Lump on Back

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Hi all, I know everyone here can understand the anxiety that comes over us when we find a new lump. A few days ago, my husband noticed a lump on my back. It's between the shoulder blades either on the spine or just to the right - that spot that I cannot reach or even see very well. He was able to take a picture so I could see it clearly. It looks like something almost the size of a baseball under the skin. There's no difference in the skin over it, normal color, no lesions or anything. Just looks like someone inserted a baseball under my skin. My sister gets fatty cysts on her back that sometimes need to be drained. This looks completely different.

Of course, with a history of breast cancer, I am scared that this could be a metastasis or a new cancer. Once you've been told before that it's cancer, it's not so easy to tell yourself it's probably not cancer. MO suggested I go through my family doctor first so I have an appointment Monday afternoon with her. In the meantime, I'm googling and worrying.

Anyone have experience with lumps like this? Or any expertise on how likely or unlikely that this could be a metastasis?

Thanks in advance.

Comments

  • DebAL
    DebAL Member Posts: 877
    edited October 2020

    hi Johnnygirl, the first thing that comes to my mind is a lipoma. Benign, painless, fairly soft and annoying more than anything else. The back is a common place to have them. I have a small one on my inner forearm. That area is not a bother to me but I could see one on your back being bothersome especially when you are lying on your back. They can be removed but usually in an outpatient setting under light anesthesia. Its a daily surgery where I work.

    I'm glad you are seeing your doctor tomorrow and I hope it turns out to be nothing to worry about. We all understand anxiety when it comes to changes with our body. Keep us posted.

  • AliceBastable
    AliceBastable Member Posts: 3,461
    edited October 2020

    I was thinking lipoma, too. I had one on my neck, in the front, that puzzled my PCP and an endocrinologist, and was finally identified by an ENT, As he walked into the exam room he said "Hi, wow, that's quite a lipoma you've got there!" Apparently under the chin is an odd spot for them, though. At 7 cm, I looked like a bullfrog on one side. Super easy surgery to remove it, but he switched to full anesthesia instead of the lightweight kind because it was close to some veins or arteries and he didn't want any inadvertent twitching on my part.

  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited October 2020

    A met would be causing other problems like numbness, pain, or loss of power of some sort. Agree with the others that this is probably a lipoma - look up "back mice" (yeah, thats not creepy at all!) but definitely worth getting checked for peace of mind!

  • DebAL
    DebAL Member Posts: 877
    edited October 2020

    Lol Alice bullfrog. Glad they put you under. Otherwise had u twitched u would have woken up in recovery saying "ribbet" I have never seen one under the chin. Hopefully this is the case for Johnnygirl and its only a lipoma too.

  • MinusTwo
    MinusTwo Member Posts: 16,634
    edited October 2020

    I noticed you're seeing a family doctor. If you're not satisfied, I'd suggest you go to a dermatologist. Good luck

  • Johnnygirl
    Johnnygirl Member Posts: 25
    edited October 2020

    Thanks everyone for your replies! You've give me some peace of mind. I'll keep you updated after I see my doctor.

  • AliceBastable
    AliceBastable Member Posts: 3,461
    edited October 2020

    DebAL

    I'd have had to use Jeremiah as a username!

    image

  • DebAL
    DebAL Member Posts: 877
    edited October 2020

    Joy to the world Alice!

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