Talk to me about lumps? -- Not a good update.

[Jenny in Florida]

So, this fall that I took a few weeks ago has turned into the gift that keeps on giving. In addition to the facial bruising and pain while breathing and cognitive stuff that led to x-rays and a CT scan, this week I noticed a fairly large lump/bump/"fullness" in my left breast. I assumed (and am still assuming) that it is some kind of internal bruising or something the internet tells me is called "fat necrosis," but I called my doctor's office on Thursday and spoke to the nurse to ask if I really had to come in for this . . . and was told, emphatically, yes, and they had appointments available that day. I had other commitments and so wasn't able to go in until Friday morning.

The doctors listened to my tale of woe about falling down and hitting my chest, took turns palpating, and seemed to agree with me that it was likely nothing to worry about. They used the word "fullness" instead of lump, said the fact that it wasn't super hard or well defined and that it was tender were all good signs but, just to be sure, they sent me for a diagnostic mamo and ultrasound.

The ultrasound apparently shows that the area is solid, which means I now have the joy of undergoing my first biopsy.

I've spoken briefly with the breast care coordinator, who talked me through the basics of the procedure. 

But, of course, now I am feeling more concerned. And, as much as I try to talk myself down and tamp down the worry, I'm having trouble not focusing on the what-ifs. 

I also start a new job on Monday, in which I will have very limited holiday and sick time for the first year, and in which I would very much prefer not to have to show up the first day and start asking for time off to go to medical appointments. So, that's an additional stressor.

Anyway, I would appreciate hearing your stories of lumps -- What did you find? What was the diagnostic process? If you needed treatment, what was that like? Basically, anything you might have wanted to know when you found your lump?

Thanks in advance for your willingness to share.

 

UPDATE:

The biopsy was positive. 

The doctor I spoke to said he is not an expert in this area and didn't want to speculate too much, but said that his reading of the report suggests the treatment options and prognosis for this type of cancer are good.

I got the news this morning and have just emerged from informing my boss and the HR person, both of whom were lovely and understanding and offered flex schedules and working from home and whatever support I need.

My husband wasn't first call, of course, but now I need to navigate conversations with both kids.

Thank you all again for your support on this phase.

 

Edited July 29, 2019 by Jenny in Florida

[Scarlett]

I am sorry.  What a bummer with the new job.  I have had many call backs and one biopsy, all of which turned out to be nothing.  But of course if it is something, the sooner you go in the better.  

 

[itsheresomewhere]

A very good friend has what she calls lumpy breasts.  Every lump is always biopsied.  For her-  the biopsies are quick and minimal pain as she has had quite a few.  Her lumps are benign.

Another friend had a very squishy, fatty feeling lump.  Both her doctor and her felt was nothing.  It was biopsied and found in the center of it, a very small amount of cancer.  She had a lumpectomy and no other treatment besides regular scans during the year. Lumpectomy on a Wednesday and back to work on a Monday .  She has a desk job so nothing strenuous.

Get it done.  Timing is not perfect at all but our health is first. 

Edited July 20, 2019 by itsheresomewhere

[fairfarmhand]

I had one. So mine was smooth and round And not “attached” to anything. Very movable. Apparently those are all good things. Mine was nothing. 

[Jenny in Florida]

9 minutes ago, itsheresomewhere said:

A very good friend has what she calls lumpy breasts.  Every lump is always biopsied.  For her-  the biopsies are quick and minimal pain as she has had quite a few.  Her lumps are benign.

Another friend had a very squishy, fatty feeling lump.  Both her doctor and her felt was nothing.  It was biopsied and found in the center of it, a very small amount of cancer.  She had a lumpectomy and no other treatment besides regular scans during the year. Lumpectomy on a Wednesday and back to work on a Monday .  She has a desk job so nothing strenuous.

Get it done.  Timing is not perfect at all but our health is first. 

