Lump and Dimpling- mammo and ultrasound clear

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Boymom77
Boymom77 Member Posts: 18
edited September 2018 in Not Diagnosed But Worried

I noticed a dimple on the areola of my left breast almost 2 weeks ago. Went to the doctor, who found a lump (a little bigger than a pea) and noted dimpling from 4-7 o'clock. She sent me for an ultrasound and mammo. Both came back unable to find anything, although they noted the dimpling. I have a follow up Monday, and worry they will tell me to keep an eye on it. Has anyone had a similar experience? They made me to feel a bit like a hypochondriac, although there is definitely something there! I'm 41, no real family history- one paternal aunt. What should I do

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Comments

  • MiaMay
    MiaMay Member Posts: 52
    edited August 2018

    I hope someone answers you soon.

    How has things turned out? I have dimpling with my nipple changing shape. My mammogram showed something suspicious and I had a spot compression mammogram. Had an ultrasound Friday.

    I'm very afraid. I fear it could be invasive lobular carcinoma and will not show upbecause it doesn't present with the traditional lump.

    Have you had any further tests? I hope someone more knowledgeable comes along. My thread hasn't gotten much attention either. So many women post.

    Hope all is well with you.

  • Boymom77
    Boymom77 Member Posts: 18
    edited August 2018

    thanks. I have an appointment tomorrow. I’m curious what the next step will be. I really don’t want to just monitor for change, I want to know what it is. I’m a little reassured that it didn’t show on scans, but I know something is there. My nipple also retracts a little when my arm is raised. The mammogram report did note that I have very dense breasts. I hate waiting

  • MiaMay
    MiaMay Member Posts: 52
    edited August 2018

    I completely understand. I’m in the same boat.


    I’ve read invasive lobular carcinoma can cause indentation and nipple changes and rarely shows up on mammogram.

    Not trying to alarm you. I know very little. I fell down the google rabbit hole reading up on my symptoms which are very similar to yours, part of my nipple has flattened and now looks like the letter c. I have a very prominent indentation right on the edge of the Areola which has changed the contour of my breast.

    I’m glad to have found you. I hope all is well. Please, do keep me updated. Sending hugs and prayers your way.

  • Mandyhiero
    Mandyhiero Member Posts: 90
    edited August 2018

    I had a similar experience. I found a dimple in my right breast right under the nipple on the areola. It’s only visible when I raise my arm. I’ve had an ultrasound and a diagnostic mammogram and both were negative. I went to a breast specialist and she said it is nothing to worry about, just lazy ligaments from two pregnancies and weight fluctuations. I believed that for a while but after having pain and some itchiness for the last couple of months I’m not convinced that’s all it is anymore. I called yesterday and sat up another appointment with the same breast specialist but unfortunately they can’t work me in until September 5. I go from being scared I have BC to thinking I’m just overthinking things, back to having BC and planning my funeral! It’s miserable to have this much fear and worry. I hope you all find out what’s going on.Praying you all get benign results!

  • Boymom77
    Boymom77 Member Posts: 18
    edited August 2018

    How stressful for you both. I get it! Mandy, did you feel a lump

  • MiaMay
    MiaMay Member Posts: 52
    edited August 2018

    Mandy, do keep us updated.

    I’m hoping for lazy ligaments too but that doesn’t explain the drastic nipple change.

    I’ve been getting burning/stabbing pains in that breast that made me think I should get checked but I kept forgetting to make the appointment. The nipple change though, I was on the phone the next morning and checked an hour later.

    I so hope we all are ok. Please, keep me updated. Finding you both makes me feel less alone.

  • WC3
    WC3 Member Posts: 1,540
    edited August 2018

    I really just think all new and mysterious lumps that strike someone as worrisome should be biopsied.

  • Boymom77
    Boymom77 Member Posts: 18
    edited August 2018

    She ordered an MRI. She said if anything looks off, she is sending me to a surgeon. She also said that I will have 3-D mammograms regularly now due to density. More waiting.

  • MiaMay
    MiaMay Member Posts: 52
    edited August 2018
    Boymom77, Please do keep us updated.

