Found lump in armpit - same side as previous cancer

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I haven't been on this site in what seems forever. Had cancer, got treatment, moved on... Yesterday morning, I found a lump in my armpit on the same side as my mastectomy. I'm not really a worrier, but I am about this. I checked again this morning while in the shower and it's still there. (I was hoping it was something hormonal and it would go away.)

I think I'm going to wait for a week and then call my PCP for an exam. I need a physical anyway, and I'll talk to her and if I can still feel the lump, I'm going to ask for an ultrasound. My first cancer was found by ultrasound when my PCP couldn't feel the lump I was feeling in my breast, but sent me in for the US. The tech doing the test called in the radiologist and the radiologist looked at the screen and said she wanted me back that same afternoon for a core needle biopsy. Got the call 2 days later that it was cancer.

I haven't seen my oncologist for a couple of years. Both my original onc and PCP have retired. I like my new PCP, so hopefully she'll listen to me and request an US.

Anyway, I'm just worried - all these thoughts running through my head... Thanks for letting me vent here.

Comments

  • TexKat
    TexKat Member Posts: 17
    edited February 2020

    Try not to worry, but DO get seen as soon as possible. I found my breast cancer by first noticing a lump in my armpit. Felt like a grape under the skin. It was a malignant lymph node, and mammogram/ultrasound revealed a small tumor in the breast, too small to be felt


  • xxyzed
    xxyzed Member Posts: 230
    edited February 2020

    I would make the appointment now. I know they say to wait two weeks but even if it does go away you will be forever wondering if it was something and worrying and waiting for it to reappear. At least if there is something there that can be physically seen it can be monitored and tested and a real answer provided which would be so much better for your mental health.
  • Sunshine99
    Sunshine99 Member Posts: 1,680
    edited February 2020

    Appoint scheduled for Thursday, March 5th.

  • KBeee
    KBeee Member Posts: 5,109
    edited March 2020

    How did your appointment go? Hoping you get imaging quickly. Keep us posted.

  • Sunshine99
    Sunshine99 Member Posts: 1,680
    edited March 2020

    Thank you for checking, KBee. My PCP ordered a stat ultrasound, which I'll have tomorrow, the 6th. Both she and the resident physician felt the lump. I'm not feeling quite as anxious as I was earlier today. I took my knitting to my appointment to keep my hands and mind occupied and was practicing deep breathing to keep my blood pressure from being sky high! :)

    Will keep you posted.

  • Sunshine99
    Sunshine99 Member Posts: 1,680
    edited March 2020

    UPDATE: Had the US of the armpit. Saw some "areas of concern". The radiologist said I should probably have a needle biopsy and will contact my PCP. I also made a long overdue appointment with my oncologist and scheduled my mammogram (wish I got half off on the deal!).

    The mammogram order reads: BI screening mammography with CAD left. Does anyone know just what that means? Not sure what the BI and the CAD mean.

    All my blood work came back OK. Elevated RBC, but that's been my normal forever. I have an MRI scheduled for March 20th for an unrelated issue. I wonder if I need an MRI for this if they can do 2 procedures "while I'm at it".

    Feeling less anxious. I think it helps to have appointments scheduled. Took my knitting again :)

    Hopefully this all turns out to be much ado about nothing...

  • MelissaDallas
    MelissaDallas Member Posts: 7,268
    edited March 2020

    Sunshine, BI= Bilateral screening mammogram PLUS :CAD: Computer Aided Detection (digital) Left

  • Sunshine99
    Sunshine99 Member Posts: 1,680
    edited March 2020

    Thank you, Melissa. Do they do a bilateral on one breast? There's nothing on the other side to squeeze! :)

  • Sunshine99
    Sunshine99 Member Posts: 1,680
    edited March 2020

    Update #2: I just got an email from and logged into my Scripps account. PCP has ordered the following:

    Ultrasound guided breast needle biopsy 1st lesion

    BI post proc dx mammogram clip/needle placement right

    Yikes, that sounds a bit uncomfortable. I've had the core needle biopsy and that wasn't bad and the dye injected before my mastectomy and that wasn't bad either. This however, sounds a bit more involved.

