posted
Here I am, almost 11 years out from my breast cancer and I just discovered 2 pea sized lumps in my breast. They're planted directly in the center of the old scar from my first surgery.
They are palpable, but I can also see them through my skin when I lift up my arm. I must have missed them because they're right next to the chest wall and I don't have much breast tissue left. I have an appointment with my surgeon on the 10th.
I just had a mammogram less than 2 months ago and it was clean. 11 years ago in April I discovered a 2 cm mass after having a 'clean' mammogram just 1 month prior. Went in for a biopsy and came out with a lumpectomy -- the surgeon took almost half of my breast.
Once I was finished with the lumpectomy, axial dissection and radiation, I got very curious. I was happy to be alive, but wondered how something that large could have been missed on a mammogram. I ordered my medical records including radiology reports from the past 6 years.
There it was in black and white. The mass was documented for 4 years straight, but the radiologist didn't bother telling me (or my physician?) for the following reasons:
A. He didn't think it looked malignant B. My young age C. The mass hadn't changed in size since first documented
When I learned of the malignancy in the recovery room in 1995, it didn't scare me. My Dad was crying his eyes out and everyone's mood was glum. I remember telling him, "Dad, it's just cancer and I know I'll be fine. It's this so-called undiagnosable autoimmune thing (lyme disease) that scares the bejeebies out of me." He thought I was nuts, as did the rest of my family.
I saved my arse by doing BSE. Saved my arse from LD and now I may have done it again. I'm tired of being super woman.
My PCP said it didn't 'feel' like cancer, but that's what a PCP told me almost 11 years ago. I'm trying to remain calm and retain my usual positive outlook, but I'd be lying if I didn't admit to being scared. But most of all, I'm angry.
-------------------- Posts: 703 | From Almost Heaven | Registered: Aug 2004
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treepatrol
Honored Contributor (10K+ posts)
Member # 4117
posted
Sorry to here this. I hope its just scar tissue or benign maybe its the lyme caused in that area where this showed up.
I hope and pray it works out for you.
-------------------- Do unto others as you would have them do unto you. Remember Iam not a Doctor Just someone struggling like you with Tick Borne Diseases.
Worthless tests & labs, a dangerous vaccine, insurance companies refuse to pay, undertreatment the norm, all about money. MO. Posts: 281 | From CT | Registered: Oct 2005
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posted
I hope that everything will be resolved quickly and work out in your favor in every way.
Your anger is totally justified. As a nearly 3-yr. BC survivor myself, I also get angry hearing your story.
It is one of many stories I hear painfully from other survivors who needlessly experienced the neglect, lack of pro-activity, and minimizing that doctors do with regard to a rampant disease that is so highly treatable in it's early stages. Should I add stupidity!
It's also caused by the pressure from insurance companies, and the way that they dictate standards of care, when they have no business doing so.
It's hard to be superwoman all right. Yet, we must be our own best advocates. Pulling together the energy and focus to deal with all of this while having lyme is a real call for Superwoman...with a capital "S"!
May I offer some things that helped me? You may already be aware of them, but just in case:
breastcancer.org This site saved me. Info, what to ask your doctor brochures, and online forum with caring people.
"How to Prevent and Treat Cancer with Natural Medicine" by Dr. Michael Murray. A complmentary approach. Support through conventional treatment. Diet, supplements, lifestyle. Specifics on breast cancer.
"Medical Qigong for Treating Breast Disease" by Dr. Jerry Alan Johnson, video
My prayers are with you...and a warm, gentle, hug ((((((())))))) Hopeful4
Posts: 873 | From WA | Registered: Dec 2005
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hopeful123
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 3244
posted
man, this really stinks. i can only try to imagine your feelings right now.
just wondering why they are waiting until the 10th for an appointment?
prayers to you and yours
-------------------- some days you're the bug, some days you're the windshield Posts: 1160 | From NY | Registered: Oct 2002
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I hate to see you face another battle, but God has given you strength so far, and he will see you through. I have never had breast cancer, although I have had 3 lumpectomies for what the radiologist was sure was cancerous, so I understand the emotions of waiting and just wanting to know.
Hang in there. Prayer for ya! Hiker
-------------------- Hiker53
"God is light. In Him there is no darkness." 1John 1:5 Posts: 10168 | From Illinois | Registered: Aug 2004
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Michelle M
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 7200
posted
Good evening, Victoria.
Well, I am going to think everything is OK until someone tells me different.
Everytime I have a test, I insist on getting a copy of it. I'm a real nerd that way but it's MY test and I paid for it. Give it to me and there won't be any trouble. Usually there's a BIRADS category noted for any suspicious areas; if you'd known about it you could've asked to have it biopsed.
I am also on a constant vigil, a little over a year out from rt. partial mastectomy. However, my breast surgeon is a saint. I have her cell phone number! They know they will hear from me not daily, but hourly, for mammogram results and particularly pathology results!!
Your (hopefully EX- )radiologist sounds lame. If you had DCIS, it is mercifully usually very slow growing. You say the radiologist didn't tell your doctor, but wasn't this information on your mammogram report?
Tiny lumps along your scar line are probably nothing at all. I have had them. DO check them out, but I will pray they are not a problem! Please post us the news!
Sending hugs,
Michelle (your birthday bud)
Posts: 3193 | From Northern California | Registered: Apr 2005
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bettyg
Unregistered
posted
hi V/BB,
Wow, it's still raining on your family's parade there I see. Sorry to read about this but at least YOU caught this little bugger ... benign or the other.
