Negative ultrasound but new symptoms

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bbveegs
bbveegs Member Posts: 7
edited August 2017 in Waiting for Test Results

I noticed a large lump (inner the size of a dollar coin and very firm) in my left breast almost 2 months ago, thinking maybe I managed to hurt myself I gave it a couple weeks to see if it would resolve on it's own. It did not so my primary sent me to have an ultrasound after palpating it, the radiologist found nothing said it was likely dense breast tissue. My primary wasn't satisfied with this and referred me to have it biopsied, it can't be needle biopsied because it couldn't be see on the ultrasound so I have an appointment next week with a breast surgeon.

Since then I've noticed some intermittent pain, going from a dull ache to absolutely burning but not just at the lump but also radiating toward my armpit. I have noticed some swelling going from my armpit over the top of my breast, as well as my breast seems to be getting heavier/fuller. I am very small breasted so the change is obvious.

I'm only 30 with no history of BC in family but I'm starting to get very worried with these new symptoms.

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  • Tomboy
    Tomboy Member Posts: 3,945
    edited July 2017

    bbveegs, breast changes are worrisome. I am glad to see that they are sending you to see the breast surgeon, I am surprised though that nothing could be seen on the ultrasound. It sounds painful like a cyst, but that doesn't explain why the ultrasound couldn't see it. The best and hardest thing to do, is not to worry, and just follow up with breast surgeon. Hard to do, I know! Let us know how it turns out, and hoping the best for you, too.

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  • bbveegs
    bbveegs Member Posts: 7
    edited July 2017

    The radiologist said it was not a cyst or fibroadenoma because it couldn't be seen. The tech doing the ultrasound could see exactly where the lump is because it does stand out but just could not get the ultrasound to pick anything up no matter how much she tried.

    I'm trying to put it out of my head and just try to get through to my appointment next week without worrying too much but it's so difficult.

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  • beachsidesunset
    beachsidesunset Member Posts: 36
    edited July 2017

    I had something similar, that's why I'm here... I had a lump in my right breast, with some heaviness, fullness, etc. I also have enlarged axillary nodes. I went to my primary which sent me immediately for mammography and ultrasound, which found.. NOTHING. Everything was clear, minus the enlarged nodes. The largest axillary node is 2 cm, so they wanted me to follow up on that and they just kind of dropped the palpable breast lump. Fast forward three weeks, I visit the surgeon. The nodes are still enlarged, and the lump is CLEARLY palpable, and he can't see it on his ultrasound at all. Nothing. So he did an immediate core biopsy in three areas. He says he thinks it may be a lipoma but I haven't gotten the results back, they're supposed to be back in the morning. (This was just yesterday that I had the biopsy) I have a core biopsy of the axillary node tomorrow. I am worried. I have very dense breasts and I had this same area scanned three years ago so I 'm really hoping it wasn't missed then and hasn't moved into my nodes. I'm nervous to hear from them tomorrow but also for the node biopsy, but I'm worried about false negatives as well!

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  • bbveegs
    bbveegs Member Posts: 7
    edited July 2017

    Yeah I'm not sure if my breasts are dense or not, they wouldn't even do a mammogram at the radiologist. But my breasts have stretched and shrank being pregnant and breastfeeding 3 times, so the fullness is quite obvious as I have a lot of stretch marks on both breasts but they're getting much harder to see on the left as my breast gets fuller.

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  • beachsidesunset
    beachsidesunset Member Posts: 36
    edited July 2017

    Mine turned out to be a lipoma, the biopsy results came in today. I am having it removed, because it is really making some changes to the breast as it grows. it still is not showing on the ultrasound, so I'm sure that something like that could be what you are having, bbveegs, my surgeon says they are very common!! I hope you find out something similar is occurring with you!

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  • bbveegs
    bbveegs Member Posts: 7
    edited July 2017

    I'm so glad you can finally relax. Did you have any pain associated with yours? Mine ranges from not being painful to days where it's just throbbing.

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  • bbveegs
    bbveegs Member Posts: 7
    edited July 2017

    Meeting with the breast specialist resulted in no definitive answer. He tried to ultrasound the lump and found nothing. He's referred me to get a mammogram and MRI to see if it's possible to needle biopsy, he is concerned about the onset inflammation and wants to see me again within 3 weeks to check on that but if we still cannot see the lump on imaging he wants to do a lumpectomy. I'm feeling very frustrated currently.

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  • MTwoman
    MTwoman Member Posts: 2,704
    edited July 2017

    bbveegs, sorry that you're feeling frustrated and you didn't get any answers yet, but am very glad your BS is pushing for more answers and taking your situation with cautious thoroughness. Doing an excisional biopsy will provide answers for both you and your BS. (just fyi, the only difference between excisional biopsy and lx is that lx is to remove tissue that is already diagnosed as bc. If you list lx in your medical history, a future doc or center may assume you've had bc.) Sorry you're having to wait again. When is your MRI scheduled?

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  • bbveegs
    bbveegs Member Posts: 7
    edited July 2017

    The mammo and MRI are both scheduled for the 10th. So more waiting but I'm very lucky my BS is taking my concerns seriously. I'm fortunate that I haven't had to fight any of my doctors to push for more testing.

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  • beachsidesunset
    beachsidesunset Member Posts: 36
    edited July 2017

    I went in for my "results" about my lipoma and apparently my surgeon doesn't feel like that's the end of it... He scheduled me for an MRI after the biopsy heals, on the 14th of August. I was really surprised. He said the lump is a lipoma, but feels the thickening and the rest of it is possibly something else. I have been so tired and feeling horrible. I keep having stabbing pains in my nipple, and there is more heaviness to that side than the other. There isn't any changes to the external nipple, but it feels like mastitis sometimes, but it's been going on for months. I feel like I'm going crazy, with the mammogram and ultrasound coming back fine, the biopsy coming back as lipoma, but the surgeon still thinking there is more going on and having me do the MRI.

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  • beachsidesunset
    beachsidesunset Member Posts: 36
    edited July 2017

    Also, MTWoman, my surgeon is calling my lipoma removal a lumpectomy, which I'm having after my MRI as long as it comes back clear, so that's not necessarily true, a lumpectomy can be the removal of any tumor, even if it is benign, as long as it has been diagnosed, as far as I've been told from my surgeon. The surgeon said that he doesn't always biopsy tissue that he's already done a core on, if that makes sense. (So that is why I said lumpectomy.)

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  • bbveegs
    bbveegs Member Posts: 7
    edited August 2017

    Mammogram and MRI were both done.

    Mammogram: heterogeneously dense breast, no mammographic signs of malignancy. The lump couldn't not be seen on the mammogram, the radiologist felt the lump and tried again to pick it up on an ultrasound which "failed to yield any cystic or solid abnormality"

    MRI: still waiting on these results, they did two sets of images with and without contrast

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