Found hard lump in lumpectomy scar-worried
Hi all,
I've been a BC.org regular for years, so some of you might know me. I have an appt with my PS, who I trust implicitly (we are on first name basis) this Monday afternoon, because I randomly found something that concerned me.
Normally I don't go digging around in my lumpectomy scar looking for things but the night before last I woke up in the middle of the night and somehow my hand went right to my scar and I felt a...(hate to even type this) a hard small roundish lump. Of course I was flooded with anxiety, and had to get up and put a bandaid over it so I could try to find it in the a.m. When I did, I couldn't but shared my fear with hubby.
I'm taking yoga teacher training--immersion--and during the days I don't think about it because I'm so busy--but when I went to dinner last night with my husband I found it again and asked him to feel it. He could.
My longtime MO just retired this April and I just hired a new MO 3 hours away in Phoenix. I just met him last month and ironically he told me I had a super small chance of recurrence because of everything he saw on my report and my physical health.
Now this. Talk me off the cliff, please. So weird that I woke up in the middle of the night and found it from a dead sleep.
Claire in AZ
Comments
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Oh Claire. I'm so glad you have made an appointment. You know that lump could be anything, like scar tissue. Keep focusing on your yoga training, and Monday will be here before you know it!!! ((Hugs))
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claire, I am hoping it's a nothing but good for you for being aware and attentive!!
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Hoping it is scar tissue. Glad you are getting it checked right away. Lumps are scary!
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Claire -- I just read your post and couldn't believe it. However, if you do have a recurrence then you'll have a lumpectomy and go back to normal. It's scary because we all worry about metastasis, but I've read that's not what normally happens when you have a local recurrence. That darn stress and waiting is horrible - I'm thinking about you.
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What did the new MO think? How did the appointment go?
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I haven’t been here in years but am having the same problem right now. I can relate...I just found a small hard white bump on the line of a nipple sparing mastectomy from 2008. It’s like a rice grain. After googling, this wonderful site came up. Scary isn’t it?
Unfortunately I have just moved to a new state and don’t have an onc or even a primary yet. I moved to take care of my Dad with stage IV prostate so life is not low stress in general. This is my second scare this year after never having any. Last winter I had intermittent pain in the my real boob and they found a cyst - but no explanation for pain. The goal was to watch and see but my father’s situation is overwhelming and I haven’t tended to me yet.
I so get the alarm you feel and it’s ALWAYS in the middle of the night. I’m hoping by now you may have an answer and a happy one but if not yet, I’m just breathing and saying most turn out to be nothing. I gotta get docs this week it seems. Stay well unmet friend and hang in...please let us know what happens. -
Could be fat necrosis. Had a rebuild of my left breast and a month later a hard golf ball sized ball appeared and it was round and hard as a rock. Didn’t hurt one bit. I got it removed under local. Hoping yours is something easy for you! Best wishes.
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I'm so sorry for the anxiety and fear and I hope that is all it turns out to be. We all know it could be a lot of other things but until you know for sure, it is hard to stop thinking and worrying. We are here by your virtual side, holding vigil.
Please update us!!
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Dear b.c. family,
So the saga hasn't ended yet. Thank you all for your replies. I had been scheduled for this week (MRI) but insurance denied so the MRI was cx. I don't get why, because my PS ordered (and I got) one 2 years ago to check implant integrity, and no problem with insurance. Wonder if it's a coding thing? If he re-wrote it as implant check they'd approve?
Anyway, now doc has to talk to insurance and advocate for the MRI. He's on vacation and can't do it till next week. I talked to the insurance rep in his office and she said BCBS wanted an ultrasound first. Problem with that is that I understand US can't detect tumors from scar tissue as well as we'd all like, so results could be skewed. If the US is inconclusive, then an MRI can be done, according to the rep. We'll see what my doc can do.
The insurance rep from his office also said that BCBS said something about a mammogram, which made me laugh because I have implants. Any time anyone talks about mammos -- since I had 5 clear ones when I HAD breast tissue and the results of those never detected the tumor that had been there for probably some time, I laugh.
Because I had ILC, which is difficult to detect with mammos/even US sometimes, I want that MRI. Gold standard for ILC. My PS is an old hat at advocating, and he knows me very, very well. Because I'm high risk, I can't take chances.
I wonder if I went to my oncologist instead and told him I felt something if he would be better able to write orders for an MRI? Anyway, I'll keep you posted.
The good news is that for almost a month I've dug around in there and all I seem to be able to feel now is scar tissue and ribs (lumpectomy was right quadrant, right breast, I have little boobs so I can feel my ribs and lumpectomy scar on top of them).
