Found a lump

velo8162
velo8162 Member Posts: 15
edited March 2014 in Colorectal Cancer #1
I found a lump in my lower abdomen area, left side about 2 inches from my navel. Noticed it while in the shower. I am stage III, had resection in Aug 07, six month chemo (Folfox). Had a CT scan in September and all was clear. I called in to my oncologist at MD Anderson and waiting for the nurse to call me back. The surgeon did have to scrape the abdominal wall as the tumor grew into it. My question is can a tumor grow that fast and wouldn't something show up on the CT scan? Am I getting worked up about nothing?

John

Comments

  • Annabelle41415
    Annabelle41415 Member Posts: 6,742 Member
    #2
    Hernia
    I'm wondering if it could be a hernia. They often say it feels like a lump. I hope it is nothing of concern.

    Kim
  • KathiM
    KathiM Member Posts: 8,028 Member
    #3
    Annabelle41415 said:

    Hernia
    I'm wondering if it could be a hernia. They often say it feels like a lump. I hope it is nothing of concern.

    Kim

    ....or maybe a partial obstruction?
    The bowel is rather fluid, especially the small bowel...it can kink and un-kink at will....

    Please keep us posted.

    Hugs, Kathi
  • dianetavegia
    dianetavegia Member Posts: 1,942 Member
    #4
    Hernia?
    John, It's easy for US to say 'don't worry', but I did want to mention something. You had an original tumor the size of an orange. Could you feel IT?

    Sounds like this is either a hernia or maybe an obstruction. Do let us know! I'll say a quick prayer for you.

    Diane
  • jscho
    jscho Member Posts: 62
    #5
    lipoma?
    John, I have lots of lumps here and there that are lipomas, which are benign. Are you pre-disposed to these? They are typically movable, and feel more a part of the subcutaneous layer of skin. They also tend to grow in areas that are fatty (like the stomach). They can develop pretty quickly but typically stop after reaching a certain size.

    Best wishes,
    Jeremy
  • NWGirl
    NWGirl Member Posts: 122 Member
    #6
    May be a hernia
    I had a hernia just to the left of my navel - right at the top of my original incision (I was also 3c). My first surgery was November 2007; the hernia showed up in early 2009 from what I remember. When my oncologist read my CT scan results he didn't mention the hernia - I had to ask him if a hernia showed up on the scan "oh yeah, you have a hernia" he commented. It was kind of like a little ping pong ball that would pop out and I could poke it back in with my fingers. I had it repaired in February 2009 - no problems since.

    But - now I have a new one where my ileostomy used to be. It started out as just a small lump. I went to see my surgeon and she couldn't tell if it was scar tissue or a small hernia. I had a CT scheduled anyway (routine scan) so we figured we'd see what showed up. Sure enough - another hernia, and again, I had to ask my oncologist about it - he was just focused on whether the scan showed any cancer activity.

    I'm not saying that yours is for sure a hernia, but don't panic just yet. My surgeon said once they cut into your abdomen like that, it just creates weak spots where hernia's tend to pop up. When you talk to the nurse you might ask him/her to check the last CT scan to see if it revealed any hernia's. It may have shown something that they just failed to discuss with you; meaning a hernia that is.
  • Buzzard
    Buzzard Member Posts: 3,043 Member
    #7
    NWGirl said:

    May be a hernia
    I had a hernia just to the left of my navel - right at the top of my original incision (I was also 3c). My first surgery was November 2007; the hernia showed up in early 2009 from what I remember. When my oncologist read my CT scan results he didn't mention the hernia - I had to ask him if a hernia showed up on the scan "oh yeah, you have a hernia" he commented. It was kind of like a little ping pong ball that would pop out and I could poke it back in with my fingers. I had it repaired in February 2009 - no problems since.

    But - now I have a new one where my ileostomy used to be. It started out as just a small lump. I went to see my surgeon and she couldn't tell if it was scar tissue or a small hernia. I had a CT scheduled anyway (routine scan) so we figured we'd see what showed up. Sure enough - another hernia, and again, I had to ask my oncologist about it - he was just focused on whether the scan showed any cancer activity.

    I'm not saying that yours is for sure a hernia, but don't panic just yet. My surgeon said once they cut into your abdomen like that, it just creates weak spots where hernia's tend to pop up. When you talk to the nurse you might ask him/her to check the last CT scan to see if it revealed any hernia's. It may have shown something that they just failed to discuss with you; meaning a hernia that is.

    I would think.........
    that if it is a hernia that you can lay on your back and see it maybe subside. or strain a little and see it raise. This may be a certain tell-tale sign of a hernia...My guess inguinal hernia.....they go in abdominally cover the muscle tear with mesh and sew shut placing the intestine back on the inside of the stomach muscle instead of it being on the outside poking through. Back to normal in 6 weeks with 3-4 weeks of no lifting anything heavier than a glass of tea or a television remote.....You'll be fine buddy......Buzzard
  • P_I_T_A
    P_I_T_A Member Posts: 133
    #8
    Not a Dr.
    But I would have to go with the majority of the group. Sounds like a hernia to me.

    -DJ
  • tiny one
    tiny one Member Posts: 465 Member
    #9
    lump
    I would suspect a hernia first. This can happen after having an abdominal incision.
  • polarprincess
    polarprincess Member Posts: 202 Member
    #10
    tiny one said:

    lump
    I would suspect a hernia first. This can happen after having an abdominal incision.

    hi
    hi, i remember standing in the shower one day and feeling a lump in the same areas as you describe and i started crying uncontrollably and called my husband to feel it and so i started googling and immediately realized it sounded like a hernia and the scans showed it indeed was one. Mine does disappear when i lie down, but can definitely feel it when i am standing up. I hope this is all yours is. Sounds like it is very common with our kind of surgery.
  • Julie 44
    Julie 44 Member Posts: 476 Member
    #11
    polarprincess said:

    hi
    hi, i remember standing in the shower one day and feeling a lump in the same areas as you describe and i started crying uncontrollably and called my husband to feel it and so i started googling and immediately realized it sounded like a hernia and the scans showed it indeed was one. Mine does disappear when i lie down, but can definitely feel it when i am standing up. I hope this is all yours is. Sounds like it is very common with our kind of surgery.

    Same here
    Try not to make yourself crazy..Believe me I know that is not easy to do!!!! I just had a HUGE hernia removed 8/17/09..I felt a bump just were yours is...The doc at first thought it was 2 hernias but then we he got in it was a huge one. He said from all the bathroom straining from my resection causes weak lining around your stomach at that hernias are very common for us...Like Buzzard said you will be in the hospital for a couple of days and then just don't pick up anything heavy for a couple of months and you should be good. Hopefully yours can be done laproscopicly (most are) but I had a open surgery cause they took my gallbladder out at the same time..So recovery time won't be that long...Good luck and try not to worry to much...JULIE

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