRI my tumor markers came back as 27. Since TM was useless my MO said we would just have to do more frequent scans. My original MO has since retired and I've been seeing her replacement since August 2016. I know a lot of people don't like change and I am one of them. It really stinks losing my oncologist. We had a really good rapport and I felt like she really heard my concerns. Hoping to develop that with her replacement.

    The lump on my chest wall is on the right side, original cancer was left breast diagnosed July 2013 then bone mets diagnosed left shoulder, left upper arm and left hip July 2015. The hip met is no longer visible on scans (yay)! My scans still show uptake in the arm and shoulder but it has not been nearly as intense as it was at diagnosis.

    I am on cycle 17 of ibrance/letrozole. The return of the bone pain in left arm at the same time as the growing lump/bump along incision line of right chest sure does have me feeling paranoid! I have 11 days til my scheduled appt. :(

    Thanks for the dermatologist suggestion! If MO for some reason doesn't feel like this growing lumo needs to come out or at least be biopsied a derm will be my next stop.

    Casun19 - so glad you didn't stop with the oncologist about your scalp lumps!! Were they able to resect them? Were they mets to skull bone or scalp skin?

    Thanks again, ladies for your input! Sending you wishes and prayers for no more cancer! Or at least a long, long period of time without paranoia!

    P.S. Is it just me or does it seem like things like this come up over the weekend, holidays or after doc office hours?! Lol

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  • Freya244117
    Freya244117 Member Posts: 603
    edited January 2017

    livingwithit, my tumour markers have never changed either. If I get symptoms we do scans.

    I get what you mean about everything happening out of hours and on weekends It seems like the one thing you can count on.

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  • Casun19
    Casun19 Member Posts: 111
    edited January 2017

    I am sorry you are having to deal with a new doctor. I am sure they will get to the bottom of it. Since it seems like a long time till your appointment, Maybe call your oncologist office and tell them your concerns. They might send you to a dermatologist or see you sooner?

    For me my scalp mets are in the skin. They only did a biopsy. The dermatologist actually said they sometimes like to keep them around as a visual indicator for if your treatment is working. So, if they get bigger we know things are not good. If they melt away.....we are on the right track.

    This actually was a recent discovery so I am going back to the dermatologist later this month to have look at a few other areas.

    Keep us posted!



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  • livingwithit
    livingwithit Member Posts: 39
    edited January 2017

    So I contacted my MO and she referred me back to the surgeon who performed my mastectomies about 3 1/2 years ago. My appointment with the BS is tomorrow afternoon. Do you guys think the surgeon will have a good idea what's going on with just a physical exam?Hope to have some answers tomorrow but also wondering if he will need to remove the nodule or biopsy it for a definitive answer.

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  • livingwithit
    livingwithit Member Posts: 39
    edited January 2017

    I saw my BS yesterday. He removed the nodule (about 1.5 cm) in the office and sent it to pathology. Results maybe as early as Friday. Hope so, weekends waiting for results are the worst! He said he doesn't know what the lump is, that it felt hard to be a lipoma. The nurse thought it looked like a lipoma. Why do we do this to ourselves? The guessing and wondering thing. It either is or it isn't cancer. I never did like science!!

    Anyway, I really don't think it is cancer (my bet is lipoma) and I am very very glad I have a great surgeon who didn't put me through a ton of appointments and imaging tests. I am grateful that whatever the little thing may be it's out of my body and I'm grateful I am a day closer to knowing just what that little lump is.

    Will let you all know when I know! Have a great day!

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  • Casun19
    Casun19 Member Posts: 111
    edited January 2017

    that's great! Very speedy.Keep us posted.

    And yes it always seems like the weekend waiting game doesn't it...

