We are looking for experience w/painful cancerous breast lumps. Please read on..
Things may be looking (a little) up, though, as the CT scan proved that the liver spots that were there 2 weeks ago have disappeared. Pauline is off for 2nd and 3rd opinions next week. Her confidence is doctors is a bit low, although her spirits are (as always) blessedly upbeat. Below is technical and personal information written by Pauline:
"I have 2 types of breast cancers in my L breast (ductal and lobular) and the largest one is 7cm. Nonetheless, I'm curiously calm despite the news and am enjoying the fact that I finally feel like myself again. Lost all the chemo weight ( over 28lbs), am no longer on antidepressants, feel fine and very much alive. We'll see what the doctors say ( I'm getting two second opinions since my oncologist would have not discovered the breast cancer nor the spots on the liver had I not requested a cat-scan). She still missed the liver spots and it took a consultation with the chief of surgery before that was discovered. All in all, it's been over a month just to get here-- which is in limbo. Well, enough complaining. To everyone out there-- don't give up and be your own advocate Insist on procedures you feel is necessary and remember; your doctors are doing the best they know but that usually means following a given protocol. Everyone is different and no two tumors are exactly alike. So take matters into your own hands speak up if you feel they aren't takingevery variable into consideration. My UPSC would not have been discovered had I gone along with my doctors and agreed it was menopause. Instead, I insisted they perform a DnC to biopsy my uterine wall.
Good luck and God bless to all of you out there. Be strong and may you live long.
Love,
Pauline"
Jane here again. Any input about lump pain would be greatly appreciated. Also, if you personally underwent a double mastectomy instead of the required single mastectomy, please share your thoughts on that. God Bless Pauline and all of you good ladies. Love, Jane
Comments
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lump pain
Hi
My initial diagnosis was Invasive Ductal Carcinoma AND Invasivie Lobular Carcinoma on the RT breast. The one was 10cm after surgery. In the same breast were 3 other spots. The one larger was painful for me. My mammogram missed it. An ultra sound didn't pick up on it. My OB said to "watch it". After 4 weeks of that I insisted on a surgical oncologist. 2 biopsies later - cancer. My final diagnosis after the mastectomy is HER2 NEU+.
I too was told only needed a singular mastectomy and I opted for double instead. I just didn't want to think of the second breast at all after what I knew would lay ahead.
I also am going through chemo and will have radiation as well. My first chemo was A/C. I had 4 treatments of that. Wiped out my hair, caused some mouth sores and I would be tired 2-4 days after treatment. It was the toughest chemo combo for me. I am currently at the tail end of my second combo T(Taxol)/H(Herceptin). This has been mild in comparision. I will still remain on Herceptin until June 2012. I start radiation sometime in October and will have 28 treatments of that.
If I can be of any more help, let me know.0 -
Pauline, you are absolutely
Pauline, you are absolutely right that you must advocate for yourself. It seems that doctors think in terms of large populations, not individuals. I had a painful left breast (not a palpable lump). The mammograms didn't show masses, although I did have suspicious looking microcalcifications. I had a stereotactic biopsy that was negative. I was referred to a surgeon, who told me that breast cancer did not cause pain and that my films were fine. A year later, I had an extremely suspicious mammogram, an ultrasound, and a core biopsy. Yep, it was cancer...Stage 3. Although there was no cancer in my right breast, I elected to have a bilateral mastectomy and I have never regretted it.
Jane, thank you for being such a good friend. Let me know if you have any questions. xoxoxo Lynn0 -
Double mastectomyldpettit said:lump pain
Hi
My initial diagnosis was Invasive Ductal Carcinoma AND Invasivie Lobular Carcinoma on the RT breast. The one was 10cm after surgery. In the same breast were 3 other spots. The one larger was painful for me. My mammogram missed it. An ultra sound didn't pick up on it. My OB said to "watch it". After 4 weeks of that I insisted on a surgical oncologist. 2 biopsies later - cancer. My final diagnosis after the mastectomy is HER2 NEU+.
I too was told only needed a singular mastectomy and I opted for double instead. I just didn't want to think of the second breast at all after what I knew would lay ahead.
I also am going through chemo and will have radiation as well. My first chemo was A/C. I had 4 treatments of that. Wiped out my hair, caused some mouth sores and I would be tired 2-4 days after treatment. It was the toughest chemo combo for me. I am currently at the tail end of my second combo T(Taxol)/H(Herceptin). This has been mild in comparision. I will still remain on Herceptin until June 2012. I start radiation sometime in October and will have 28 treatments of that.
If I can be of any more help, let me know.