Did you also ask the surgeon's office that any cancellations that YOU BE 1ST THEY CALL to reschedule earlier time? Hope so.....9 days is a long time for the mind to be playing games.
Editing: I read only your 1st response; see dr. is on vacation until the....timing stinks! He's probably going to super bowel whoops bowl! LOL
I wish for this to be a false alarm that you caught. Those darn ducks NOT TELLING you about the 1st one for years is deplorable plus.
I'll put you now again in my thoughts/prayers for POSITIVE news for you. Your family needs it...
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posted
Dear Bitingback, I don't know how old you are, but when I was in my 30s (and had undiagnosed lyme disease) I had many lumps. One of them landed me in the hospital with a biopsy and many mammograms. It turned out to be a simple cyst and I had many more before I finally went through menopause, scared me to death every time even though breast cancer does not run in my family and I had nursed my three children (a good thing to prevent breast cancer).
I have read that lymie women are quite prone to cysts, God knows why, which made sense in my case.
Doctors drive me crazy. I have a friend who had uterine cancer some months ago,was operated on and given a clean bill of health with no follow-up chemo or radiation.
She took some antibiotics recently and had some severe itching and burning (we all know about that). She went to her doctor who scared the hell out of her and told her the cancer was back. Turns out it is not and she has a severe yeast infection. Dumbass doctor did not recognize it and took 20 years off of her life cuz she was so petrified.
What good are the bums anyway?
Hope all is well, but I think it will be. Lymelady
Posts: 484 | From Fredericksburg, Va USA | Registered: Sep 2004
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oxygenbabe
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 5831
posted
Medicine is in a total shambles, that patients have to be so hypervigilant. BB, I hope you will be okay and I think you will.
Posts: 2276 | From united states | Registered: Jun 2004
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lymemomtooo
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 5396
posted
BB, prayers and hugs are being sent to you..Love lymemomtooo
Posts: 2360 | From SE PA | Registered: Mar 2004
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posted
Hi Biting Back, wishing you all the best for the 10th i am in the uk and very new to this Lyme stuff. Have used this board for about a week and one thing i have learnt is you lot are a tough bunch. You have given me support and i am not diagnosed with it yet!!! So please except my support and keep biting back
Karl x
Posts: 10 | From uk | Registered: Jan 2006
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posted
As Michelle said, "tiny lumps along the scar line are probably nothing at all," but it definitely needs to be checked out to be sure. Try to keep a positive outlook. It's possible that it could be granulomas.
Six years ago, I had breast cancer - lumpectomy & radiation. At one of the last radiation treatments, the technician noticed several small lumps (the size of peas) along my scar. She called others in to see my "granulomas". I wish I had asked them to explain it, but I didn't.
When I got home, I looked up granuloma in my small medical dictionary. "Granuloma - a mass of granulation tissue produced in response to chronic infection, inflammation, a foreign body, or to unknown causes. Infections giving rise to granulomas include tuberculosis, syphilis....."
The interesting thing is that both Lyme & syphilis are caused by spirochetes. I've heard that the spirochetes tend to go to the weakest points in your body.
My assumption is that the Lyme spirochetes were gathering in the area of my surgery, causing the granulomas.
Be sure to let us know what your surgeon says. We'll be praying that you receive good news.
Posts: 4638 | From South Carolina | Registered: Mar 2001
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posted
Thanks so much my friends. I had infiltrative ductal carcinoma and my oncologist said it was an aggressive one. My oncologist/staff kept telling me I was very, very lucky that the mass, as large as it was had remained encapsulated and did not spread to my lymph nodes. Apparently, I'm a little bit more aggressive than the cancer, because I'm still around!
My lymph nodes are enlarged along my collar bone, but it could also be from lyme & co. I've had that happen numerous times during the course of this disease.
Michelle, we have a lot more in common that we thought, eh? I had no idea that you also had BC. Keep nagging those docs, we have to keep them on their toes and remind them who's really in charge when it comes to our bodies/health.
I did not see the radiologist's report in my medical records when I requested them (PCP). I hate thinking the worst, but it was probably a purposeful omission.
Yes, had I known the lump was there to begin with, I would have insisted it be biopsied. And no needle biopsies for this gal.
Take care all, and thanks for the good cheer. I'll keep you posted.
-------------------- Posts: 703 | From Almost Heaven | Registered: Aug 2004
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posted
One of our family friends is a breast surgeon. This is the only thing she does, I could have her see you whenever if you can get to Nashville Tennessee. She can do a biopsy right in her office,
she is very caring,gentle, and kind and I am sure she could help you. Let me know if you want to see her.
-------------------- Dani Posts: 102 | From Where there is no lyme | Registered: Jan 2006
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map1131
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 2022
posted
Biting Back, your user name tells me that you are a fighter. You will get to the bottom of this also.
I found your post very informative because a year ago they found a suspicious place in my breast and they are calling it probably not cancer. So I go next month for the 6 months follow up they have me on and I will be more proactive after reading your post. Thank you for sharing.
I'm of the opinion that in my situation it is unknown mass probably from lyme, parasite, toxin etc and if they looked at my entire body they would find them all over me. But there is a chance it's not that and I will peruse this issue.
Thanks Bite Back and I pray for wonderful news quickly for you.
Pam
-------------------- "Never, never, never, never, never give up" Winston Churchill Posts: 6495 | From Louisville, Ky | Registered: Jan 2002
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