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  • livingwithit
    livingwithit Member Posts: 39
    edited January 2017

    Just checking in. Day 6 since biopsy, still no results. Getting more nervous. My mind keeps jumping back to having my core needle biopsy in 2013 and it taking a few extra days because it was malignant. Negative results don't take as long. The BS nurse did provide a smidge of comfort today by saying maybe it's taking longer because lab is being extra thorough or doing extra testing because of my history. (Sigh)

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  • MinusTwo
    MinusTwo Member Posts: 16,634
    edited January 2017

    LivingWithIt - remember most labs don't work on the weekends & I'd be surprised if they're working today since it's a Federal holiday. Maybe tomorrow.

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  • livingwithit
    livingwithit Member Posts: 39
    edited January 2017

    8 days since lump/bump removed and still waiting. Did find out yesterday that the original local lab sent the thing to lab corp for insurance purposes. Lab Corp didn't get it til the 10th. Then there was the holiday weekend. Lab Corp gave BS nurse estimated date of results as January 22- a Sunday, of course!! At least now I know why the delay and have a date. Soooo. .. the wait contiues but I do feel better knowing why there has been a delay:)

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  • Casun19
    Casun19 Member Posts: 111
    edited January 2017

    good you found out what was happening! Had an appointment yesterday and thought I was going to Receive additional path results for my scalp mets but the results were not in yet... I feel your pain on the waiting game.

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  • livingwithit
    livingwithit Member Posts: 39
    edited January 2017

    I know right! It's easy to say don't worry but so hard not to worry! Personally I prefer to know where I stand even if results are not good. At least my new oncologist will give results over the phone. I absolutely loved my original oncologist but she retired back in August. The only thing that bugged me with her was that you had to wait to get results (i.e. CT, bone scans, etc.) in person at following appointment even if everything was stable. Some people can handle the wait saying no point in worrying. Logicallyl I understand that, we cannot change what the results will be but boy, oh boy I much prefer to KNOW even if not good news rather than wonder. I do stay busy when waiting and that helps but there are those inevitable quiet moments when it hits and you think about the what-ifs.

    Hope you get your results soon too, Casun19. And may they be the best you could hope for!. And let us know when you do? So I can stop worrying about yours too :)

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  • Casun19
    Casun19 Member Posts: 111
    edited January 2017

    hi, checking back in. My doctors office called with the pathology results today. I knew my scalp lesions were metastatic but didn't know the hormonal status yet. Turns out it's the same as the original breast tumor. Which is good news (Well, as good as you can hope for, when you are being told about cancer...I guess)

    Livingwithit- were you able to get your results back yet?

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  • livingwithit
    livingwithit Member Posts: 39
    edited January 2017

    Well if you gotta have breast cancer our type is the one to have (ER+PR+HER2-). Let us know what your knew treatment plan will be. Ibrance/letrozole has kept me progression free 17 months so far. . .that's right! My biopsy was benign!! 🙌 Got result yesterday, man what a long 2 weeks that was!!

    I am sorry your new lumps weren't also benign but really theres so many more options with our subtype so hang in there! xoxo

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  • Casun19
    Casun19 Member Posts: 111
    edited January 2017

    that's great news! Now we can can breathe 👍🏻

    No matter the results I think we are always glad we checked it out and know for sure. I am also starting ibrance/letrozole next week. Hoping I get the great response you have had!


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  • Saintsnow
    Saintsnow Member Posts: 2
    edited August 2018

    I wonder if the lesions on your scalp are any better? And if they went away? If so, what was the treatment? I have metastasis on the scalp and it is really worrying me. I have been taking Ibrance with exemesthane for a year now and even fear that Ibrance might be making the scalp lesions worse, but I have no idea.

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  • Casun19
    Casun19 Member Posts: 111
    edited August 2018

    hi, mine did get a little smaller. Where sometimes I have to search a little harder when “looking for them" but I can still feel them under the skin. I am on ibrance/ letrozole and xgeva for about 1.5years

    Just to be clear these are in my scalp not my skull.... I have those too LOL but don't know about size changes for skull mets

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