Hi there,
Thanks for the input. You're the first person I've come across whose tumor caused pain. As awful as this sounds, it's reassuring to find I'm not alone. ALL of the doctors I've spoken to said they've never come across a painful lump--- maybe size and location has something to do with it? Anyhoo, at this point I've lost all confidence in my doctors and will not let them do anything until after my 2nd and 3rd opinions. Btw, my surgeon will not agree to a double mastectomy even though I have both invasive lobular and ductal carcinoma (& 3 tumors) in my L breast and I had uterine papillary serous carcinoma last year. He thinks it's premature to do the R breast. Does this make any sense to you?0 -
Painful tumorslynn1950 said:Pauline, you are absolutely
Pauline, you are absolutely right that you must advocate for yourself. It seems that doctors think in terms of large populations, not individuals. I had a painful left breast (not a palpable lump). The mammograms didn't show masses, although I did have suspicious looking microcalcifications. I had a stereotactic biopsy that was negative. I was referred to a surgeon, who told me that breast cancer did not cause pain and that my films were fine. A year later, I had an extremely suspicious mammogram, an ultrasound, and a core biopsy. Yep, it was cancer...Stage 3. Although there was no cancer in my right breast, I elected to have a bilateral mastectomy and I have never regretted it.
Jane, thank you for being such a good friend. Let me know if you have any questions. xoxoxo Lynn
Wow! So you too! How large was your tumor and how did you get your surgeon to agree to a bilateral mastectomy? I've had uterine cancer, this breast cancer is my second cancer. My older sister also had both uterine and breast cancer. My paternal grandmother had breast cancer, paternal grandfather stomach cancer, and fraternal uncle colon cancer. And that's only the ones I know about ( my father had 10 sisters and a brother but we only knew about his brother). Given this history, I think my surgeon is completely insane to recommend a single mastectomy. Am I over-reacting?0 -
Sounds logical to mejaneforpauline said:Painful tumors
Wow! So you too! How large was your tumor and how did you get your surgeon to agree to a bilateral mastectomy? I've had uterine cancer, this breast cancer is my second cancer. My older sister also had both uterine and breast cancer. My paternal grandmother had breast cancer, paternal grandfather stomach cancer, and fraternal uncle colon cancer. And that's only the ones I know about ( my father had 10 sisters and a brother but we only knew about his brother). Given this history, I think my surgeon is completely insane to recommend a single mastectomy. Am I over-reacting?
My lump was painful and the pain was also under my arm, not palpable 5 months earlier at exam, M.O. said it was very aggressive. I only did the single mast. due to healing issues my surgeon was worried about being caused by meds for R.A.... knowing now what I do I'm not sure I shouldn't have pushed for both.
Good luck, will be thinking of you and sending you positive thoughts and prayers,
Jennifer0 -
I don't have experience with
I don't have experience with a painful lump. But I do think a second opinion is wise, and to me it sounds like you need a new oncologist all together. One who listens and who doesn't miss spots.
I'm not sure if it's the oncologist or the surgeon who is pushing for a single mastectomy. I did have both done. I was told all along that only the left was medically necessary by both my surgeon and onc, but they did say it was my choice. When I finally decided to do both my surgeon said "that's what I would do".
My reasons for taking both were many. Part of it was to minimize the chance of recurrence, even though I was told the risk of recurrence on the prophylactic side was minimal. But for me it was also cosmetic. In my case, I can consider reconstruction after next March (I have to wait for a year, and have recently decided I don't want it). I just didn't want to deal with one side sagging and nothing on the other side. Whatever I do, I want it even.
I hope this helps. Best wishes on your journey.
Hugs,
Linda0 -
I had a painful lumpGabe N Abby Mom said:I don't have experience with
I don't have experience with a painful lump. But I do think a second opinion is wise, and to me it sounds like you need a new oncologist all together. One who listens and who doesn't miss spots.
I'm not sure if it's the oncologist or the surgeon who is pushing for a single mastectomy. I did have both done. I was told all along that only the left was medically necessary by both my surgeon and onc, but they did say it was my choice. When I finally decided to do both my surgeon said "that's what I would do".
My reasons for taking both were many. Part of it was to minimize the chance of recurrence, even though I was told the risk of recurrence on the prophylactic side was minimal. But for me it was also cosmetic. In my case, I can consider reconstruction after next March (I have to wait for a year, and have recently decided I don't want it). I just didn't want to deal with one side sagging and nothing on the other side. Whatever I do, I want it even.
I hope this helps. Best wishes on your journey.
Hugs,
Linda
It felt as if I had pulled a muscle. The pain ran up into my armpit, and down under the breast. Turns out to be triple negative cancer, aggressive yes.0 -
Breast AND uterine cancerms.sunshine said:I had a painful lump
It felt as if I had pulled a muscle. The pain ran up into my armpit, and down under the breast. Turns out to be triple negative cancer, aggressive yes.