Claire
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Hi, Claire - I'm so sorry that the always difficult waiting is so horribly long and drawn out for you this time. I know it will be a while until you have any resolution of this issue and simply want to send some support in the meantime.
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hey claire, I went through a scare 2 months ago. Insurance required US first. Whatever. Played the game. It was inconclusive and got the MRI. 1.5 cm scar tissue along mastectomy line. I would hope if there was any question at all a biopsy would have been recommended.
I'm sorry you are going through this. It's nerve wracking. Hang in there and I'm sending positive thoughts your way.
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I appreciate the kind words. Thanks, DebAl, I pretty much realize that I will have to play the game. Since my PS couldn't feel anything either, I do get where the insurance company is coming from. I expect if he did feel something, it might be different. I'll keep everyone posted.
Right now all I feel is scar tissue, skin and ribs. Whatever I felt for those 24 hours or so is gone. I know enough to know that c doesn't simply disappear, so I'm heartened by that. I had been doing about 3 hours of yoga a day in yoga teacher training during the time I felt it, and I wonder if my body was simply reacting to all the intense exercise.
Claire
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I'm sorry you had such a scare! But what I'm really impressed with is the "yoga three hours a day". I do a 26 minute video and think I'm going to die!
[Reason #217 I should never consider being a yoga instructor...]
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Ok Claire. I suspect that you have answered your own question. I am saying this from the perspective of having done 200+ miles on my bicycle last weekend. Yes, I am still swollen. I suspect you can figure out where.
Feel better and enjoy all the things that you do. However, you should be mindful that when you push your body, it normally reacts in some way. Seldom is this in the form of cancer. I bonked a couple of times on the way to Portland. No, I don't think this is heart disease. I do think that it could have been not enough hydration. Gatorade fixed me right up and I was able to continue and emerge triumphant. I am off for more adventures in a fortnight when all is calm once again.
Suspect you will be doing the same.
Off to bed as still dragging somewhat. Sweet dreams. - The Northern Claire
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Thanks other Claire! My PS and I have a close relationship, and he's been at this for 30 years or so. I trust him with my life.
DxDisruption-- haha
training is intense and really demanding. I come home after class some days and can't speak
.
Hugs to all who offered support. //
Claire in AZ
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Update-so I can't find the tiny lump I found back at the end of 6/24. Nothing, just scar tissue (granted, it's lumpy) and skin over ribs. My insurance company sent me the denial letter for the MRI, but the letter say the doc could order an US, and if it was inconclusive then the MRI could happen. I've tried getting someone at my PS office to call me back for two weeks, and nothing--that's unusual for them. I asked them to please ask my PS if he thinks an US would be smart. I am considering simply making a f2f appt to talk to him about all this and if we should order an US, since his office people won't return my calls. My other option is to let it go, but because of the lack of care I've gotten from his office I'm not crazy about that.
Any thoughts, all?
Claire in AZ
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Hi Claire: Face to face sounds really wise. Then it won’t be something you worry about in those quiet moments, and you may have additional peace of mind. Best wishes! xx Love, Belle
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Claire: I agree with Teddy88. I would schedule an appointment for sure; I would also consider an US.
Keep us posted and best of luck!
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Thank you all for confirmation. I see my PS on August 13! I'll let everyone know.
Intuitively I just don't feel like anything is happening that is a threat, like I did before the initial dx, but I also remember my good friend who had a Stage IV ovarian c dx--twice; she felt like something was wrong the first time, but the second time she had just hiked out of the Grand Canyon and felt great, and then she got her second dx of St. IV.
She's doing fine by the way--still here and NED 10 years later after that second time.
Claire in AZ
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Update:
Results: benign. What a great word.
The tech did the imaging and sent them to the radiologist right away. He came in right after that and talked to me about them while I was still lying on the table, and then he had a look himself, again, using the equipment, and he explained everything he saw to me while I was looking, too. He was great, very thorough and kind.
I am relieved and I hope everyone who is waiting for results will get the same as I did.
Claire in AZ
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Wonderful, wonderful news! Now you can focus on living....and fun times. - The Northern Claire
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yay!!!!!!
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Hi Seattle Claire,
To be truthful, I just knew intuitively it wasn't something to worry about--my intuition is so accurate--, but I felt like I hadn't "closed" the visit with my PS when I first saw him about the disappearing lump, and I finally completed what he suggested we do. That feels as good as the B9 status!
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Awesome!!! Get on with life!!!
b-9 are the greatest words spoken!
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Fantastic news! Congratulations Claire!
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Thank you all.
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Hey Claire. Just noticed your post. I am so, so happy for you!
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