 

Following my first mamogram back in my 30s, I was told I had "cystic breasts," which was one of many things over the years I have been told are "just something to keep in mind." The doctor I was seeing at the time suggested that, although this was nothing to worry about in itself, it could potentially make it more difficult to notice anything problematic in the future. I "kept it in mind" and mentioned it to other doctors for a good number of years, but then it kind of dropped off my mental radar.

"Squishy, fatty feeling" is a good description of what I found. It's also pretty large. I read a lot of stories of tumors that are the size of peas, but this is more like the size of a large walnut. The squishyness and size -- and the fact that it seemed to appear quickly and after I fell and hit that side of my chest -- made me feel pretty secure that it's nothing. But now I will confess to feeling more worried.

I am following up. The breast care coordinator told me to set aside two or three hours for the biopsy. She said that the procedure, itself, takes only about an hour, but the associated protocols extend the time. So, over the weekend, I am practicing the conversation I will need to have with the HR person letting her know I may need a little flexibility in my schedule for the first week or two. Fortunately, although the new job offers limited PTO, the employer does have somewhat flexible office hours. Many people, for example, work 7:30 to 4:00 so they can avoid the worst of the rush hour traffic. So I am hoping that, if I can schedule appointments for either first thing in the morning or last thing in the afternoon, I will be able to manage this without too much disruption to my onboarding.

[EmilyGF]

This isn't about lumps, but when I got mono 6 weeks into a job right after college, my boss let me go down to half time for a number of weeks. Actually, the HR head was the one who suggested it. They were very accommodating. (Not sure, in retrospect, how that worked with insurance. I think they just kept me on, figuring it was short term.)

Also, I got a random lump in college. It is still there, still the same size, still no problem, though it took a few appointments to realize that.

[Pawz4me]

Years ago--I think I was in my early 40's--I had a large lump that turned out to be a benign fibroadenoma. It was picked up on a screening mammogram, I had no idea it was there. Maybe I'm clueless and/or don't have a good sense of touch, but even when the radiologist put my hand on it I still couldn't really differentiate it from the surrounding normal tissue. The biopsy wasn't pleasant but it was really not a big deal. A little pressure, very minimal pain. After the biopsy they watched it for awhile but it kept getting bigger and eventually they said it had to go because it could block the view of something cancerous. The lumpectomy was no big deal. I think I was in the hospital for about four hours total, and other than some soreness I felt fine afterwards.

I sure hope yours turns out to be nothing concerning. But yeah--it's hard not to worry. Do keep in mind that a huge percentage of breast lumps (like 80+ percent, IIRC) turn out to not be cancer. But still--definitely get it thoroughly checked out.

[EmilyGF]

10 minutes ago, Jenny in Florida said:

 

Following my first mamogram back in my 30s, I was told I had "cystic breasts," which was one of many things over the years I have been told are "just something to keep in mind." The doctor I was seeing at the time suggested that, although this was nothing to worry about in itself, it could potentially make it more difficult to notice anything problematic in the future. I "kept it in mind" and mentioned it to other doctors for a good number of years, but then it kind of dropped off my mental radar.

"Squishy, fatty feeling" is a good description of what I found. It's also pretty large. I read a lot of stories of tumors that are the size of peas, but this is more like the size of a large walnut. The squishyness and size -- and the fact that it seemed to appear quickly and after I fell and hit that side of my chest -- made me feel pretty secure that it's nothing. But now I will confess to feeling more worried.

I am following up. The breast care coordinator told me to set aside two or three hours for the biopsy. She said that the procedure, itself, takes only about an hour, but the associated protocols extend the time. So, over the weekend, I am practicing the conversation I will need to have with the HR person letting her know I may need a little flexibility in my schedule for the first week or two. Fortunately, although the new job offers limited PTO, the employer does have somewhat flexible office hours. Many people, for example, work 7:30 to 4:00 so they can avoid the worst of the rush hour traffic. So I am hoping that, if I can schedule appointments for either first thing in the morning or last thing in the afternoon, I will be able to manage this without too much disruption to my onboarding.

