Finding lumps - mammograms + ultrasound

ArnZo

Hi folks I hope this isn't a strange or stupid or insensitive question. Our bodies have started succumbing to stress of my hubby's mum fighting her terminal lung cancer and I'm hoping that finding a lump in my breast a few months ago, which now feels like a thickening/ridge instead of a small lump is just a stress thing. I've had a shooting pain in that area too for at least a few months, maybe longer (this year has been a blur), which has been intermittent even when I don't have a period - I'd like to have written it off as normal hormonal stuff. My hubby has started getting migraines and I've got cold sores breaking out everywhere (even had one on my leg, which was weird). His mum has sharply declined since having radiation with bad side effects, but still wants to live on her own at home, so we're trying to figure out how to best encourage her to come and live with us or find another solution that she's happy with, so that she's not on her own. Anyway, back on track.... I got the courage to ask the GP to check my breasts earlier this week when having a pap smear and checkup. I thought I was imagining it and hoped to put it down to stress, but she could feel it as well She's written me up for a mammogram and ultrasound (I'm 33), which will be done next Tues. Of all the health probs in my family, fortunately cancer isn't one of them, so I'm very low risk. Most likely it is just a fibroid or something (I'm hoping). But..... if anyone doesn't mind sharing, I was wondering whether anyone just had a lump and pain/tenderness which ended up being malignant, or whether I'm worrying over nothing? I've been into the breast cancer org'n website which has lots of information and I don't have other symptoms they describe of (nipple discharge etc), so I'm hoping it will be a fibroid. My mum had a 5inch fibroid removed when she was in her early twenties, and a lump could be a 100 different non-cancerous things... so here's hoping.

Barbe

Hiya Arnzo Sorry I can't help you with this question, I had no pain with my tumours. I just wanted to reply to wish you good luck and let us know how you go on. I'm sure it will be good news, but we like to hear that as well! Take care, Barbe

Kate

Arnzo, I am hoping all is well for you with the mammogram and ultrasound. I guess we all went through that worry stage and most people come out the other end of this testing with nothing to worry about. Just be positive and you have done the right thing by seeing your doctor.

ArnZo

Hi ladies Thanks for your responses. Its hard to ask friends but Mum has been great keeping the worries away as she reassured me there's no history in the family and although she had a lot of trouble with cysts and fibroadenomas in her early 20s, they were all benign and no problemmo after being removed and/or aspirated. Well, it was a mixed bag on Tuesday at pathology and it turns out I wasn't imagining things after all. They did find a 7mm ovoid cyst on my right breast where I could feel something... but apparently it's no cause for concern as it's not solid. But.... they found calcifications on the left breast and kept asking me if I had any pain or felt anything. (which I haven't) Not sure what to make of it - the report says 'there are several benign type calcifications in the left breast' which I understand to be that they look benign in appearance (???) Was pleasantly surprised with the mammogram - I'd gone in with all the horror stories about squished boobies. The mammographer was really sensitive to the situation and the compression pain was less than 5 seconds each time as she released it pretty much straight away after lining it up. The magnification plate did hurt but again <5secs. Started to get a bit freaked out though when the radiographer ran out to get the doc in during ultrasound. They had a bolded statement under the findings on the report, saying that not all breast cancers can be found by imaging alone and negative imaging should not deter further investigation of clinically suspicious findings. So I read that to say although they determined a benign type calcification, the findings were clinically suspicious. I went to the GP yesterday to ask for a form to have a fine needle aspiration done (reading on the nbocc website etc they recommend the 'triple test' be done) and the GP gave the impression she thought I was going overboard about it all. Never mind the fact that we go to the same GP practice that my mum-in-law does, and she asked after her before I launched into my probs. 90% of me is reassured that there'll be nothing to worry about, knowing there's no history in the family, however, after my mum-in-laws early diagnostics coming up clear, then a CT scan picking up her lung cancer (then PET scan picking up the metastases), I've lost a lot of confidence in imaging. So I'm booked in for the fine needle biopsy next Wed. Do the results normally come back fairly quickly or do they spend a few days testing the samplings??? Focussed on the 'benign' in the reports and have shown my hubby, but haven't troubled him with what's going around and around in my head as he has enough going on with his mum without worrying over 'what ifs' with me. Positive thinking and a bottle of wine! On a bright note, his mum is off to Great Kepple Island on Saturday with a close friend and her family for a week... Just the thing she needs at the moment, plus some fresh air and sunshine. She's reacting badly to the radiation again and the pain has worn her down, so hopefully she'll be able to enjoy the whole holiday. Her friend is a vet so we know she'll be in good hands if they need to get her medivac'd back tothe mainland. Take care all Zoe

ArnZo

Hi folks Hope everyone's week has started out well. Life has whizzed by at an alarming rate this month, where has the time gone. Good news I think - the biopsy of the 'cyst' showed that it is a solid mass, but a benign mass The jury's still out on the calcifications - they weren't able to do FNA as they couldn't feel them, so went back to doc to get another form for a ultrasound guided FNA.... At imaging I'd disrobed ready for it when they decided they couldn't do it because they wouldn't be able to see the calcifications under ultrasound (it was picked up on mammogram). Hmmmm... I wonder why they bothered booking me in if they knew they wouldn't be able to do it. So I'm waiting to see Dr John Buckingham next week; the imaging folks recommended seeing him as he has a great rep as a breast specialist. 99% sure all will be well and I'm being a bit irrational about it all, but I look at my mum in law whose initial diagnostics came up clear and everyone patted her on the head (she looked well until she started radiation), dismissing her concerns. Then when the biopsy came back with the bad news, the month inbetween scans was enough time for it to metastasise and become inoperable/incurable. And she doesn't fall into any risk groups, non-smoker, no history in the family, very healthy etc etc. She's started acupuncture to help with the pain and its remarkable how much benefit she gets from it. Although it doesn't last long, its great to see her face relaxed when she finishes. take care Zoe

Barbe

That's really positive good news, Zoe, glad to hear it!

ArnZo

HI Barbe Dr Buckingham is fabulous - reassured me that the radiologist got it right and he's 90% sure (apparently there's a 10% margin for error) that the calcifications are benign. Given his extensive experience with breast cancer, I'm confident that he knows his stuff and can put it all to the back of my mind now and concentrate on Andrew's mum. In hindsight I guess I've been a bit irrational about it all, but haven't wanted to end up in the same boat as his mum is at the moment. We have been absolutely overwhelmed by the amount of support and services available to her. She had a constant stream of visiting professionals (eg occ. therapist, social worker, lung cancer coordinator etc) while she was in hospital last week after first cycle of chemo + breathing probs. We're now fully boned up on what's out there to help her through this awful journey of hers and what's available to us to help her as well. She started her journey with the Cancer Council's Lilier Lodge in Wagga for her first treatment and they were fantastic. Take care Zoe