node and cyst on "good breast"

Mariangel43
Mariangel43 Member Posts: 79
in Breast Cancer #1

Hi, I recently had my mammography and u/s for the Oncologist Surgeon (OS) to evaluate. No masses were felt on the left breast and on the Mx site.  On the mammography nothing is seen but on the U/S there appears one more or less rounded "cyst" and an enlarged intramammary lymph node.  I was expecting something like this because when Plastic Surgeon (PS) put on the implant on my Mx side, he took a piece of skin to lift the left breast. The pathology report said there was variation of color in the tissue adjacent to the removed skin.  That was at the beginning of December.  

I am not scared but I am concerned.  My cancer started on 2005 with three cysts that didn't go away which started to bleed on 2007 and were negative all the time except the last year (2015).  I had a big balloon (capsule) that covered approximately about ten cysts, one of them cancer positive.  The new cyst is located under the areola.  At least there are no extension or growth downward.  That means I have to be on guard.

No positive mass on right side of Mx so no recurrence.  Praise the Lord! At least I do not have to worry about side. 

Comments

  • Kats2
    Kats2 Member Posts: 126
    edited March 2017 #2
    Another opinion....

    Hi Mariangel43,

    Since you have concerns about your other breast , I'd definitely get another opinion from an Oncologist outside of the place you're going to now. Your latest scans, mammos and ultrasounds can be reviewed by a fresh pair of eyes. This should give you some reassurance that things are okay.

    I went for a 2nd opinion 2 years ago, and am having a 3rd opinion concerning a different question that's on my mind about a new treatment plan that's recommended for me. My Oncologist is all for this and my insurance is covering my office visit with the new Oncologist. More than one opinion is better than just one.

    Good luck. But if doubt lingers in you it means that your intuition is telling you to pursue the issue and get peace of mind. Never doubt your feelings.         Kats2

     

  • Apaugh
    Apaugh Member Posts: 850 Member
    edited March 2017 #3
    I agree with Kats2

    Second opinions and even thirds is not taking away from your 1st.  And most doctors welcome that for your peace of mind.  It will give you peace of mind and options. 

    Hugs,

    Annie

  • Mariangel43
    Mariangel43 Member Posts: 79
    #4
    node and cyst on left breast

    My appointment is for March 22.  Unfortunately, my health insurance plan has not authorized the lung CT and I will not be able to get the results by the time of the appt.  My breast surgeon BS, who ordered both CT and mammo/US, is quite good and really does a good job.  I trust him with all my heart. Who I don't trust is the radiologist I went to.  The report is so short and does not detail anything done unlike the place I used to go.  Maybe the BS takes the video they gave me and examines it with the radiologist at the cancer center and makes a new evaluation.  Strangely, the cyst is not seen on the mammography, just only on the U/S.  It has benign (oval shaped, runs horizontally, almost defined margins) and not benign features (has spikes, hypoacuity).  Anyway, BS will decide if a biopsy goes or not.  Since it is located under the border of the areola, the local anesthesia will do the work fine.  What worrries me is the lymph node.  The biopsy hurts like ... because it is located near the sternum.  For that they will need to get another way to test it. I always tell them I am not their pincushion.  BS smiles and PS laughs.  They think I am not talking seriously.  

    I had a fight with the health insurance plan.  They told me they have not authorized the CT because the 14 working days (3 weeks) have not passed.  I told them that when I treated patients, my priority was the patient, not the protocol.  But they have reversed that. I told them I was going to leave the plan after 20 years, they grouped a lot of other health insurances plans under its umbrella (monopoly), became irresponsible and that if I had new tumors on my lungs and the tx was delayed because of them, I will sue them.  The poor guy who was at the phone said he was sorry for the delay and that he would make some notes on the computer pages, but nothing have come from the plan.  I will change it by November and move on to a new one. 

    Why I changed the radiologist center?  Well they invented a new rule that they do not do the mammo and  U/S on the same day.  Depending on the mamo, they do the U/S.  What would they do? The cyst and the node reflected only the U/S.  I do not have enough sick leave to be two days or mornings away from my job.  I have a lot of appointments to deal with additionally.

    Thank you for your input.  Let see what happens next. 

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