    A bit of humor here. Do any of you recall, in the movie My Big Fat Greek Wedding, where the aunt is talking about her "bio - bip - bibopsy" (or however she said it)? I am getting a little laugh about my upcoming "bibopsy". Hope I don't offend with my humor.

  • wallycat
    wallycat Member Posts: 3,227
    edited March 2020

    I have had the needle guided biopsy (bibopsy, LOL) while doing an MRI because ultrasound and mammogram could not find my tumor to biopsy. It was not painful at all. I think they do numb you. I would not have known there was a clip if they hadn't told me.

  • Sunshine99
    Sunshine99 Member Posts: 1,680
    edited March 2020

    Thank you, Wallycat. I think I'm supposed to call and schedule the procedures. It's listed as two separate items, so I'm assuming it's two different things. Scheduling isn't available until Monday, so I'll call first thing and get that/those on my calendar. Cheers! :)

    UPDATE: Not able to schedule this week as the scheduler is on vacation and her replacement who called me on Tuesday of this week said they were waiting on insurance approval. Today I went in for my mammogram on the other side and asked the man who checked me in what the status was. He said I had to wait until next week (Monday) when the scheduler came back from vacation. On a good note, my mammo appeared to be "unremarkable" - that is to say, the tech didn't have me wait and didn't call in the radiologist. I'm guessing that's a good sign.

    I keep checking in the shower every morning to see if the lump has gone away... No such luck, but hopefully I'll get the biopsy soon and get some answers.

    Question: Has anyone had an MRI (unrelated to this issue) after having a clip/needle placed? I'm having one on the 20th to look at my optic nerve (sort of routine - nothing to worry about).

  • Sunshine99
    Sunshine99 Member Posts: 1,680
    edited March 2020

    Got my appointment. It will be next Wednesday, the 25th at 1:00 PM. Nervous, of course, but looking forward to getting some answers.

    Read another quote on this site today. This one was from "Beesie" and it said "No power so effectively robs the mind of all its powers or acting and reasoning as fear." Edmund Burke

    That and "Live life with joy" will be among my go-to quotes for now.

  • Sunshine99
    Sunshine99 Member Posts: 1,680
    edited March 2020

    Saw my oncologist today (was supposed to see her on 4/1/20, but she wanted to see me sooner). She's ordered a bone scan and a CT scan. Waiting for the insurance approval. i have the biopsy scheduled for 3/25 still and then will see her a week later to discuss the results. Hope I can get the Bone Scan and CT done before my next visit with her. My calcium levels were slightly elevated on my last test. She said that was OK, but wants me to stop taking calcium. Anyone else been told that?

  • KBeee
    KBeee Member Posts: 5,109
    edited March 2020

    I'm sorry you're having to wait so long for the biopsy. Do keep us posted. Thinking of you during these challenging times.

  • Sunshine99
    Sunshine99 Member Posts: 1,680
    edited March 2020

    Thank you, Karen. Waiting IS hard, but I'm trying to worry about it. I'd like to know what's causing this back pain I'm having. I have my biopsy and clip/needle placement next Wednesday, so at the least the biopsy will give me one answer (I hope). :)

  • Sunshine99
    Sunshine99 Member Posts: 1,680
    edited March 2020

    Biopsy is completed. They moved it up a day since they're postponing all screening mammograms and only doing diagnostic type mammos or biopsies. A bit sore, but Tylenol and ice packs are helping. Dr. took 5-6 samples as she wasn't happy with the first few. I should hear within 5-7 days. She said axillary biopsies can take longer than breast biopsies to get the results back. The last time I heard within 2 days that it was cancer. I hope I hear quickly on this one.

    Got a call from scheduling and my whole body scan with nuclear med is scheduled for April 2. I'm supposed to see my oncologist on April 1st, but I'm thinking about asking if we can do a phone/video conference. They're not letting anyone but the patient in, so my husband would not be allowed in the clinic with me. I want him to hear what she has to say. Still waiting on insurance approval for the CT scan.


