Puckered Skin

I saw my primary care provider this afternoon. She thinks the puckered and indented skin is likely related to stretch marks. (Whew!)

However, she did feel the lump. It is located on the underside of my left breast, in the 7 o'clock position if a clock face were on the breast as you look at it, putting it in the lower inner quadrant. Nothing like it on the right side.

She has faxed orders for a bilateral diagnostic mammogram and an ultrasound to the Seattle Cancer Care Alliance. I will schedule the appointment when I phone them tomorrow.

I am remembering that a good majority of lumps are benign. I am much more worried about my sister, who is waiting for results from an abnormal gynecological exam. We just buried our dear father, who died of bladder and liver cancer, and the thought of possibly losing her, too, feels unbearable. She and I are trying to take one step at a time and not borrow worry from tomorrow. Some days, it manages to trickle in anyway.

--Cheryl

Thanks so much for your very kind note, LivinLife! I appreciate every bit of support so much, and it really helps me not to worry when I talk with those who have already been through this whole process, no matter what the eventual outcome. You are so right, it can be overwhelming to have this going on while my sister and I are yet so fresh in our grief for our father and worried about our mother, who is grieving very hard for the loss of her sweetheart and lifemate of more than 60 years. Last night, I was feeling what might be best described as a "bruised" feeling, emotionally. I really appreciate this board being here with its informative posts (last night I switched horses from reading about "puckered skin" to reading about "palpable lump," as well as the wonderful emotional support that helps keep my worries in check.

My new update is that I am scheduled for my diagnostic mammogram and ultrasound at the Seattle Cancer Care Alliance for this Friday morning, December 11. It is a 5+ hour drive, so we are driving over on Thursday. It's so worth the drive to have the great care and expertise they offer!

--Cheryl

Thank you so much for your message, ShetlandPony! I will ask for this. I don't remember seeing ILC before, what does that mean? Thanks again!

Thank you so much for your informative reply, ShetlandPony!

I took my bad fall and bruised my breast (and a lot of the rest of me) on October 21. So it's been a while. But it surely would be nice if this was all related to that!

I believe I was tested for BRCA because there were so many others with cancer and they were mostly dead so could not be tested. My father at that time just had the prostate cancer (later bladder and liver as well). His only sister had breast cancer at age 39. Her son had prostate cancer at a fairly young age. Another brother (might have actually been two of my father's brothers) also had prostate cancer.

On my mother's side, my grandmother's sister died of breast cancer while in her 50's. I remember her, a sweet woman with a wonderful smile and laugh and a hugely swollen arm on the side with the cancer. My grandmother's mother had uterine cancer for which radium bars were implanted in her uterus. She survived to great age, 94.

I believe I have missed a few, so I'll check with my mother tomorrow.

--Cheryl

Another family related update:

My sister's pelvic ultrasound has been scheduled for tomorrow morning at the same time I will be having my diagnostic mammogram and ultrasound.

Meanwhile, my brother's wife has also been tested for a possibly cancerous lesion on her tongue, results pending. Her mother died of breast cancer, with multiple mets, aged 66.

When it rains, it pours. There are three children in my family of birth, so each of us is now waiting for some sort of news about possible cancer. Hoping all negative!

Thank you so much, LivinLife. The Cancer Care Alliance just phoned to confirm my appointment, and I learned that no provider will be meeting with me for this visit. I was surprised by that, I thought I would be meeting with someone like last time and be able to ask questions. They did tell me I would be getting my results right away, so there won't be any waiting. I will find the medical records department and ask for copies of my previous workups, since I've moved since then and my file here at home has gone astray. I want to see what genetic workup was done. It does sound like it would be a very good idea to have a full cancer panel if one wasn't already done.

I'm just so nonplussed that I won't be seeing a provider, and will have no way to ask about a cancer panel tomorrow, or to ask about the MRI if the lump doesn't show up on mammogram or ultrasound. Last time a provider met with me first, then I had the screenings, and I thought that was standard procedure. When I expressed my surprise that there wouldn't be a provider seeing me tomorrow, I was told that all providers are booked. I just assumed it would be like last time, I suppose, and so I'm feeling a bit off kilter just going in for testing and not really seeing anyone other than technicians. What if the results are not good?

--Cheryl

Thank you so much, this was so helpful to read, Shetland Pony. I made the requests when I arrived this morning.

Mammogram done, currently waiting for results. Then ultrasound.

The radiologist did my ultrasound and only sees normal tissue in the area where my physician felt the lump, so I am considered clear and instructed to return in a year.

She also commented on the calcifications I was here for in 2015/2016, stating they are either stable or evolving like benign calcifications are expected to do, which was reassuring.

I asked about a lump that does not show on ultrasound or mammography and the reply was that sometimes the practitioner does not frequently exam my breasts and thus is not familiar with the normal tissue.

No report is ready yet, but they are to fax to my primary care doctor and I have requested mailed copied until end of treatment, so hope I get one as well.

--Cheryl

Yes, I was surprised, too, LivinLife! And I was a bit disappointed with the form of the written results, as I was expecting an actual report with BIRADS, etc, but was instead given a generic form with some checked boxes. The actual form wasn't prepared yet and they said it would be sent to my primary provider, and I can get it from her if I like. I am also hoping it will be mailed to me with the other information I requested yesterday, since I requested copies "until end of treatment."

On the form it said I have category A breasts, ie. almost entirely fatty, which makes them easier to screen, I believe. This makes me more comfortable with the findings of everything being clear. I don't know if I can get an MRI at this point, with the specialists at the Cancer Center thinking nothing is there, or if I should pursue that. It was a relief to hear that both the mammogram and ultrasound were negative. Now, to let it rest, or not?

My breasts always feel rather lumpy to me, to the point where I have pretty much given up on self exams. In retrospect, I think this was a bad idea. Given our family history, I think I need to persevere and just learn what feels normal for each part of my breasts. Maybe even make some notes, so I remember from time to time what is where.

With my family history of cancer, would I be considered high risk? My mother and grandmother had no cancer, but so many others did. I am not sure how to look at our family history and how it relates to my sister and me.

Finally, to my sister and her news. We are still waiting. She was told her results would be available in the patient portal yesterday afternoon, but there were issues and she couldn't access the portal. She asked for assistance, but still no luck. So she (and we) are on pins and needles waiting for news. My sister is beside herself, has turned to Google for information, and really frightened herself. She has all the symptoms except weight loss and loss of appetite. I told her last night that everyone here says never to talk to Dr Google, always the worst case scenario, etc. and I gave her a link to info on cervical cancer from Mayo Clinic instead. What I would really like for her would be a sister board to this one. Does anyone know of a good support board like this one for women who may have/do have cervical/pelvic cancer? I would love for her to be able to join and be able to read good information and get great support as I have done here. Thank you so very much to everyone who has been so helpful.

--Cheryl

Thank you so much, MelissaDallas!