A few years back, while nursing, of course, I got a weird squishy thing on my breast, towards the top. It appeared overnight and was just smaller than a marble. Of course I got a very young male doctor (still in residency) who was really confused, etc. After about 10 minutes of him trying to figure it out, he called in the head doctor who said, "That's a cyst. It'll probably reabsorb. Let me know in a few years if it is bothering you and we can drain it. We can't drain it now because you're nursing." About nine months later it went away, though it did get smaller rather rapidly.

It sounds incredibly connected to your fall. The doctors have to follow up on it, of course, and you do, too, but it really sounds like an immune system reaction. 

[Laura Corin]

I had a lump. The biopsy was inconclusive so I had surgery to take it out. It was benign, I have a tiny scar, and there have been no further problems.

[catz]

My grandmother had many lumps removed over many years and died of completely unrelated reasons at age 89, never developing any kind of cancer.  So definitely don't panic.  Many times they are benign and no issue.

[Carol in Cal.]

I had a lump in breast tissue kind of above my breast.  This was about 15 years ago.  They did an ultrasound, and then decided to do a biopsy.  I drove myself to and from that appointment, and it took about 45 minutes.  They numbed the area with lidocaine, which was the only part that hurt, and then siphoned out the limp in about a 1 inch long area.  It was benign fatty tissue.  No further incidents subsequently.

[hippiemamato3]

I had a golf ball-sized lump removed during my pregnancy when I was 24. It turned out to be a fibroadenoma. I have a 'larger than you'd expect' scar from it and now have been told I have lumpy, cystic, dense breasts so get called back every time for a second mammogram. As it is, I go every 6 months. I'm 40, no family history of cancer. 

[Arcadia]

Hopefully yours is benign. The biopsy was a fast procedure. Maybe you can get an appointment that is very early (7am) or evening, assuming you work office hours.

Mine turns out to be a cancerous lump as well as calcification. My guess was that the calcification was due to my tennis racket bag (with three tennis rackets inside) hitting that spot.

[Ali in OR]

I had a suddenly-appearing lump on the inside of my elbow a couple of years ago. I noticed it after lifting and carrying a way-too-heavy box after our garage sale and it pressed against my inner elbow. But Google got me worried about lymphoma so I went to my doctor. He said it wasn't where the lymph nodes were and he called it a lipoma (which never goes away but is harmless). So it gave me a new word to google and I learned that they can turn up from injury like lifting that too-heavy box.

[J-rap]

In my experience, large (or small) squishy, fatty feeling lumps are cysts.  I've had many of them.  The smaller ones either reabsorb or don't bother me.  I've had a few large ones drained.

I have very dense breasts so have mammograms, ultrasounds, and MRI's annually.  I've had many different types of lumps but they've all thankfully been nothing serious.  My mother had breast cancer and several friends of mine have too -- and theirs were always caught early and they were fine.  Every one of them.

But, I do think yours sounds typical of a cyst.  Still, you want to go through the testing because naturally it's best to catch these things early.

[Melissa in Australia]

hugs

[Jenny in Florida]

So, the mammogram and ultrasound reports have been posted on the patient portal. I'm not a doctor (and don't even play one on TV), but having spent a couple of hours with my friend Google, I think the info on the reports makes it pretty clear we're not talking about a cyst.

The mass is described on the mammogram as "an irregular, equal density, spiculated mass measuring 2.7 cm." The ultrasound found " an irregular, spiculated, parallel, hypoechoic mass with posterior shadowing measuring 2.6 x 2.7 x 2.4 cm." Apparently, the ultrasound also found " an abnormal left axillary lymph node with thickened cortex."

Of course, I will continue to follow up with my doctors, and I am waiting to decide how to feel until after the experts explain it to me, but If I'm interpreting the information on this site correctly, none of this points to the probability of great news. 

Edited July 22, 2019 by Jenny in Florida

[Ali in OR]

Bleah. Hope the doctors can put a better spin on it. So much on your plate right now--peace to you.