    I want an MRI but think my doctor will not oblige me. My indentation is long like a line. Almost like a vein that caved in but a little wider?

    I am very relieved that the sonogram only showed fibroglandous tissue changes and cysts. They put me in Bi-Rads category 3.

    I very much want them to be as certain as possible that there is nothing sinister causing my drastic nipple change and indentation. I do not want to go years thinking I'm okay only to learn I wasn't and then be more advanced in stage of cancer with lower odds of longtime survival.

    I hope your MRI comes back clean and hopefully my doctor listens to me. I really do believe that if it was her breast with this drastic of chances that she would do everything to be the most certain she can be that all is alright.
  • Each_day_2018
    Each_day_2018 Member Posts: 154
    edited August 2018

    Not to scare you, but to make sure you follow up...About two years ago, I had a palpable lump and an indentation about two inches long and maybe 1/2 in wide. Was sent for a mammogram and ultrasound which showed nothing. Followed up with the breast surgeon and was told it was just normal changes as we grow older and was nothing to worry about.

    Earlier this year, I noticed the indentation had become more pronounced and my nipple was being pulled to the side. I have small breasts so any change is very noticeable. Figuring it'd be nothing and it'd be brushed off for my age again (I'm 31), I waited until June when I was going to my annual papsmear. I mentioned it to the doctor and she didn't seem concerned but sent me to another Mammo and US. After a biopsy, it was confirmed cancer.

    I just wonder how different it would have been if I'd been more of an advocate for myself?! Now I'm have a total mastectomy (Surgery Sept 6) and it has spread to my lymph nodes. Just remember, you're paying for the doctor, so push to get what you want!

  • Boymom77
    Boymom77 Member Posts: 18
    edited August 2018

    When I saw my doctor, she informed me that my mammogram came back birads 1, because there were no abnormalities seen at all. However she has felt the lump, and has seen the puckering or dimpling on my breast when I lift my arm. She said we could either watch it for a period of time, or go ahead and do an MRI. I asked her what she would do if it was her, and she told me that she would go for the MRI. I am so sorry about your diagnosis and wish you the best with your surgery and recovery. I kind of wonder if I'm being too cautious, but is there such a thing in this situation?

  • MiaMay
    MiaMay Member Posts: 52
    edited August 2018
    I do not think there is such a thing in this case. When it comes to changes in the breast you need to be certain that the changes are benign.

    I would rather a false positive then have a false negative and have cancer grow for years before being caught.

    You are your only advocate when it comes to your health. You have to do what is right for you.

    All the best and let us know how it goes.
  • Boymom77
    Boymom77 Member Posts: 18
    edited August 2018

    Today was the MRI. What a strange test that is. Laying face down for 25 minutes is tough! They are requesting the films of my mammo and ultrasound to compare, so that will delay the report some. Fingers crossed

  • Mandyhiero
    Mandyhiero Member Posts: 90
    edited August 2018

    Sorry it's been a while since I've posted a response. My grandfather was put in hospice and passed away in a matter of a few days so it's been a crazy week or so.

    I did not feel a lump but that worried me bc I'm afraid it's near the chest wall and that's why the u/s and mammo didn't show anything. The pain I feel now even goes into my ribs. If I let myself think too much my mind starts going to scary places so I'm trying to keep myself pre-occupied until my appointment. I pray for you all and hope we all get good news! Keep us posted and I'll let you all know what I find out on the 5th.

  • Mandyhiero
    Mandyhiero Member Posts: 90
    edited August 2018

    I’m so sorry about your diagnosis, @each day 2018! I’m praying for you and your upcoming aurgery

  • MiaMay
    MiaMay Member Posts: 52
    edited August 2018
    Boymom, I thought of you yesterday as I knew it was your MRI.

    Praying your results come back benign.

    Please, keep us updated. I have an appointment with my OB on the 13th to go over the indentation and nipple changes. Ultrasound and Mammo showed stuff but in different area and put me in Bi-Rads 3. I need to know these other physical symptoms don't represent something sinister that got missed.

