1. < Breast Cancer

Visible Breast Lumps

Posted by cmdw2600 @cmdw2600, May 29, 2023

I completed treatment for triple negative breast cancer December 2019-chemo, lumpectomy and radiation. Was 66 at time of diagnosis and am 70 now. I’m scheduled for my annual mammogram at the end of June-have been very anxious because I feel hard lumps (that have been deemed to be scar tissue from ultrasound in the past) and also tenderness in that area.

But two nights ago when I removed my bra, I could SEE two lumps in the area of my original tumor. One is the size of a baby lima bean and the other a bit smaller. Of course I looked online and some explanations are linked to hormonal cycles and periods, which I do not have. Also am not experiencing any illness at this time. I will be calling my oncologist’s office tomorrow, but I guess I am just wondering if anyone has experienced a sudden pop up of a visible lump?

Thank you, Cindy

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Zebra | @californiazebra | May 29, 2023

Hi Cindy @cmdw2600

I didn't have a visible lump, but I can tell you what my recurrent cancer lump felt like. I felt it on my chest wall (had a double mastectomy 7 years earlier). It was 1.2 cm, hard, immobile, not tender at all (that's one difference from yours being tender). The part I could feel seemed round, but I don't think it was perfectly round once removed. I did not have any symptoms of ill health. The original tumor was at 12:00 in my breast and the recurrent tumor was at 1:00 in my chest and pectoral muscle.

I will say during past ultrasounds, I complained of tender areas that felt like lumps and was told they were scars or bone -- different locations though.

Since you are saying the lumps being visible is something new, I'd definitely want to have it checked because scar tissue shouldn't grow. Is the tenderness new also? The area where I had my recurrent tumor removed has been very tender ever since -- 3 years -- nerve issue.

I hope that helps. I hope your lumps are something benign. Be the squeaky wheel to get a prompt appointment for an ultrasound while you wait for the office visit. Keep us posted. Hugs, Zebra

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1 reply
Mentor
Chris, Volunteer Mentor | @auntieoakley | May 29, 2023

Hello @cmdw2600 , I have also had lumps that were explained as scar tissue, but since these are now visible when they weren’t before, and because you had triple negative cancer this is even more important. Please don’t wait to at least get this looked at. If a provider checks it out and says you can wait until the end of June, then that should ease your mind a little.
Can you get in to a provider?

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1 reply
eku | @eku | May 30, 2023

Hello @cmdw2600 ,
I have ER/PR+, HER2 negative BC on my left side. I had felt some lumps on my right side a few months after my diagnosis. One was quite visible. They felt round, mobile, bit tender. My surgeon did an exam and then a needle aspiration. They turned out to be fluid filled, benign cysts. Once drained, I cannot feel them anymore. I kind of feel bad that she did it without doing any imaging. (They did a mammogram afterwards and verified no BC).

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1 reply
cmdw2600 | @cmdw2600 | May 30, 2023
In reply to @californiazebra "Hi Cindy @cmdw2600 I didn't have a visible lump, but I can tell you what my..." + (show)
@californiazebra

Hi Cindy @cmdw2600

I didn't have a visible lump, but I can tell you what my recurrent cancer lump felt like. I felt it on my chest wall (had a double mastectomy 7 years earlier). It was 1.2 cm, hard, immobile, not tender at all (that's one difference from yours being tender). The part I could feel seemed round, but I don't think it was perfectly round once removed. I did not have any symptoms of ill health. The original tumor was at 12:00 in my breast and the recurrent tumor was at 1:00 in my chest and pectoral muscle.

I will say during past ultrasounds, I complained of tender areas that felt like lumps and was told they were scars or bone -- different locations though.

Since you are saying the lumps being visible is something new, I'd definitely want to have it checked because scar tissue shouldn't grow. Is the tenderness new also? The area where I had my recurrent tumor removed has been very tender ever since -- 3 years -- nerve issue.

I hope that helps. I hope your lumps are something benign. Be the squeaky wheel to get a prompt appointment for an ultrasound while you wait for the office visit. Keep us posted. Hugs, Zebra

Jump to this post

Thank you, Zebra. I will be contacting my oncologist’s office this morning.

Best wishes to you! Cindy

REPLY
cmdw2600 | @cmdw2600 | May 30, 2023
In reply to @auntieoakley "Hello @cmdw2600 , I have also had lumps that were explained as scar tissue, but since..." + (show)
@auntieoakley

Hello @cmdw2600 , I have also had lumps that were explained as scar tissue, but since these are now visible when they weren’t before, and because you had triple negative cancer this is even more important. Please don’t wait to at least get this looked at. If a provider checks it out and says you can wait until the end of June, then that should ease your mind a little.
Can you get in to a provider?

Jump to this post

Thank you, Chris. I will be calling my oncologist’s office this morning. Perhaps I can get mammogram moved up if need be.

Will report back. Cindy

REPLY
cmdw2600 | @cmdw2600 | May 30, 2023
In reply to @eku "Hello @cmdw2600 , I have ER/PR+, HER2 negative BC on my left side. I had felt..." + (show)
@eku

Hello @cmdw2600 ,
I have ER/PR+, HER2 negative BC on my left side. I had felt some lumps on my right side a few months after my diagnosis. One was quite visible. They felt round, mobile, bit tender. My surgeon did an exam and then a needle aspiration. They turned out to be fluid filled, benign cysts. Once drained, I cannot feel them anymore. I kind of feel bad that she did it without doing any imaging. (They did a mammogram afterwards and verified no BC).

Jump to this post

Thank you for your response. This is what I am hoping for!

Cindy

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1 reply
Moderator
Colleen Young, Connect Director | @colleenyoung | Jun 8, 2023
In reply to @cmdw2600 "Thank you for your response. This is what I am hoping for! Cindy" + (show)
@cmdw2600

Thank you for your response. This is what I am hoping for!

Cindy

Jump to this post

Any update, Cindy?

REPLY
cmdw2600 | @cmdw2600 | Jun 8, 2023

My oncologist’s office was able to move my mammogram up to 6/14 and change it to diagnostic. An ultrasound was added to the order.

Thank you! Cindy

REPLY
1 reply
Mentor
Chris, Volunteer Mentor | @auntieoakley | Jun 9, 2023
In reply to @cmdw2600 "My oncologist’s office was able to move my mammogram up to 6/14 and change it to..." + (show)
@cmdw2600

My oncologist’s office was able to move my mammogram up to 6/14 and change it to diagnostic. An ultrasound was added to the order.

Thank you! Cindy

Jump to this post

Waiting with my fingers and toes crossed.

REPLY
cmdw2600 | @cmdw2600 | Jun 16, 2023

Good morning. I am just reporting back in hopes that my experience will be helpful to others. I was VERY worried about a possible triple negative breast cancer recurrence in the affected breast because I could feel a lump that had changed and thickening in a new area. In addition, the breast is mildly painful and sensitive.

Wednesday I had a three D diagnostic mammogram and an ultrasound. Everything was deemed to be consistent with effects of surgery and radiation and no further testing is necessary.

I relay this because I am three and a half years out from completion of treatment and things are still changing! So, if you detect changes, get checked out but try not to panic.

Best wishes to all, Cindy

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