Mri shows nothing, large hard palpable mass

Options
Lilleeob
Lilleeob Member Posts: 29

I just had my MRI results and it looks normal there’s no sign of malignancy there’s no sign of any mass for that matter but I have a very clear and visible palpable mass. I have some other symptoms, chest pain upon breathing in and out and shoulder blade pain mainly. The mass is very hard, in fact, I feel pressure from my seat belt bra etc now.

What do I do now?

Comments

  • Lilleeob
    Lilleeob Member Posts: 29
    edited December 2017

    please help 🙁

  • Lucyred
    Lucyred Member Posts: 64
    edited December 2017

    I am assuming you had a mammogram and ultrasound already? What did those show?

  • boobs1
    boobs1 Member Posts: 4
    edited December 2017

    Hi lilleeob,

    You need to have more investigation done- maybe with focus on chest, rather than breast. If you have issues with breathing, call your Dr and report these symptoms. Good luck and keep us in the loop.

  • Lilleeob
    Lilleeob Member Posts: 29
    edited December 2017

    lucyred, I had an ultrasound and a mammogram booked and I only had ultrasound completed and it was read to me right away because it didn't show anything abnormal. My breast looked dense and all white, Although the doctor could feel a mass he said that he could not see anything in imaging. Therefor a mamo was not completed. And an mri was ordered.

    I'm feeling slightly upset, and lost. And confused. I thought mri will see everything?

    Ugh

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

    Lilleeob, may I suggest that you include links to your other threads here? there is quite a bit of additional information that you've included in them (and discussion from other posters) that no one here can benefit from, so may end up suggesting. What were the recommendations from your MRI?

  • Lilleeob
    Lilleeob Member Posts: 29
    edited December 2017

    I apologize for not knowing how to find my previous threads..if anyone could help in this regard?

    I didn’t read my mri, my np called and explained to me that the mri stated there was no mass in my breast, and that both breasts look normal.

    She said she wanted to get a chest x Ray, then refer me to a specialist (breast specialist).

  • marie5890
    marie5890 Member Posts: 3,594
    edited December 2017

    It's good that you are seeing a breast specialist. They will be able to better explain your MRI results. Have you experienced an injury of recent? Something that would cause an hematoma?

  • Lilleeob
    Lilleeob Member Posts: 29
    edited December 2017

    I thought of this; I did have a bump to my chest in the summer time, but it was no where near my lump. It was a bruise just under my collar bone. My lump is 11 o'clock position, on the inner upper side of my nipple. Who knows.


    🤔

  • Cleo77
    Cleo77 Member Posts: 30
    edited December 2017

    Hi There,

    I have been going through something similar. New lump presented itself in spring and I found just by washing in the shower, usually I have to have an arm raised while doing my exams. Anyway, I finally had my mammo in July and it came back clear which was a surprise to me. So, I saw a breast specialist who could see the shadow of something. Went to the imaging center for an u/s and possible biopsy. Doctor said nothing suspicious there and suggested an MRI.

    Nothing showed on the MRI, but noted that conditions in my breasts could lessen the accuracy of the results. Finally went last week to one of the top rated centers in my city and got an u/s again and this time the doctor marked my skin where the lump is so the tech would know exactly where to be looking. Well, it did show up and I got a biopsy done and will learn the results tomorrow.

    So, if you can clearly feel something and are frustrated that you are not getting a clear answer, go get a second opinion. Research the best in your area that your insurance can do and try to see someone else.

    Best of luck! :)

  • Lilleeob
    Lilleeob Member Posts: 29
    edited December 2017

    let me know, best wishes to you. I see you're only 3 years older than me as well. I hope it's nothing serious and it all gets sorted out for you!

  • grandma3X
    grandma3X Member Posts: 759
    edited December 2017
    Lilleeob- chances are it’s nothing, but when you see the breast specialist, you can ask for a biopsy. Some BC types (lobular carcinoma for example) are difficult to detect by imaging. My 5 cm cancer was never detected by US or mammo, but I could feel it.
    Best wishes.
  • djmammo
    djmammo Member Posts: 2,939
    edited December 2017

    Lilleeob

    In my experience if you have a breast cancer big enough to feel, I will be seen on an MRI and more than likely also on the ultrasound.

    Let us know if you have a biopsy.

  • Natalie68
    Natalie68 Member Posts: 20
    edited March 2018

    hey Lilleeob. I just found your posts - I have a friend much older - has one very dense breast that she found a lump in - she is having an mri next week. Wondering whether you found out anything else. What a nightmare for you. Did they biopsy the mass?

