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Kat_in_Texas
Kat_in_Texas Member Posts: 12
edited June 2014 in Second or Third Breast Cancer
Was dx'ed with DCIS in left breast July 06 as a result of a routine mammo. No palpable lump was felt at that time. Had a lumpectomy followed by a second surgery for clear margins and SNB in August 06. SNB was clear, did 33 rads treatments in Oct/Nov, no further treatment. Follow-up mammogram in Feb 07 was clear.

Now here it is June and I can feel a lump in the top outside quadrant on the same breast (left) but not in the area of the surgery. Also have an area of considerable "thickening" on the lower edge of same breast.

Is it possible to have a lump appear just 8 months after finishing radiation, or just 4 months after a mammogram? Or maybe I'm just too worried about reoccurence that I'm imagining what I'm feeling? My left breast is so dense and filled with fibroids that it is almost impossible for me to tell the difference between a distinct lump and all the other "lumpiness" - if you know what I mean!

I'm scheduled for another follow-up mammo in August. Do you think I should call the doctor before then? I don't want to be one of those "crazy ladies" who think every little thing they feel is a lump, but I'm getting concerned.

Is it possible that a lump could show up that quickly after rads and my recent mammo? Should I ask for an MRI or other type of scan? I worry about the comments I've read on the other boards about mammograms being unreliable on dense breast tissue, so that's a concern of mine as well.

Comments?

Thanks so much!
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  • Hattie
    Hattie Member Posts: 414
    edited June 2007
    Make an appt--peace of mind is worth it. I had a lump I found on my 1 year dx anniversary. Yikes. It was a cyst. And my skin feels thicker after rads, and the it's hard to tell what is normal scarring and what is not.

    Call your doc and get an exam, ask all your questions, and find out what's up.
    Peace of mind is worth it. You did all your treatments and should be totally fine, but it is nice to hear that from an expert.

    Take care,
    --Hattie
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  • rubytuesday
    rubytuesday Member Posts: 2,248
    edited June 2007

    Radiation can cause all sorts of changes. I would push for a MRI. Best wishes!

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  • Fllorik
    Fllorik Member Posts: 1,351
    edited June 2007

    When in doubt, call! It could be anything. Why have this anxiety take up so much of your energy? Wishing you only good news.

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  • tos
    tos Member Posts: 376
    edited June 2007
    Absolutely, call! You've been dx once and you need that peace of mind and questions answered.

    Good luck and let us know,
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  • nosurrender
    nosurrender Member Posts: 2,019
    edited June 2007

    Ditto here! CALL and get yourself checked out. The peace of mind is worth more than anything. Plus, if anything should be found, the earlier the better!

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  • php01
    php01 Member Posts: 17
    edited November 2007

     I came off first chemo ac/t Dec 8, 2006-I came off 36 rads on March 15, 2007-spent a month on femmora--was scheduled for a follow up scan in June 07, and in May I had a swelling in my neck--a ct scan showed possible tumor, on lymph node,  biopsy showed a malignant tumor on several lymph nodes from my jaw to my diaphram- and Pet scan showed mets to lungs, rib, clavicle, and one vertibrae--so it didn't even wait 2  months before spreading all over-luckily no liver or brain activity--so get it checked---because radiation doesn't help everyone, it did nothing for me but waste my time and money!

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