Recurrence question

Options
pinkvictory
pinkvictory Member Posts: 58
edited March 2019 in Just Diagnosed With a Recurrence or Metastasis

hi everyone! I’m wondering if cancerous lumps are always hard? Has anyone been diagnosed with recurrence after finding a more pliable lump, particularly in the underarm? Ultrasound showed nothing, and I am waiting to be scheduled for an MRI.

· Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Comments

  • vlnrph
    vlnrph Member Posts: 1,632
    edited February 2019

    Lobular cancer tends to grow in sheets so does not form a hard lump like ductal. MRI is better for imaging ILC which can often 'hide' on mammogram or ultrasound until it gets large enough.

    Hopefully you will get scheduled soon and not have to wait too long for results or your treatment plan.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • pinkvictory
    pinkvictory Member Posts: 58
    edited February 2019

    @vlnrph thank you for your response. I’m just trying to figure out how far I need to push if nothing shows on my MRI. with my initial diagnosis the MRI didn’t catch my invasive cancer. It seem that “typically “ it should be a hard lump. I was concerned that it’s in my underarm on my cancer side(although not hard. I’m glad the doctor ordered an MRI. Hopefully that gives me enough comfort to put this behind me for another 6 months.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Toni_S
    Toni_S Member Posts: 49
    edited February 2019

    Pinkvictory,I had a slightly enlarged, soft lymph node in the axilla/underarm that tested positive for recurrence of my cancer. My orignal diagnosis of ILC was in 2011 and treated with lumpectomy and radiation. I had an axillary dissection last month to remove all lymph nodes and will he starting chemo at the end of the month.

    Ultrasound was used to diagnose it along with needle biopsy. Hopefully since your ultrsound showed nothing, your MRI will be negative also.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • pinkvictory
    pinkvictory Member Posts: 58
    edited February 2019

    @Toni S, I'm so sorry to hear that you are faced with this challenge again. Thank you for sharing your story with me. I'm still waiting to get my MRI scheduled. They said it had to be timed within a certain amount of days around my cycle. So, the wait continues...ugh. I had LCIS in all quadrants in the opposite breast, and had a DMX. this is on my cancer side. Hopeful for good results after having a clear ultrasound, but things were missed in my initial diagnosis. That's what worries me. I hope you are recovering well and you continue to be well throughout your treatment. Thank you so much for your response. Wishing you all the best

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • VioletKali
    VioletKali Member Posts: 243
    edited February 2019

    Hi Toni. I had an MRI for something on my R side(unaffected), but the MRI showed 3 enlarged lymph nodes that were not enlarged before/new occurrence.

    How enlarged were your nodes?


    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Toni_S
    Toni_S Member Posts: 49
    edited March 2019

    My lymph node was 1.1 cm, very slightly enlarged but ultrasound showed no blood flow and radiologist suspected that cancer had taken over the lymph node entirely. He was right. I had an axillary dissection to remove all nodes, they were all on my cancer side, and only one out of the 21 was positive, the one that was enlarged and suspicious on ultrasound. So chemo and radiation for treatment.

    Lymph nodes are enlarged for lots of reasons unrelated to cancer. If they were on your unaffected side that’s a good sign. Hope your follow up brings good news

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Toni_S
    Toni_S Member Posts: 49
    edited March 2019

    pinkvictory, Thanks so much for your good wishes! Lobular cancer is sneaky and can hide from mammography and MRI. I understand your concern, but ultrasound is usually the best screening for lymph nodes so if yours was clear you have reason to be optimistic. Hoping you get good news

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • KBeee
    KBeee Member Posts: 5,109
    edited March 2019

    Toni, Sorry you are dealing with that but so glad they aggressively pursued it.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • pinkvictory
    pinkvictory Member Posts: 58
    edited March 2019

    thank you everyone for the reassurance. I have my MRI scheduled for Monday. For now, I’mFeeling a little more optimistic about having favorable results.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Categories