    Hoping so hard your results are great!
  • Bostoniangal25
    Bostoniangal25 Member Posts: 263
    edited August 2018

    being diagnosed with Invadive ductal carcinoma I must say- I m afraid to go near you guys I don’t want to scare you . Ladies, please push for lymph node and breast biopsy - mri wont tell much . I had mri and it showed a mass of 3 by 5 cm!!! Of unknown. When I did a biopsy - we had clear results of much known- IDC and Dcis ,

    After mastectomy I find out the size- Ths whole thing was less than 1.5 cm in fact it had tiny clusters .

    Wish you good luck N hope it’s benign

  • Uwhsn1111
    Uwhsn1111 Member Posts: 1
    edited August 2018

    Be your own advocate. See a breast specialist. Dimpling is never a good sign.

  • Bostoniangal25
    Bostoniangal25 Member Posts: 263
    edited August 2018

    boys mom- I m 41 as well, my symptoms for invadive ductal carcinoma were enlarged left breast and nipple distortion misshaped ariola nipple - I thought after breastfeeding.didn have a lump just thickening around nipple - please do biopsy and if positive -mri

    Good luck 🙏🙏😂

  • MiaMay
    MiaMay Member Posts: 52
    edited August 2018

    Boymom77,

        Have you heard anything? Continuing to hope all is well. I do hope you come back and let us know how it went. 

  • Boymom77
    Boymom77 Member Posts: 18
    edited August 2018

    No results yet. They said it might take a week or so to get the mammo and ultrasound from the other hospital. I might call later today.

  • princessfluffybritches
    princessfluffybritches Member Posts: 81
    edited August 2018

    I have ILC.  I had dimpling and then an inverted nipple, but my mammo was negative.  I went to an oncologist because a growth on my thigh came back positive for breast cancer.  My MRI did not pick it up.  My ultrasound did not pick it up.  My PET scan did not pick it up.  I then had a biopsy in a few different areas on the breast when they came up positive for ILC.  Without the growth on my thigh, I could have gone on for years.

    Go with your gut.  dimpling is trying to tell you something.  ILC can be extremely hard to pick up on scans because it can be shaped like the cinnamon in a cinnamon swirl cake and not a lump of any kind.

    Be pushy.

  • MiaMay
    MiaMay Member Posts: 52
    edited August 2018

    pushy how?

    Tell them to just biopsy randomly? I am not sure of any doctor that would do that.

    How could they even know if they biopsies the right place? The dimplimg could be pulled in from deep within the breast.

    So all I am feeling is no matter how many all clears I get they mean nothing? I don’t know any doctor that will biopsy randomly just because the patient demands it.

    So what do we do? My nipple has pulled in on one side and I have prominent dimplimg. I’ve had a mammogram, a spot compression mammogram, an ultrasound and I’m fighting to get an MRI. I don’t know if they will even give me that. But if they do and it comes back clear how could I push for them to biopsy what they can’t see?

    What do we do because these comments make me feel hopeless. Like no matter what the tests say they can mean nothing.

  • Michi
    Michi Member Posts: 98
    edited August 2018

    so just to chime in re: gut feelings here.. I had LCIS which is a pre-cancer that literally has no symptoms, so they say... however my right breast had enlarged and I did feel a painful sensation in the exact spot where the cells were found. My US and Mamo were negative, they told me to come back when I was 40, five years away. I literally had to offer to pay for the MRI out of pocket and sign a waiver stating I would pay for it out-of-pocket should my insurance deny the claim. luckily I had a very nice nurse who pushed for it, she was a nurse from a breast specialist center here in Boston. The MRI showed two areas of enhancement, the biopsy showed pre-cancerous cells.

    I opted for a prophylactic bilateral mastectomy because my chances of developing invasive breast cancer were near 60% given all factors combined. That being said, had I not listened to my gut and paid attention to the changes with my breast I would have never known and likely would have discovered it when I was diagnosed with an invasive cancer at 40. The doctor still argues with me there is literally no way the symptom had anything to do with the pre-cancer, so I will never know if it was just my guardian angel looking out for me, or some indication from my body that we haven’t been able to explain in a text book yet.

    Moral of this long story,we know our bodies the best, if something doesn’t feel right push for all possible test until you can put your mind at ease.

