lump under left armpit (not where bc was located)

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swg
swg Member Posts: 461
edited January 2020 in Not Diagnosed With a Recurrence or Metastases but Concerned

I'm 2 yrs post-mastectomy and recon (unliteral, right breast) for Stage 1 hormone-positive bc. I've been feeling ok--just some fatigue that I think is more related to pre-menopause, and not getting enough sleep in general. My last physical was fine..just slightly elevated cholesterol.

I just noticed a small lump under my left armpit. I honestly thought I would freak out more about something like this, but I'm not. It's weird. I figure it's either another cancer, a recurrence, or something totally benign. Either way, I cant do anything about it yet--not til I see my doctor. And I have an appointment in a couple of weeks. The lump is slightly painful, and I've had a lot of itching there. I will keep you all posted. I'm slightly concerned, but if it's cancer, I'll deal with it. I already survived one bout of cancer. I'm sure I'll survive another.

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  • Spookiesmom
    Spookiesmom Member Posts: 9,568
    edited November 2019

    Sounds like me. BMX. 7 years out, ca on left side. January this year started with an itch I couldn’t scratch, and some pain on the right side. Told MO. He ordered pet/ct. yep, it came back. Get checked as soon as you can.

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  • bcincolorado
    bcincolorado Member Posts: 5,758
    edited November 2019

    Could be lymph node though too and inflamed for some reason. I had that happen. Did not feel ill but doc told me it was trying to fight an infection for something I had been exposed too. After a month or so the swelling went back down and itching went away.

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  • swg
    swg Member Posts: 461
    edited November 2019

    Oh yeah, I took the earliest appointment my dr had available. How are you doing now??

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  • swg
    swg Member Posts: 461
    edited November 2019

    Yeah, I'm kind of weirded out that I never noticed it before..I shave there all the time, so if it was a tumor or something, seems like I would've felt it before now.

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  • Spookiesmom
    Spookiesmom Member Posts: 9,568
    edited November 2019

    Well, this year’s episode my bs took out 7 positive nodes, 28 rads, and now I’m on Ibrance and letrozole. Yeah, it just keeps on coming.

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  • swg
    swg Member Posts: 461
    edited November 2019

    I'm sorry to hear that. It's like we are either living in fear of a recurrence, or dealing with a recurrence, nonstop. The past 2 yrs I sort of put it out of my head that I even HAD this disease, even tho I am reminded daily by the fact that my one fake boob is so much different looking than my real one. And when I use my right arm too much, like to lift things, or straining when opening a jar, I can feel the implant moving and it's really uncomfortable. Oh and the scar that never goes away.

    I feel like this lump is more of a skin thing than a tumor. But then again, I really also felt I DIDN'T have cancer..before I went into the doctor 2 yrs ago and got the diagnosis. So..I don't trust my feelings AT ALL.

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  • Spookiesmom
    Spookiesmom Member Posts: 9,568
    edited November 2019

    That was the weird part. If I put Biofreeze on the itchey place, it would stop itching. Never felt a lump or noticed swelling.

    It’s never out of my mind either. I still have port, so constant maintenance on that. And the lovely scars. I did 4 years on Arimidex about 7 months on tamoxifen. Stopped because of severe joint pain. Figured if it came back, I’d deal with it. It did, I am.

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  • MNSusan
    MNSusan Member Posts: 305
    edited November 2019

    Itching, too, huh? I had BMX 7 years ago. I knew the margins on the left side weren't great but my oncologist said a margin of one cell was enough. About a year ago, I started losing weight without trying. In total, I've lost 30+ pounds. The docs were chasing a gastric issue - upper endoscopy and colonoscopy found nothing. In July this year, I started getting rashes that are the itchiest I've ever had. I'd get hives, then they'd calm down and there would be a pimply rash. In a few weeks, that rash would calm down and then start with the hives somewhere else. Dermatologist biopsied with inconclusive results. A few weeks ago, I felt a hard lump in my armpit about the size of an acorn, on the side where the margins were close. I was thinking maybe its an infection, so I've been waiting for it to go down. I guess its time to get an appointment. Do you know what the itching is from? Honestly, its my biggest complaint right now.

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  • swg
    swg Member Posts: 461
    edited November 2019

    I have no idea about the itching, honestly. Yknow what I hate about going to the drs is...esp if you're a woman..they so often treat you as if you're just ANXIOUS. My last appointment was a routine physical, but I brought up a couple of concerns about some ongoing neurological symptoms I've had..like strange twitching and spasms. Dr wrote "anxiety" in addition "breast cancer"...I'm like wow, wouldn't you figure I'd have a REASON to have anxiety??? FFS.

    I've had sensitive skin my entire life, so I really hadn't thought TOO much about the itching, but in combo with this little lump..I feel I should mention it to my dr.

    Yes, definitely do in and get that looked it. Hopefully it's nothing.


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  • swg
    swg Member Posts: 461
    edited November 2019

    That's how I feel. If the bc comes back, I'll just deal with it. I guess I'm pretty blase about it.

    Honestly, nothing can top the shock and trauma of that initial bc diagnosis, plus the 3 biopsies I had to have--2 on my cancer breast, and 1 that turned out to be a fibroadenema on my left breast. I thought I took pretty good care of myself, but one can't really prevent cancer these days, when our air and water are so polluted with petrochemicals and their after-effects. Also, I never had kids and had a constant period, so I'm sure that has a lot to do w why I had hormone-positive bc.

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  • Spookiesmom
    Spookiesmom Member Posts: 9,568
    edited November 2019

    I have no idea why the new ca was itchey either. I’d scratch on it, but unlike an insect bite, I really couldn’t feel where to scratch. That’s why the biofreeze helped I guess.

    I’d been with this last MO for a few years. He was ok, didn’t love him, just ok. He also knew I wasn’t one to whine about everything so when I said that, he poked around, and ordered the scan. He retired just as surgery was scheduled and I finally have MO to love. Which is true for most of my team. ALL my specialists, well, maybe not my Endo, I love them all. If I don’t, I fire them. If anybody is dismissive, or thinks I have anxiety boy, bye.

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  • MNSusan
    MNSusan Member Posts: 305
    edited November 2019

    Spookiesmom, may I ask where you are in Florida? We're in Vero Beach. I have a PCP that I like a lot but haven't really had a need to see anyone else.

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  • Spookiesmom
    Spookiesmom Member Posts: 9,568
    edited November 2019

    sorry I'm no help, I'm in Dunedin next to Clearwater. Bit of a drive😂

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  • KBeee
    KBeee Member Posts: 5,109
    edited November 2019

    Can you get an appointment with a different doctor sooner? You just need someone who can order imaging, and any doc or PA can do that. Hoping you get answers.

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  • swg
    swg Member Posts: 461
    edited December 2019

    Hey, sorry it took me so long to reply. It took a while for me to get an appt to get this checked. My primary care doctor thought it seemed like a dermatologic lump. I was overdue for a mammogram, anyway, so during my mammogram, they checked it out, and it's fine.

    Totally clear! I'm so relieved.

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  • KBeee
    KBeee Member Posts: 5,109
    edited December 2019

    Great news!

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  • swg
    swg Member Posts: 461
    edited January 2020

    Thank you!!!

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  • santabarbarian
    santabarbarian Member Posts: 3,085
    edited January 2020

    Make sure to go to the dermatologist though!!!! I have had MANY skin cancers... several kinds did itch. I know that people with either a BC diagnosis or a skin cancer diagnosis can have a higher likelihood of developing the other... Most skin cancers are very easy to deal with when removed early.

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