Hi Pauline-
I'm really interested in what your docs have to say about having both cancers. I had both at the same time (my uterine was not UPSC, it was endometroid). I was told it was not unusual to have both over the course of a woman's lifetime, and I see this on both his board (not related to Tamoxifen) as well as the uterine cancer board.
Sorry you've had to deal with both and hope your recovery and treatments go well.
Can't help with your question about pain, my breast cancer was found on a routine mammogram.
Best wishes,
Suzanne0 -
My tumor was very painful
My tumor was very painful and became more so over time, like all the benign fibrocyctic masses I had over the years. Everything I read assured me it was NOT cancer; malignant rumors never cause pain...So I didn't rush to the dr but when I did, months later I was dx with stage 4 IDC, tumor 11cm.0 -
"old wive's tale"twins_mom_survivor said:My tumor was very painful
My tumor was very painful and became more so over time, like all the benign fibrocyctic masses I had over the years. Everything I read assured me it was NOT cancer; malignant rumors never cause pain...So I didn't rush to the dr but when I did, months later I was dx with stage 4 IDC, tumor 11cm.
Though not everyone experiences painful tumors, I think enough of us do that thinking they don't hurt is an "old wive's tale". According to the experts, my cancer had likely only been growing for 4-5 months during which time (until the last couple of weeks) I had no indication anything was wrong. Then, OH BOY were they painful! When the diagnostics were completed, we knew too that my liver had about 20 tumors in varying sizes, they DID NOT hurt. Now, 19 months later and having recently grown significantly, I do have strange but tolerable pains in the liver. Also discovered with the early diagnostics were numerous spots of bone mets - they didn't hurt either. But the bottom line is, if you're experiencing any unusual pain, don't rely on that "old wive"s tale", have it checked out. Sending both of you best wishes.
Marsha0 -
Sorry I missed your reply.janeforpauline said:Painful tumors
Wow! So you too! How large was your tumor and how did you get your surgeon to agree to a bilateral mastectomy? I've had uterine cancer, this breast cancer is my second cancer. My older sister also had both uterine and breast cancer. My paternal grandmother had breast cancer, paternal grandfather stomach cancer, and fraternal uncle colon cancer. And that's only the ones I know about ( my father had 10 sisters and a brother but we only knew about his brother). Given this history, I think my surgeon is completely insane to recommend a single mastectomy. Am I over-reacting?
Sorry I missed your reply. My tumor was almost 3 cm, plus I had positive lymph nodes. My surgeon only wanted to do a lumpectomy, but I was very assertive about wanting a bilateral mastectomy and she capitulated. I had no problem with my insurance. Afterword, my surgeon told me that she felt I had made the right decision about the mastectomy. Go with your gut feeling. xoxoxo Lynn0 -
first of all your doc doesMarsha Mulvey said:"old wive's tale"
Though not everyone experiences painful tumors, I think enough of us do that thinking they don't hurt is an "old wive's tale". According to the experts, my cancer had likely only been growing for 4-5 months during which time (until the last couple of weeks) I had no indication anything was wrong. Then, OH BOY were they painful! When the diagnostics were completed, we knew too that my liver had about 20 tumors in varying sizes, they DID NOT hurt. Now, 19 months later and having recently grown significantly, I do have strange but tolerable pains in the liver. Also discovered with the early diagnostics were numerous spots of bone mets - they didn't hurt either. But the bottom line is, if you're experiencing any unusual pain, don't rely on that "old wive"s tale", have it checked out. Sending both of you best wishes.
Marsha
first of all your doc does not have to give you permission to have both breasts removed. if your insurance will cover it, thenit is your choice. I always thought lobular had a higher percentage of coming in the other breast. perhaps your onc can give your what your statistics are for this, based on your history, your type of tumor etc..
I had lobular the second time, it did not show up on mammo and was inconclusive on MRI. it wasnt diagnosed until I had a biopsy. i also didnt know that lobulars are often missed on mammo and more often picked up on MRI. so you should a least get an MRI every year.0 -
Hi Jane
Add me to the list of having a painful lump. I have fibrocystic breasts, so pain was normal for me, but the tumor pain was different. It was constant & seemed to be more sensitive to touch. (and also kept getting larger) I had IDC, Her2+ w/a lumpectomy. I totally agree that you have to be your own advocate because had I not been persistent, I would have been sent on my way with a "negative" result on a Mammogram.
You are a great friend & my thoughts & prayers are with you & Pauline.
♥ Cat0
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