  • MiaMay
    MiaMay Member Posts: 52
    edited August 2018

    Michi,

    Your MRI showed it?

    The post above made me feel very hopeless as nothing, not MRI, not PET scan showed anything and she ended up stage 4 ILC.

    I’m not sure how to process that. I have findings but they labeled me bi-rads 3. Nothing has been found even close to the dimplimg or nipple changes.

    I am uncomfortable leaving this to just watch. I’m seeing my OB and will push for a breast MRI but now all I feel is if that is clear it doesn’t mean anything.

    How am I supposed to know when s clear finding means I should push harder? My hope is something is found that explains it but that is benign.

    After reading that post I just feel lost and like I could have something no matter what even if I push for MRI and nothing shows.

    I’m going to advocate and be honest with my OB that waiting isn’t an option. I’m just.....those words serve only to scare and I’m unsure how to handle them at the moment. The MRI has been the test I feel will give me peace of mind but now I question if even that can be trusted.

  • Michi
    Michi Member Posts: 98
    edited August 2018

    MiaMay-

    The MRI is the most sensitive testing available right now for breast cancer detection. Yes there are extremely, and I mean extremely rare cases like the poster above in which ILC specifically can go undetected just due to the nature in which it can form, but again that is so rare. My BC center told me with a clean MRI I would have a 98% certainty, which is very reassuring. The downside of the MRI is that often times there are false positives, but like somebody else mentioned I would rather deal with the fear of a false positive than missing something. MRI is so sensitive that it will literally laid up anything, even benign breast changes. It was so sensitive that it detected my LCIS which is literally just abnormal cells in situ which haven’t busted out yet to form cancer..

    So if that gives you any peace of mind..I would say push for the MRI and if that comes back clean I would not worry. They can’t just take a random biopsy of breast tissue, they actually need to be going into something. Mine started with an MRI, which showed two areas of enhancement, that lead to an MRI guided biopsy in which they were able to pinpoint LCIS.

  • MiaMay
    MiaMay Member Posts: 52
    edited August 2018

    michi and RachelStorm,


    Thank you for your kind words. I feel the same that it would be rare to miss something on MRI. I know ILC can evade ultrasound and mammogram but I know MRI is pretty sensitive.

    I hope my OB will let me have one. But if I have to, I will pay out of pocket. That isn't ideal but peace of mind is priceless.

    Some answers would be great. My scanshaven't shown nothing. Every one has shown something and each has come back birads 3. It's odd because the area with the findings is the outside of my breast. The dimplimg and the flattened area of my nipple is on the inside.

    🤷♀️It's been frustrating. The contour of my breast has changed quite a bit from the indented area that even when I push it to the back of my mind it reminds me it's there every time I change. My hope is lazy ligaments and that the nipple has flattened in one area because of hormones or something.

    I appreciate you both talking to me. I knew it was rare but still, it's discouraging to see a personal story and then my heart breaks for them. How devastating that anyone's goes missed until it has spread.

    I hope the best for all of you in your futures. Some of you received the news that many of us are here afraid of but will be fortunate to never hear. I hope I fall in the never hear category and I pray each of you that didn't fall in that category conquer your cancer. You are a all far braver than I can imagine!

  • Rizz
    Rizz Member Posts: 72
    edited August 2018

    hi

    Have anyone got their MRI report ?

    Boymom77 how was your appointment on monday what did they suggest can u update us plz

  • Boymom77
    Boymom77 Member Posts: 18
    edited August 2018

    At my appointment, she ordered the MRI. She said the there is anything abnormal, she will send me to a surgeon. I don’t have the results yet. It was a week ago today, but was at a different hospital, they had to order my ultrasound and mammo films for comparison.

  • MiaMay
    MiaMay Member Posts: 52
    edited August 2018
    OH Boymom77,
    My heart jumped a little when I saw you posted. I thought maybe you had your results and I was so hopeful for good news.

    I will continue to be hopeful for good news. This waiting time has to be unbearable I know. I am struggling waiting for my appointment to even see if they will let me have an MRI. If one was already done I would be squirming for my results.

    Know I continue to think about you and hope your results are benign!

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