I am 60. Why is breast cancer scare is happen to me?

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elisa60
elisa60 Member Posts: 88
edited July 2018 in Waiting for Test Results

I am 60 and never had a breast lump or mass in my breast before. I had a heart attack in May 2016 and have 5 heart stents and I never had problems with my breast until about last of April 2018 it seems it came out of nowhere. It's about the size of a golf ball and have some tenderness. I just wonder could it be the medicines I am taking for my heart like Lipitor. Plavix or the Metoprol could have cause this irregular border mass in my breast and now the doctors have gave me a birad 5 and said to me that it looks very suspicious and I had to have a biopsy and have a appointment to go June 18 to see the results and I am scared almost to the break of a nervous break down. When I google these three medicines by name and ask do they cause breast lumps and they say it does. I have gain unexplained weight and both of my breasts have gotten bigger since I been on these Meds. I just wish some of you all could just go with me to the hospital and help me get through this in person I just need somebody to lean on and for support but I know you all cannot. I have not go my biopsy results yet but afraid it may be cancer. Praying for a benign. I am so scared but I am trying to be strong. Going through it all by myself with nobody for support . I am so glad I found BCO I read about people stories that I can relate to and going through the same thing I am. I will keep everybody updated hopefully it will be good news.

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Comments

  • Georgia1
    Georgia1 Member Posts: 1,321
    edited July 2018

    Hi Elisa and thanks for the nice note; I love this site too! Yes it is possible you have benign cysts or fibroids, possibly caused by the medicine but maybe not. We will send positive thoughts your way and hope for benign findings. The good news is that the needle biopsy doesn't really hurt and you should get results within a week. All best wishes.

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  • Moderators
    Moderators Member Posts: 25,912
    edited July 2018

    Sending you lots of good thoughts and positive vibes, elisa! Please keep us posted on what you find out!

    --The Mods

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  • vampeyes
    vampeyes Member Posts: 1,227
    edited July 2018

    Hello Elisa,

    Just wanted to let you know that you are not alone, we are here for you. ❤ My prayers for a benign test result.

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  • marijen
    marijen Member Posts: 3,731
    edited July 2018

    Elisa it might just be your age.

    image

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  • elisa60
    elisa60 Member Posts: 88
    edited July 2018

    Moderators Thank you. I will keep you inform as soon as I know.

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  • elisa60
    elisa60 Member Posts: 88
    edited July 2018

    Marijen. You maybe right but women in their twenties and older get breast cancer to but still I believe the medications or breast injury playing a big role. Thank you I will keep you posted on my biopsy report

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  • elisa60
    elisa60 Member Posts: 88
    edited July 2018

    Vampeyes. Thank you for your nice and kind words to me, it makes me feel so much better knowing someone cares. Please keep me in your prayers and I hope that everything is going great with you and your family.

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  • beach2beach
    beach2beach Member Posts: 996
    edited July 2018

    Elisa60,

    Hoping for benign results for you. Whatever it turns out to be, I know its tough not having someone to lean on near you but we are here for you. If we lived near each other, I'd go with you. Just to have someone with you as an extra set of ears is important. I understand the concern after having heart issues and if anything does turn up the dr's will certainly take everything into consideration. I know in your other post you spoke of having children, maybe they don't know how to handle the idea that their mom may have bc. Would you feel comfortable in asking one of them to go with you for support? you may be surprised. No matter what this is, you got this, you really do. You've proven how strong you are after your heart attack, you will prove your strength again.

    Fingers crossed all is benign.


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  • elisa60
    elisa60 Member Posts: 88
    edited July 2018

    Georgia1 thank you so much.

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  • elisa60
    elisa60 Member Posts: 88
    edited July 2018

    beach2beach. Thank you for your positive reply. I was strong when I had a heart attack, I never got scared when the doctor told me I suffered a heart attack. I stayed three days in ICU and three more out of ICU, came home and never stop doing my chores, experience some shortness of breath but all gotten better. The threat of cancer in all these years is something I never thought about. I guess that's why I am in shock and disbelief. I wish I could wake up and it was all a bad dream. I notice I never had this mass until about 18 months after taking these medicines. Yes I have children but the only good thing they can do for me is to just STAY AWAY from me. I will keep you posted .