[Guest]

45 minutes ago, Jenny in Florida said:

So, the mammogram and ultrasound reports have been posted on the patient portal. I'm not a doctor (and don't even play one on TV), but having spent a couple of hours with my friend Google, I think the info on the reports makes it pretty clear we're not talking about a cyst.

The mass is described on the mammogram as "an irregular, equal density, spiculated mass measuring 2.7 cm." The ultrasound found " an irregular, spiculated, parallel, hypoechoic mass with posterior shadowing measuring 2.6 x 2.7 x 2.4 cm." Apparently, the ultrasound also found " an abnormal left axillary lymph node with thickened cortex."

Of course, I will continue to follow up with my doctors, and I am waiting to decide how to feel until after the experts explain it to me, but If I'm interpreting the information on this site correctly, none of this points to the probability of great news. 

Hugs to you. 

When the doctor at the radiology center first identified a mass, he did ask me about if I had had any blunt trauma to the breast, a car accident which caused a seatbelt trauma there, etc. No, nope, nothing like that, I said. I was actually asked this question a couple different times before my biopsy. 

Mine did turn out to be cancer and, I’m sorry to say it, but “spiculated margins” was part of my patient report, too, and I knew from my mother’s breast cancer that that ain’t good. My report also said I had “pronounced vascularity,” which I took as an indication that my blood support was “helpfully” feeding it. My mass was 1.5 cm-1.7 cm. I did not have any abnormal axillary lymph nodes. 

My treatment was lympectomy, radiation and hormone-suppressing medication. My only “complication” was axillary web syndrome and, despite PT and a compression sleeve, it is still not 100%. My PT does not think it likely it will ever be 100%. 

More hugs to you. I don’t know what to suggest wrt the new job. Hope you get answers quickly; try not to go through too much mental gyration. Whatever it is, you can face it. Wishing for the best. 

[Jenny in Florida]

14 minutes ago, Quill said:

Hugs to you. 

When the doctor at the radiology center first identified a mass, he did ask me about if I had had any blunt trauma to the breast, a car accident which caused a seatbelt trauma there, etc. No, nope, nothing like that, I said. I was actually asked this question a couple different times before my biopsy. 

 

Thanks for the sharing, the hugs and the well wishes.

I did read that fat necrosis can't necessarily be differentiated from a malignancy on an ultrasound. The fact that this showed up after my fall does seem to suggest that fat necrosis is still a decent possibility. 

[TravelingChris]

I really hope you get good answers and it isn't breast cancer.  Also, that you get answers for the neuropathy.  

[Jenny in Florida]

2 hours ago, TravelingChris said:

I really hope you get good answers and it isn't breast cancer.  Also, that you get answers for the neuropathy.  

 

Thanks.

 

Now that I have fallen down the rabbit hole of scheduling the biopsy and follow ups in the same week as starting a new job, the neuropathy has gotten bumped a rung or two down the priority ladder.

[moonflower]

I agree that the timing of discovering the lump coincidental with your fall seems hopeful and I am hoping for the best news for you.

[Scarlett]

On 7/20/2019 at 7:56 AM, Jenny in Florida said:

 

Following my first mamogram back in my 30s, I was told I had "cystic breasts," which was one of many things over the years I have been told are "just something to keep in mind." The doctor I was seeing at the time suggested that, although this was nothing to worry about in itself, it could potentially make it more difficult to notice anything problematic in the future. I "kept it in mind" and mentioned it to other doctors for a good number of years, but then it kind of dropped off my mental radar.

"Squishy, fatty feeling" is a good description of what I found. It's also pretty large. I read a lot of stories of tumors that are the size of peas, but this is more like the size of a large walnut. The squishyness and size -- and the fact that it seemed to appear quickly and after I fell and hit that side of my chest -- made me feel pretty secure that it's nothing. But now I will confess to feeling more worried.

