Pain, knots, implants, dense tissue

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Gk1299
Gk1299 Member Posts: 5
edited March 2018 in Not Diagnosed But Worried

I’m 48 and just had a clear mammogram in November. But the nurse just told me I have very dense breast tissue so who knows?

I’ve been having breast pain on the right side near my nipple. Upon examination I found three lumps that were not there before. The painful one is underneath my nipple and the other two are above and below it. I’ve had some itchiness on that nipple as well. The pain has been at times sharp but always a pulling sensation and some burning.

I just saw my ob\gyn. She said she is not concerned about the knots that I felt,but there is a hard place underneath my implant that feels abnormal. She thinks it may just be the valve of my implant? She assured me that she isn’t worried but is sending me for an ultrasound and possible diagnostic mammogram today

My question is - do they always tell you not to worry? Haha. And then send you for more tests to find out the real deal?

None of it sounds good to me.

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  • djmammo
    djmammo Member Posts: 2,939
    edited February 2018

    Gk1299

    In my experience (which may be skewed) if you express concern over something your doctor feels is normal, you will wind up with the level of testing commensurate with the level of your concern, and then tell you not to worry.

    Let us know what your imaging shows.

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  • JameeCook
    JameeCook Member Posts: 23
    edited February 2018

    Hi @Gk1299,

    I can’t respond in regards to breast cancer concerns. I can recommend, however, that you continue to follow up. Any breast mass with implants should be evaluated for Breast Implant Associated Anaplastic Large Cell Lymphoma. This has primarily been associated with textured implants. Do you have textured now, or ever? Have you noticed any swelling in that breast?

    The National Comprehensive Cancer Network has a diagnostic and treatment algorithm for BIA-ALCL. Any late onset seroma or mass should be evaluated via ultrasound or MRI. I will try to post the algorithm for you. While still very rare, the number of cases is rising due to clinician awareness and persistence from symptomatic patients.

    image

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  • Gk1299
    Gk1299 Member Posts: 5
    edited February 2018

    Thank you Jamie! My implants are 13 years old and are not textured. I am totally open to removing them one way or the other.

    I went for my ultrasound and the knots that she could see were normal. The area of pain around my nipple was fine she said. But the hard place that my gyn and I felt could not be located again much less reached with the wand. So i still don’t know anything about that.

    My GYN said she had never felt anything like it. The us tech and I tried everything but couldn’t locate it again. It’s like it’s behjnd the implant. Idk if I can rest without knowing for sure.

    I’m waiting for a call from my doc to ask her about an mri. I understand this is my only option to fully view behind the implant.

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  • djmammo
    djmammo Member Posts: 2,939
    edited February 2018

    Gk1299

    Are your implants in front of or behind the muscle?


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  • Gk1299
    Gk1299 Member Posts: 5
    edited February 2018

    in front. The place we felt was about 1/2” by 1” and hard as a piece of bone. Under and behind the implant.

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  • djmammo
    djmammo Member Posts: 2,939
    edited February 2018

    Gk1299

    In that case an MRI is your best bet to see that area.

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  • Gk1299
    Gk1299 Member Posts: 5
    edited February 2018

    I’m going to ask my gyn to order one. She said she had never felt anything like it. But we just could NOT find it for ultrasound. I just don’t think I like rest easy until it can be examined.

    I’m ready to get these doggone implants OUT so we can see what’s going on.

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  • Gk1299
    Gk1299 Member Posts: 5
    edited February 2018

    The head radiologist at the breast center is going to come in early tomorrow to personally do an ultrasound to try and find that place underneath. He doesn’t think I will need an mri. Praying we can find it this time.

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  • Ceci-246
    Ceci-246 Member Posts: 50
    edited March 2018
    Re: ALCL, the Johns Hopkins Breast Center has a video webinar explaining exactly what this very rare cancer is, the risks, and ways to detect it (it takes about 10 years to develop and presents as massive swelling of the breast).

    The webinar was held on Wednesday March 7, and can be found on hopkinsmedicine.org or through the Breast Center’s Facebook page.

    I found it very informative and helped ease my mind about my risk.
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