The LUMPS

24242
24242 Member Posts: 1,398
edited March 2014 in Breast Cancer #1
Well I have had a week to consider what I would write on the board. Well I am not happy to still have lumps in me and only one has been biopsied because they could see it on MRI. Thank goodness, benign and that is great news.
Still I have a lump that is growing and still I am the only one concerned about it because it is restricting the ability of my arm and my ability to do the hard labour I so enjoy doing, Mudding/Taping drywall. I can hardly lift a trowel of mud to the wall without pain and exhaustion of the arm.
I never thought I would be one to sit a wait and see but that is what we are doing. Going to wait for 3 months then we are going to MRI arm again but this time include shoulder since orthapedic surgeon feels it is my shoulder not lumps causing be the problems. I fought long and hard last time to get the care I needed because though very ill people couldn't see me as being sick. I have seen another doctor and she knows me from years ago and she thinks they need to keep closer eye on it and they will. Nice to know that she has had a look at it because her experience is wanted. How is it I didn't have these problems till these lumps grew but no one thinks it is a problem even though I can hardly work. I am not a wimp, never have been so it is hard to sit and wait and see...
Thanks for reading,
Tara

Comments

  • Aortus
    Aortus Member Posts: 967
    Thanks for sharing.
    Funny... I haven't known you for very long, Tara, but I am certain you don't have a wimpy molecule in your entire body. It sounds to me like you are striking a good, sustainable balance between running in to the doctor and getting on with your life. The doctor who knows you from way back is a bonus... good luck with the mud!

    Joe
  • sea60
    sea60 Member Posts: 2,613
    Go with what you feel
    If you feel something is not right, then get it checked and re-checked!

    When I had my mammogram a year before I was diagnosed, I always had a sonogram because I had cysts (and I was a DES baby), but that year, the doctor said because the insurance was giving them a hard time, he was going to forgo the sono. I was reluctant but felt he knew what he was talking about. Fast forward a year. Diagnosed with a 5cm size tumor. Stage
    2-3. How the heck did that happen in ONE year? I just kept thinking, if I would have had a sono, maybe, just maybe that would have picked up the beginings of something suspicious.

    So it turns out the insurance company saved 250 bucks on the sono. Because of that, they had to turn around and spend a quarter of a million dollars on me...go figure.

    I'm passed that and with God's help have let go of that unsettled feeling of what if's...it passed now and I had to move on.

    But I am saying to you, if you feel something is not right or don't want to wait long to be tested, then you need to be your own advocate.

    I pray all works out well and you feel better soon.

    Blessings,
    Sylvia
  • Pinkpower
    Pinkpower Member Posts: 437
    By the things you like to
    By the things you like to do, obviously you are not a wimp. I agree with Sylvia, you know your body better then anybody, doctor or not. If you feel it needs to be checked in a shorter time, go ahead and get a 2nd opinion, 3rd if you have to. Good luck!
    Lupe
  • carkris
    carkris Member Posts: 4,553 Member
    Pinkpower said:

    By the things you like to
    By the things you like to do, obviously you are not a wimp. I agree with Sylvia, you know your body better then anybody, doctor or not. If you feel it needs to be checked in a shorter time, go ahead and get a 2nd opinion, 3rd if you have to. Good luck!
    Lupe

    tell tem you want further
    tell them you want further testing, sometimes you need to listen to your gut even for piece of mind.
  • mariam_11_09
    mariam_11_09 Member Posts: 691
    I spent two years running to

    I spent two years running to the doctor saying 'something is just nor right' before I got my BC diagnosis. At times I felt like a hypochondriac but deep down I new something was not right with my body.

    One drawback of Western Medicine is that a situation has to become really serious before the tests are going to pick up on it. Most of the time we don't want it to get that serious. I certainly didn't want to be stage 3a BC before they figured out what was wrong with me. Nor do you want your situation to get any worse. I think it is bad enough AND it is a porblem that you are not able to work!

    This is your health and your life and you need to do what is best for you even if it is making a lot noise to get the care you need.

    take care
  • VickiSam
    VickiSam Member Posts: 9,079 Member

    I spent two years running to

    I spent two years running to the doctor saying 'something is just nor right' before I got my BC diagnosis. At times I felt like a hypochondriac but deep down I new something was not right with my body.

    One drawback of Western Medicine is that a situation has to become really serious before the tests are going to pick up on it. Most of the time we don't want it to get that serious. I certainly didn't want to be stage 3a BC before they figured out what was wrong with me. Nor do you want your situation to get any worse. I think it is bad enough AND it is a porblem that you are not able to work!

    This is your health and your life and you need to do what is best for you even if it is making a lot noise to get the care you need.

    take care

    A second opinion .. is Necessary .. We all know
    our bodies, and it's abilities ... Please do go and get a 2nd opinion.


    Vicki
  • 24242
    24242 Member Posts: 1,398
    VickiSam said:

    A second opinion .. is Necessary .. We all know
    our bodies, and it's abilities ... Please do go and get a 2nd opinion.


    Vicki

    Thanks to YOU all
    I am just going to take the break for a couple of months from being tested and seeing doctors who really don't think anything is the matter. I fought long and hard 14 years ago for the Stage 3 IDC with 11 out 21 positive nodes and just feel no one should have to do this to get the care needed.
    After a couple months and if things don't get better then the fights on again. I can't believe in this day and age there are so many of us who aren't sick enough to meet the doctors criteria for care.
    All I know is if they wait till we are sick then we are in trouble...
    Thanks for your support and thoughts
    Tara