I am following up. The breast care coordinator told me to set aside two or three hours for the biopsy. She said that the procedure, itself, takes only about an hour, but the associated protocols extend the time. So, over the weekend, I am practicing the conversation I will need to have with the HR person letting her know I may need a little flexibility in my schedule for the first week or two. Fortunately, although the new job offers limited PTO, the employer does have somewhat flexible office hours. Many people, for example, work 7:30 to 4:00 so they can avoid the worst of the rush hour traffic. So I am hoping that, if I can schedule appointments for either first thing in the morning or last thing in the afternoon, I will be able to manage this without too much disruption to my onboarding.

Please don’t worry about asking for a couple hours of for a doctors appointment.  

[Jenny in Florida]

Blargh.

So, I did the biopsy on Tuesday afternoon. Interestingly, they finished earlier than anticipated, because they weren't able to locate the noget de that was identified on the initial mammogram. I'm hoping that's a good thing.

I was told that results would be available by today, Friday. So I have spent all day finding opportunities to duck out of work to make phone calls to my own PCP and the breast care coordinator assigned to me by the women's center. All I can get out of anyone is that the report was faxed to my doctor's office early this afternoon, but no one will talk to me until after the doctor reviews the report. I was trying really hard to get the info by the end of the day so that neither I nor my husband (who is freaking out possibly more than I am) has to wait through the weekend. 

Despite my best efforts, though, 5:00 rolled around with no word.

I am choosing to assume that, if the report had been genuinely bad, my doctor would be in a much bigger hurry to deal with me.

Then I got home -- and I realize this is coincidence and just part of their protocol, which is to refer everyone who presents with a lump to a breast specialist -- and checked the mail and found an envelope with forms for "breast surgery referral." The postmark is the same day I went for the original appointment and would have been sent before I had either the original diagnostic mammogram/ultrasound or the biopsy. So, I know it means nothing, but it wasn't a great end to an already frustrating day.

Anyway, so that's the no-update-update for now.

[Kassia]

I'm sorry you have to wait all weekend now.  That is awful.  Thanks for the update.  Thinking of you.

[Guest]

I’m sorry. I had to wait through the weekend when my biopsy was done. I got the bad news on my 24th wedding anniversary, sitting in the parking lot of the supermarket. 

[Jenny in Florida]

33 minutes ago, Quill said:

I’m sorry. I had to wait through the weekend when my biopsy was done. I got the bad news on my 24th wedding anniversary, sitting in the parking lot of the supermarket. 

 

Oh no, I'm so sorry you had that experience.

I keep reminding myself that I am just one of many patients they are treating, all of whom are just as important and impatient as I am.  

[moonflower]

All weekend!  That is not reasonable imo.  Of course they have other impatient patients, but for something so important to you (maybe run of the mill to your doctor), I think they should make time to at least give you a basic idea before the weekend.  I'm hoping that means it's less serious.

 

[Ali in OR]

Been thinking of you this week. Hang in there.

[vonfirmath]

On 7/20/2019 at 7:13 AM, Jenny in Florida said:

So, this fall that I took a few weeks ago has turned into the gift that keeps on giving. In addition to the facial bruising and pain while breathing and cognitive stuff that led to x-rays and a CT scan, this week I noticed a fairly large lump/bump/"fullness" in my left breast. I assumed (and am still assuming) that it is some kind of internal bruising or something the internet tells me is called "fat necrosis," but I called my doctor's office on Thursday and spoke to the nurse to ask if I really had to come in for this . . . and was told, emphatically, yes, and they had appointments available that day. I had other commitments and so wasn't able to go in until Friday morning.

The doctors listened to my tale of woe about falling down and hitting my chest, took turns palpating, and seemed to agree with me that it was likely nothing to worry about. They used the word "fullness" instead of lump, said the fact that it wasn't super hard or well defined and that it was tender were all good signs but, just to be sure, they sent me for a diagnostic mamo and ultrasound.

The ultrasound apparently shows that the area is solid, which means I now have the joy of undergoing my first biopsy.

I've spoken briefly with the breast care coordinator, who talked me through the basics of the procedure. 

But, of course, now I am feeling more concerned. And, as much as I try to talk myself down and tamp down the worry, I'm having trouble not focusing on the what-ifs. 