  • Sunshine99
    Sunshine99 Member Posts: 1,680
    edited March 2020

    Just got a call from my PCP (the one who ordered the US and the biopsy) and she wants to do a video meeting with me tomorrow. Anxiety level just went up a notch, but I'm glad my husband can be there with me and can take notes, if needed. The Clinic and Hospital are only letting patients into the facility - no "support" people. Got the apps downloaded on my phone and will sign in at 9:45 for my 10:00 appointment. Just breathe.......

  • MikaMika
    MikaMika Member Posts: 342
    edited March 2020

    I am sorry for asking. Is this lump a lymph node that you can feel? Or it's something like a scar tissue?

  • Sunshine99
    Sunshine99 Member Posts: 1,680
    edited March 2020

    Mika, no problem :) It was a lump that I found in my armpit while I was in the shower. I just assumed it was a lymph node. I don't have any scars there, although they did take 4 lymph nodes out during my mastectomy in 2007. Those were negative at the time. The ultrasound radiologist called this an area of concern and recommended the biopsy. I guess I'll know tomorrow.

  • MikaMika
    MikaMika Member Posts: 342
    edited March 2020

    Fingers crossed for your good results (just a reactive lymph node)!

  • Sunshine99
    Sunshine99 Member Posts: 1,680
    edited March 2020

    It turns out that the cancer is back. My PCP is calling it a recurrence, even though it's not in the breast. No staging or receptor status yet. Have a CT and bone scan scheduled for next week. I'm actually quite peaceful about this. I had a gut feeling about it and it's a relief to get some answers. Will wait to get the other test results before I tell my dad and my sister. Thanks for all the love!


  • MikaMika
    MikaMika Member Posts: 342
    edited March 2020

    I am sorry about that. I wish you clean scans!

  • Mudstick
    Mudstick Member Posts: 100
    edited March 2020

    Sorry to hear about your diagnosis Sunshine.

    Wishing you strength in the coming days, weeks and months as you go through more testing and prepare for further treatment.

  • edj3
    edj3 Member Posts: 2,076
    edited March 2020

    Rats, I was so hoping for different news for you today.

  • Sunshine99
    Sunshine99 Member Posts: 1,680
    edited March 2020

    Thank you again for the kind words, ladies. Both of my scans got moved to Tuesday and I will see my oncologist that same day. It will be nice to get it all done in one day, I think. My PCP asked me if I was surprised, and I told her "no" and that I just had a "feeling" about this one. Of course I have lots of questions - recurrent vs metastatic, and so on. I heard her say "recurrent" on our video chat this morning, but her note said metastatic. I'll wait until Tuesday and ask my oncologist all of those questions. I actually feel surprisingly calm. I took a walk to the grocery store for bread and celery today. It was good to be outside.

  • KBeee
    KBeee Member Posts: 5,109
    edited April 2020

    I am sorry you are dealing with this. (((HUGS))) Hoping you have a plan in place very soon. Cancer sucks.

  • Sunshine99
    Sunshine99 Member Posts: 1,680
    edited April 2020

    Thank you for the kind words and encouragement, ladies!

    I have a bone biopsy scheduled for 4/17. When I first called to schedule it I was told, "The first available is sometime in May." After contacting my oncologist, the scheduler called me and they scheduled me for April. I put myself on the waitlist if there are any earlier openings. My oncologist moved my appointment with her back from the 13th to the 22nd (of April). She wants all my test results in hand before we meet to formulate a treatment plan. (She didn't have the HER2 status when I last was her. It was somewhere in the middle and they were going to do the FISH test.) I did ask her nurse if that appointment could be a video conference. I'd really like my husband to be part of that discussion and since they're not allowing any visitors in the clinic or hospital, I'd really like to "see" her this way.

    I was told that I'd have anesthesia for the bone biopsy. I believe it's the colonoscopy-type that puts you in a kind of twilight state.

    I have wonderful neighbors who saw me through my last cancer 12 years ago, so I've told most of them. Told them I don't need anything and that our faith is strong, but that I just wanted to let them know. Am waiting until I have all the tests, staging, treatment plan, etc., before I tell my dad (he's a physician) and my sister.

  • Mamasha
    Mamasha Member Posts: 104
    edited April 2020

    I'm blown away how strong you are. Many prayers from all of us are coming your way

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