  • Lilleeob
    Lilleeob Member Posts: 29
    edited March 2018

    hey there I still have the lump I think it’s slightly bigger . Mild ache lasting a few seconds and goes away still. Shoulder pain and arm tingling still present as well. And fatigue like I can’t believe but I could equate that to being too busy. Working single mom of two after all. I had an MRI done of my neck and showed some mild bulging discs which could be the shoulder pain and arm problems. In regard to my lump they are sending me to a surgeon basically who they send these unknown masses to and I’m not sure what he’s gonna do with me this appointment is in the next coming weeks I’ll keep you updated. I’ve relaxed but still think of it at times ie when’s it hurts or my breast feels super hard in that area. However I’m unsure if the lump is in the breast, I feel it’s muscularature or rib related. But who’s knows

  • Lilleeob
    Lilleeob Member Posts: 29
    edited April 2018

    just a quick update from me . I have been referred to after unsuccessful investigations a surgical Doctor Who is also a breast oncologist. He saw me basically wasn’t concerned at all until we did the physical examination . He stated that he will be removing the lamp through an incision in my nipple. He said there shouldn’t be very much scarring I think it’s called a surgical biopsy. Even though they couldn’t tell me what it is he didn’t want to let me go just in case it was something sinister. Not too long after that they called me and my appointment for surgery is on April 20 I guess we’ll find out then for sure what it is. In the meantime since this all happened in September there’s been no changes the lump is harder and still hurts at times. Along with my shoulder and that’ll still hurt at times as well or I can almost feel it pinching in my shoulder blade. Hope everyone health and peace .

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

    Lilleeob

    Did you ever post the reports of the MRI and/or an ultrasound?

  • Lilleeob
    Lilleeob Member Posts: 29
    edited April 2018

    I had both done but neither showed anything. Just looks normal. The breast tissue is white and no reports spoke of margirins or anything of that nature. But clearly there is a huge hard lump. So it's kinda of weird. also I never asked for a biopsy. In fact before hand I stated I'd rather not. I'm curious to see if the shoulder pain is still present afterwards though, most of all. I’m also curious to know what it is too. I deleted my last post and edited into this comment.

  • Lilleeob
    Lilleeob Member Posts: 29
    edited April 2018

    also I never asked for a biopsy. In fact before hand I stated I’d rather not. I’m curious to see if the shoulder pain is still present afterwards though, most of all, Also curious to know what it is too

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

    Lilleeob

    Well now I am curious. Large mass, with no abnormal enhancement. It can't be avascular or it would have shown up as a large area of no enhancement at all as would a big cyst. Chances of it being a cancer are low if it enhances like the surrounding normal tissue. A cancer that big would jump out and bite you on an US. Trust me if they thought it was a cancer they would be pestering you about a biopsy no matter how much you said you weren't interested.

    Radiologists are hesitant to biopsy anything they cannot "see" on imaging, rarely do any of us do any biopsies by palpation. You may have to ask a surgeon to biopsy it.


  • Lilleeob
    Lilleeob Member Posts: 29
    edited April 2018

    I'll ask for one, and will post results here. This has got everyone stumped. Could it be a mummified milk duct of some kind? Have you heard of this? I had mastitis in that breast about two years ago. Who knows.

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

    Lilleeob

    It would have to be some form of fibrosis secondary to healing of the mastitis I suppose. Keep us in the loop.

  • Lilleeob
    Lilleeob Member Posts: 29
    edited April 2018

    Just a little update from me. I went to see the surgeon who is a breast oncologist he had a look at me and once he did his physical assessment decided to do the surgery a surgical biopsy/lumpectomy. I was contacted shortly after and Booked in for surgery two weeks later. I just had the surgery a few days ago and he came in after the operation was done and said that it wasn’t cancer. I’ll be making a follow-up appointment with my doctor soon to figure out and hear what it was, Everything went really good and I’m still curious to know what it was I’ll let you all know as well. I’m healing good it’s been three days however my breast feels kind of itchy but maybe it’s from the pain meds as they make me itchy. Also the area is a little bit red so I’m keeping an eye on it. Otherwise I feel fine.


  • Lilleeob
    Lilleeob Member Posts: 29
    edited May 2018

    hopefully this is mI final update. The lump was removed and it was a fatty growth, benign, no concern as there is no history in my family of bc. Interestingly enough my shoulder and arm feels much better and I haven’t had a lot of the pain I had before the lump was removed, and the pain that started around the same Time as the lump got bigger. This journey was scary, and it really does put things into perspective. If I had any advice for anyone reading my comments, I’d say just try to relax because stress will make everything worst.

  • Egads007
    Egads007 Member Posts: 1,603
    edited May 2018

    Lilleeob - I had shoulder probs that disappeared after my lump was removed too. I swear it was leaning on a nerve(s) that lead to my shoulder blade! So happy to see your good results

Categories