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  • keepthefaith
    keepthefaith Member Posts: 2,156
    edited July 2018

    elisa, hang in there! It is frightening, but you will get through it. If it matters, my Mom had a heart attack at age 55 and double by-pass SX, BC at age 60, BC again at age 83, diabetes, knee replacements, etc. She is still going strong. Ditto what B2B posted. You are strong and resilient. Best wishes.

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  • mustlovepoodles
    mustlovepoodles Member Posts: 2,825
    edited July 2018

    Holy cow, Elisa! You are some strong stock! As you already know, BIRADS5 isn't good. About 95% risk of cancer. However, there are a few on this board who got a BIRADs5 and did NOT have cancer. Hold on to that, but prepare yourself for the possibility of bad news.

    You asked why...my doctor told me this: You are female, you are over 55 and you have breasts. And I'm telling you the same. Nothing you did caused this. Breast cancer is just bad luck. If it does turn out to be cancer, just know that you CAN do this. You can. Honestly, I'd rather have breast cancer, than a heart attack. Breast cancer is very treatable, and although we fear it, it is unlikely to kill you outright. In fact, the majority do NOT die from it. Some of the treatment can be hard, but to tell the truth, you've already been through worse and thrived. Most women need surgery and radiation, or surgery only, and a daily anti-hormone pill. A small minority will need chemo, which isnt fun, but its doable.

    Hang in there. I'm sure it is difficult to go through this alone, but you can do it. Once you have answers and a plan for treatment you will feel much more in control.

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  • windingshores
    windingshores Member Posts: 704
    edited July 2018

    I don't think your medicines caused your breast lump. We all look for reasons but breast cancer often appears to strike randomly.

    I am wondering why you want your children to stay away!


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  • elisa60
    elisa60 Member Posts: 88
    edited July 2018

    Keepthefaith your comment make me feel like I do have hope. Your mother went through all of this she is so strong its make me feel like I have hope to. I seen people who have died from cancer and the pain that it can cause and at the end of their lives it was not a pretty sight to see. When I go see my biopsy results July 19 I will keep your comment in mind. It made my day, I am so glad I found this website and the most inspiring people I could ever meet. Thank you Keepthefaith

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  • elisa60
    elisa60 Member Posts: 88
    edited July 2018

    mustlovepoo. Thank you for your comment, well yes I was strong when I had the heart attack I guess because the news did not register in my mind right away and the seriousness of a heart attack. I did not feel like it was a heart attack It did not feel like an elephant was sitting on my chest, I had very little shortness of breathe, it felt more like I had eaten something that did not agree with me, Cold clammy wet skin, uncontrollable vomiting and severe nausea and indigestion pressure in the middle of my chest like I wanted to belch and could not. I rather have a heart attack than cancer. With cancer you have to go through all that chemo, radiation and breast surgery, I guess this just my opinion about this. I hope I do not have breast cancer but if I do I hope it caught in the early stage and very treatable. I will know July 19. I will keep you updated and thank you so much mustlovepoo for your nice comment

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  • elisa60
    elisa60 Member Posts: 88
    edited July 2018

    windingshores I guess you might be right but why me so late? It got to be more than random something caused this. The reason I want no part of my children is because they are very disrespectful and they only care about themselves and they know what I am going through with and they seems like they do not care. They only know me when they need me and never ask me how am I feeling. But sometimes a good loving family do not have to be blood.

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  • ksusan
    ksusan Member Posts: 4,505
    edited July 2018

    The research says most of it is random, and there are more cases the older we get. It's tempting to look for reasons, but it's unlikely we'll identify them with any certainty. What we can do is learn about how to take care of ourselves so our bodies can heal.

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  • elisa60
    elisa60 Member Posts: 88
    edited July 2018

    ksusan thanks for your comment. What ways do you recommend about taking care of ourselves, I am completely new at this.