I also start a new job on Monday, in which I will have very limited holiday and sick time for the first year, and in which I would very much prefer not to have to show up the first day and start asking for time off to go to medical appointments. So, that's an additional stressor.

Anyway, I would appreciate hearing your stories of lumps -- What did you find? What was the diagnostic process? If you needed treatment, what was that like? Basically, anything you might have wanted to know when you found your lump?

Thanks in advance for your willingness to share.

 

 

I've got a lump now I plan to talk to the doctor about at my appointment on Wednesday -- my long history of lumps has all been benign so I'm not too concerned. The lump may even have been there and one they mammogram'd before and decided was fine. And I just "found" it again two weeks ago. Time will tell.

Sufficient onto the day is the worry thereof.

[TravelingChris]

It is awful to have to wait.  Praying for good news for you.

[hippiemamato3]

Any update? Thinking of you.

[hippiemamato3]

Oh I'm so sorry Jenny. I will pray that there are good treatment options and you don't have to wait too long to see specialists. 

[Carol in Cal.]

I am so sorry, Jenny.  What a lot to deal with right now.  You are in my prayers.

[Pawz4me]

I'm so sorry, Jenny! The first few days after a serious diagnosis can be stomach churning and dizzying. Hang in there, be extra kind to yourself. I'm glad your doctor thinks the prognosis will be good, and that your employer is being supportive. Hugs.

[Katy]

So sorry.  Said a prayer for you, not only for healing but for the right words to talk to your kids.

[ktgrok]

Damn, Jenny. When it rains it pours. I'm so sorry, this just really sucks. Given your other medical issues going on, I am at this point going to STRONGLY push you to get to a place where multiple specialists can coordinate care - a teaching hospital of some sort. Also, often medical insurance offers reimbursement for some travel expenses for this kind of thing, hotels offer discounts for people being seen at a nearby medical center (you have to ask, but it is common), etc. 

With the neurological symptoms, neuropathy, and now this, you need to be somewhere where multiple specialists can confer, and, to be point blank, not screw up each other's plans. And you need to do it ASAP. 

Just as an example, both your future oncologist for your breast and a neurologist may both want imaging, and it makes way more sense to do it all at once if possible, or to coordinate what does and doesn't need to be scanned, types of imaging, etc etc. And you need to be sure that medications/treatments don't conflict with each other. 

Seriously, I'm sorry, this sucks, but I also know you are a strong person, and you can do this. But i wish you didn't have to. 

[mommyoffive]

I am so sorry to hear the update.  I am sending lots of prayers to you. 

[Arcadia]

Hugs. Hopefully you have someone free to go with you to your next appointment. It was helpful for me to have my husband ask and listen because I was too exhausted to remember everything that was said.

[Terabith]

I'm so sorry, Jenny.  

[Kassia]

I'm sorry.  Sending positive thoughts and big hugs.  

[EmilyGF]

So sorry. Hugs.

[Scarlett]

I am so sorry. I do have confidence of their treatment of breast cancer.  

Thinking of you.  (((Hugs))))

[dirty ethel rackham]

I'm so sorry it wasn't better news.  Praying for healing and peace.  

[alisoncooks]

39 minutes ago, Ktgrok said:

With the neurological symptoms, neuropathy, and now this, you need to be somewhere where multiple specialists can confer, and, to be point blank, not screw up each other's plans.

This. Some cancer treatments may  even cause neuropathy. (My dh has lingering neuropathy in his feet from his lymphoma treatment.) This is a good reason to already have a neurologist on hand. (A good cancer hospital/team will listen to this concern from the beginning and help you make the connections needed.)

Best wishes. 

Edited July 29, 2019 by alisoncooks

[Laura Corin]

Best wishes to you.

[Annie G]

I’m so sorry to hear your news- praying for peace and healing. 

[catz]

I"m so sorry you got bad news.  I'm glad your new employer is willing to work with you.  I hope specialists are able to confirm a very positive prognosis.  Thinking of you!

[Garga]

I am so sorry.  

Edited July 29, 2019 by Garga