reactive node biopsied 6 month ago has thickened from 5mm to 6mm

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blah333
blah333 Member Posts: 270
edited October 2021 in Not Diagnosed With a Recurrence or Metastases but Concerned

I have had so much hell with these dumbass nodes, my doctors really downplayed or dismissed concerns about removing lymph nodes from my body. Anyway - I had some light swelling 3 months after my surgery, an ultrasound showed a swollen node but they didn't have concern because it was so soon after mastectomy/sentinal node removal. But 7 months later it was still swollen. About 1 year and 1 month after my surgery I had a biopsy, but for that node they only got muscle tissue. So I had to do it again. The second biopsy I refused a clip, thinking they were going for the same node and I don't want to have an armpit full of clips, as well as thinking these nodes are already impaired, how could they function properly with a clip in them. So basically I have a node with a clip that was never actually biopsied, and a swollen node farther in that HAS been biopsied. The node that is farther in was not swollen or visible/visualized until the date of my second biopsy. Last week I had an appt for a 6 month follow up and they had urged me to do another biopsy, partially do to the clip/no clip confusion. I said no, I'll monitor it and come back in 6 months. These biopsies were such a pain in the ass. I go to an educational hospital. Each biopsy was 1.5hrs long... and one left 3 marks on me but only got two samples. Don't want to deal with this hell right now.

- Can biopsies damage lymph areas? Especially jamming a needle around the axilla area for 1.5 hours?
- I've had some light lymphedema in my axilla area, and issues with my ribs being pushed? out of place. Rib 5 or 6 which diagonally does into my armpit area is prominent/jutted out. I've never been able to see if resolving these issues would make my lymph nodes chill out....... I tried to learn massage but was too complicated with only a few visits. I am starting PT again.


Here is my report.

Follow up evaluation was performed for the axillary lymph node seen on 12--/2018. On the present examination, the are lymph nodes with cortical thickening in the left axilla, now measuring up to 6 mm in thickness, slightly increased from prior. A lymph node containing a biopsy marker clip from prior benign biopsy is also seen.

BI-RADS Category 4A: Suspicious Abnormality IMPRESSION/RECOMMENDATION: Left axillary lymph node with increased cortical thickening measuring up to 6 mm is of low suspicion for malignancy. A repeat ultrasound-guided core biopsy of the left axilla is recommended.





I know the "responsible" thing to do is get a biopsy but I am pretty sure it is the same node based on its position and I just don't want to bother with this right now. I also just only had DCIS and have had "reactive nodes" for a year, if it was cancer don't you think they'd be giving more indication of that by now?

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

    You're right that the safest thing to do is biopsy, as you mentioned. You could ask to repeat the ultrasound in 3 months if you're comfortable with it. It depends on how comfortable you are waiting. Cancer shows itself quickly in some people, but very slowly in others, so you really can't compare your case to others when it comes to something like this. Frustrating for sure.

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  • Jlt814
    Jlt814 Member Posts: 23
    edited October 2021

    I realize this is an older post but I'm dealing with something similar right now and wondering how you made out with your reactive lymph nodes. I found one large and two smaller reactive nodes in February of this year. Mammo and ultrasound clear. I went back in April, and the largest had reduced in size from 2.2 cm to 1.9 cm, marginally thickened cortex but hilia present. Birads 3 and I went back a few weeks ago for a 6 mo follow up. The good news was that the nodes had not changes in size, but the bad news was that they were still there and the radiologist would have liked to see them have gone down. SHe said no change in 8 mo is good but since she can't explain whats causing them to stay reactive I have a core biopsy scheduled for next week.

    I just cant shake the feeling that I'll be in the minority that has a hidden cancer not seen on mammo or ultrasound- although if that was the case wouldn't the nodes have changed over 8 months? And if they're benign shouldn't they be able to tell that from an ultrasound? The waiting is the worst part.

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  • KBeee
    KBeee Member Posts: 5,109
    edited October 2021

    My son had nodes that were enlarged for over 2 years. They never could explain why. Any skin irritation can cause them to enlarge. They cannot tell if they are benign or malignant definitively without a biopsy. Hoping yours are benign. Let us know!

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