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  • marijen
    marijen Member Posts: 3,731
    edited July 2018

    There isone heart medicine/diuretic that has a warning on it. It can cause breast cancer in rats. Spironolactone. You can look it up at www.drugs.com, maybe go to the professional tab.


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  • marijen
    marijen Member Posts: 3,731
    edited July 2018

    From healthcentral.com

    "Use of spironolactone in rats for one to two year periods show an increase in carcinogenesis in the thyroid gland, testes, liver, breasts, and myelocytic leukocytes. Mammalian cells, depending on the presence of metabolic activation, show mixed results for mutagenicity in vitro. In light of this research, Sandoz has recommended that unnecessary use of spironolactone be avoided."

    I took it for two years prior to BC dx

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  • marijen
    marijen Member Posts: 3,731
    edited July 2018

    Elisa,seems you might be right about heart meds. Teva is recalling three heart meds due to carcinogenimpurities.

    https://www.marketwatch.com/story/fda-recalls-heart-drugs-made-by-teva-others-over-carcinogen-impurity-2018-07-13


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  • moth
    moth Member Posts: 4,800
    edited July 2018

    The heart med recall is over trace amounts of an impurity in the manufacturing process. It's just some batches, not the whole active med itself. https://www.fda.gov/NewsEvents/Newsroom/PressAnnou...

    the contaminant can be carcinogenic in high levels but was only found in trace amounts ... I honestly would not point the finger at that as a cause of cancer. Being female and old are the major causes.

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  • marijen
    marijen Member Posts: 3,731
    edited July 2018

    If you do a search on Teva, they have had a lot of problems with their Hungary Plant. Here’s hoping it hasn’t affected the letrozole. There’s also a recall on glass shards in Teva meds.

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  • elisa60
    elisa60 Member Posts: 88
    edited July 2018

    marijen. thanks for posting this link. I was always told that doctors do not know everything. I tried to tell the doctors but they just brushed me off and said no my heart meds did not cause my mass in my breast. I believe the meds did have something to do with it. It tick me off so bad when people and doctors will say oh you may have breast cancer because of your age. Not so younger people get breast cancer to.

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  • marijen
    marijen Member Posts: 3,731
    edited July 2018

    Elisa I’m not really saying the meds causecancer, only agreeing that our meds do have inpurities including carcinogens. Now we have to be aware of the things we are injesting. Especially the ones made in certain countries. Tamoixifen btw is a carcinogen. A heart attack will lower your immunity, as will stress, poor sleep and a bad diet.

    When do you get your biopsy?

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  • elisa60
    elisa60 Member Posts: 88
    edited July 2018

    marijen I had my biopsy on June 28 2018 and I got to go tomorrow July 19 to see the biopsy report. Oh I had the misread the topic, now after reading the second time I see what you are talking about. I do stress a lot and not sleeping well lately but when all this is over with I promise God I will make some adjustments in my life that keep me stressing everyday before this mass in my right breast appeared

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  • Dmoore39
    Dmoore39 Member Posts: 18
    edited July 2018

    Elisa,

    Beingdiagnosed last year at 39 (and actually has probably been there a year or two earlier) i had many moments of why did I get breast cancer so young? I breast fed for four years! Studies show that even just 6 months of nursing can reduce risk by 4% is what I remember. I had no risk factors. Didn't drink, smoke, no family history. I struggled immensely with this as at my age and risk factors I had less than 1% chance! I couldn't get over it for a long while and why was I dealing with this and having to worry about seeing my 5 and 8 year old grow up?! It was exhausting and I finally had to get over the why. There is no reason. It was nothing I did or didn't do. I still have a pity party sometimes but not as long or as often as I used to. I am hoping every year gets better. And I hope the same for you if indeed the biopsy shows BC. I'm sorry your children are not supportive and I hope that will change. Best wishes.

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  • marijen
    marijen Member Posts: 3,731
    edited July 2018

    Elisa, this is a fun thread on how we all think we got BC. Glad you get results tomorrow!

    https://community.breastcancer.org/forum/7/topics/695153?page=77#post_5221889


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