Location of tumor: Anyone had breast tumor in lower inner quadrant?

Oh that is an awkward place. Treatment wasn’t bad. Sunburn type shedding was the only issue I noticed. All the best wishes for restored health to you.

Once chemo started the pain went away, and they got me into chemo pretty quick.

No, the cancer I had mostly only responds to chemo and radiation so I didn't have to take anything after those except a year of Xeloda to catch anything in the bloodstream.

I was diagnosed with BC right side in the lower Quadrant at 6 O’clock position but based on my “bird beak” deformity I’d say it was 6-7 O’clock. I’m now at 5 years and will end my Letrozole in 13 days.

I had a lumpectomy but I believe the term is Quadrantectomy, because there was a lot of breast parenchyma removed (6.6 cm by 5.5 cm by 1.5cm). I had a 9mm IDC tumor grade 2, with clean margins. At 60 years of age (now 65), I was okay with it. I had 30 radiation treatments (5days a week standard routine). I was ER /PR positive and HER2 , hence the 5 years of letrozole.

Radiation fibrosis and the shrinkage makes it about 1/2 the size of my other breast but it’s okay. I weighed 101 lBs on the day of surgery and I weigh 97 lBs now. I had small boobs to start with but it’s not really that noticeable with clothes on and because it is in the inframammary fold I can wear a bathing suit.

Had great doctors through out and I read everything I could about BC. I do know the lower inner pole has a higher reoccurrence rate but I’m hopeful.

I do have osteopenia and letrozole exacerbates this.
Took alendronate for bone density.

Good luck to all of you on your journey!!
Lgay

I had my 1.5 cm breast tumor at 6 O'clock. It was glued to my chest wall. Because my PCP would only give me screening mammograms on my very dense breasts, who looked like white snowballs on the pictures, my right breast was full of small sites of cancer, and I had to have a simple masectomy, by the time I could feel a tumor. I am ER, PR, positive that makes me more prone to cancer coming back to my bones, namely rib bones, I was calmly told by my oncologist. She told me there isn't any test to catch it in time. I am Stage 1, Grade 2. I was put on Tamoxifen because of osteoporosis. I can only take 10 mg. And supplement with . indole-3-carbinol. My cancer center is the best in my state. It is ranked 40th in cancer treatment. I can't go to another state because of my Medicaid. I am proactive and do everything I can. I am given an exam of my masectomy site, twice a year, and a diagnostic mammogram once a year. It has been 3 years since my surgery. I fill out a questionnaire asking me if I am losing weight, have pain in my liver, lungs, ribs, spine. How is this acceptable monitoring in 2023?

Did you have radiation? If not then I’d say it is NOT acceptable that you have rib, and upper abdominal pain (liver) and are loosing weight. I’d insist on a PET scan.

I too had heterogeneously dense breasts and mine was at the 6 to 5 o’clock position and was near the chest wall, therefore harder to image like yours. BUT I had radiation with my quadrantectomy. Radiation fibrosis can cause long term pain at the ribs where most of the tissue was removed.

Also, an FYI, a bone density scan can detect bone cancer if it is present. What about your CA-15-3 blood test? Do they do that for you?

coley, I also had the same as you, I had the radiation but I am not taking the pill
tamoxifen, it will make your joints hurt, etc. just remember your quality of life.

My lump was at 7:00, so inner, lower quadrant. I never knew if that was significant since most cancers occur in the upper, outer quadrant of the breast from what I've read. It was a small mass, about 8 mm with clean margins and a negative sentinel lymph node. I had an OncotypeDX low risk of recurrence so didn't have radiation or chemo. I tried an anti-hormone drug but had an immediate strong negative reaction to it so forewent anti-home therapy. I meet with an oncologist and a "post-surgery" surgeon every 6 months and have a mammogram and ultrasound just prior to those appointments. I also have blood work done including tumor markers. Tumor markers are imperfect data points but can be early warning signs if they are consistently rising and no other explanation is found for that rise. I think that the schedule I'm on is only for the first two years after surgery and subsequent protocol might be less frequent but I don't know that for sure yet.

Please keep us up to date on the protocol you are receiving, after 2 years. I am being seen once a year, two years after masectomy surgery. I have a slightly worse set of cancer characteristics than you have. But I only get a diagnostic mammogram once a year. NO ultrasound, NO blood work ever! I have asked if there could be more tests to catch recurring breast cancer in early stages where I had a good chance of surviving. They said, No, and suggested I stop being so anxious about my health. So what you are having done for your post- OP exams is very interesting, and I will ask about this in July, when I go for my 3 year exam.

So mine was pretty much IN the cleavage- I mean, looking at the MRI it's practically right on top of the sternum (coming from the right breast) and was anchored there like a barnacle. MRI showed pectoral muscle and skin invasion (as I had a huge indent at the edge of my sternum as a symptom, then mammnogram and ultrasound missed it...).

22mm tumor and tumor in the pectoral muscle tissue (no clean margins and he couldn't cut out anymore, as it is, cut out 60mm x 60mm x 30mm). Incision goes completely across my sternum through both breasts so he could close the wound. Very strange.

Just met with the radiation oncologist so going to do regular (lower dose) radiation with boost at the tumor site, probably about 6 weeks altogether. Meeting with the chemo/hormone oncologist next week will likely say no to both. Took Femara for 2 weeks prior to surgery. No, will not do that, no way, have heard the others are about the same. Only reduces absolute risk by about 5 percent, side effects just not worth it for me. Same with chemo, this tumor very slow growing. I live in Taiwan, they don't do tumor genetic testing.

But, the one or two medical papers I could find about invasion into the pectoral muscle and tumor cells in the muscle said the women had recurrence so not optimistic. Still wouldn't make me do chemo or hormone. Not sure why they will do whole breast radiation but, whatever. If things get too bad, I will stop that as well. More interested in quality of life than extending by a few years in pain.

Hi! Please hang in there as wheel that squeaks! I understand you are limited under Medicaid but I too at 58yrs old have dense breasts which are not getting less dense and we need MRI's - period! I had ILC (1.8cm) and even more tricky with just a mammo so how'bout you ask about a contrast enhanced mammo (CEM) as it might be cheaper and quicker than an MRI. I have my check up post Jan radiation this October (my regular mammo month) and will have a diagnostic mammo but will inquire about MRI as I think we should have MRI alternating with mammo for at lease 3 yrs post surgery. As I've said, early detection is all we have and why not offer liquid biopsies as research looks very promising as another tool for early detection. Please stay in touch. xoxoxo