How can you tell the difference?

expresslove
expresslove Member Posts: 19
edited March 2014 in Breast Cancer #1
Hello ladies! I hope someone understands what I am trying to ask here: but how do you know or how can you tell the difference is between the scar tissue that has formed and a lump? Also, i was told that I might have back pains after my procedures because of the size difference between my breasts... exactly where am i supposed to feel it? [This sounds weird i know, but i have become so paranoid about anything that doesn't feel normal that I freak about anything small]. My upper back left back, (i was operated on my left breast) has been hurting on and off after my second surgery. Is that where it is supposed to hurt, or is this probably caused by something else? Simply a coincidence?
-Belen

Comments

  • New Flower
    New Flower Member Posts: 4,294
    #2
    Talk to your doctors
    Belen,
    I was operated on the left side too.I had a mastectomy. i think ultrasound can differentiate between scar tissue and lump.
    Healing is very individual. I was told that scar tissue could be massaged to avoid pain. Ask you surgeon about it.
    Hugs
  • expresslove
    expresslove Member Posts: 19
    #3
    New Flower said:

    Talk to your doctors
    Belen,
    I was operated on the left side too.I had a mastectomy. i think ultrasound can differentiate between scar tissue and lump.
    Healing is very individual. I was told that scar tissue could be massaged to avoid pain. Ask you surgeon about it.
    Hugs

    I asked my doctor about
    I asked my doctor about lumps in the future and what they would do about it... all she told me was that i was "too young" to have a mammmo and that ultrasounds dont work... : /.
  • BELIEVEx3
    BELIEVEx3 Member Posts: 24 Member
    #4
    expresslove said:

    I asked my doctor about
    I asked my doctor about lumps in the future and what they would do about it... all she told me was that i was "too young" to have a mammmo and that ultrasounds dont work... : /.

    Please find a knew
    Please find a new oncologist..................
  • Marcia527
    Marcia527 Member Posts: 2,729
    #5
    expresslove said:

    I asked my doctor about
    I asked my doctor about lumps in the future and what they would do about it... all she told me was that i was "too young" to have a mammmo and that ultrasounds dont work... : /.

    I think also you need to
    I think also you need to find an oncologist/surgeon who takes your questions seriously. She hasn't noticed that there is no such thing as "too young" anymore. Find someone that you are comfortable with.
  • Ritzy
    Ritzy Member Posts: 4,381 Member
    #6
    Marcia527 said:

    I think also you need to
    I think also you need to find an oncologist/surgeon who takes your questions seriously. She hasn't noticed that there is no such thing as "too young" anymore. Find someone that you are comfortable with.

    I am confused.
    I am confused. Have you had bc? If you have, then you need a new oncologist. Because yours makes no sense and isn't smart. This just doesn't sound right..sorry. Have you had surgery? Was it malignant? Are you going to have rads, chemo or hormone therapy? Your situation isn't clear to me.

    Sue :)
  • elizarose
    elizarose Member Posts: 124
    #7
    Ritzy said:

    I am confused.
    I am confused. Have you had bc? If you have, then you need a new oncologist. Because yours makes no sense and isn't smart. This just doesn't sound right..sorry. Have you had surgery? Was it malignant? Are you going to have rads, chemo or hormone therapy? Your situation isn't clear to me.

    Sue :)

    I just read your profile and
    I just read your profile and was also a little confused. Did you see an oncologist? When they removed the tumor did they determine it was benign or malignant? Also, you're not too young for mammograms and ultrasounds do work. BC is scary and I can only imagine how hard it must be for someone so young.
  • New Flower
    New Flower Member Posts: 4,294
    #8
    elizarose said:

    I just read your profile and
    I just read your profile and was also a little confused. Did you see an oncologist? When they removed the tumor did they determine it was benign or malignant? Also, you're not too young for mammograms and ultrasounds do work. BC is scary and I can only imagine how hard it must be for someone so young.

    yes you need a top level surgical oncologist
    You need to find a new team, including breast surgeon/oncologist who specializing in your type of cancer; women's heath doctor because you are too young you need have good care.
  • carkris
    carkris Member Posts: 4,553 Member
    #9
    New Flower said:

    yes you need a top level surgical oncologist
    You need to find a new team, including breast surgeon/oncologist who specializing in your type of cancer; women's heath doctor because you are too young you need have good care.

    they thought my lump was
    they thought my lump was scar tissue from a previous biopsy mammo, ultrasound, Mri did not rule it out needed an MrI biopsy-not scar tissue. not trying to say you would need all that but every lump should be checked out to be sure!!!!
  • cindycflynn
    cindycflynn Member Posts: 1,132 Member
    #10
    expresslove said:

    I asked my doctor about
    I asked my doctor about lumps in the future and what they would do about it... all she told me was that i was "too young" to have a mammmo and that ultrasounds dont work... : /.

    So sorry
    It seems like you're not getting the answers you need. I looked up a little information on the type of tumor you had and it does seem like an ultrasound would not pick it up, but that doesn't mean that you shouldn't be more aware of what is going on in your breast tissue. The article said that it is a rare form of tumor and could be benign or malignant, but is most often benign. If it is malignant the only treatment is surgery. Apparently chemo and radiation have no effect on this type of tumor. From what I read (and I'm no doctor) an MRI would pick up any future tumors of the type you had, so there still may be something that could be done to put your mind at ease about what you're feeling.

    As others have said, I would look for another doctor who will take your concerns seriously and tell you what CAN be done instead of what can't. Don't just take no for an answer. Sometimes all of us have to push to get the help we need.

    We are always here for you.

    Take care,
    Cindy
  • expresslove
    expresslove Member Posts: 19
    #11
    cindycflynn said:

    So sorry
    It seems like you're not getting the answers you need. I looked up a little information on the type of tumor you had and it does seem like an ultrasound would not pick it up, but that doesn't mean that you shouldn't be more aware of what is going on in your breast tissue. The article said that it is a rare form of tumor and could be benign or malignant, but is most often benign. If it is malignant the only treatment is surgery. Apparently chemo and radiation have no effect on this type of tumor. From what I read (and I'm no doctor) an MRI would pick up any future tumors of the type you had, so there still may be something that could be done to put your mind at ease about what you're feeling.

    As others have said, I would look for another doctor who will take your concerns seriously and tell you what CAN be done instead of what can't. Don't just take no for an answer. Sometimes all of us have to push to get the help we need.

    We are always here for you.

    Take care,
    Cindy

    First off, I think you are
    First off, I think you are super sweet for finding information about my tumor! :D Its hard to explain the whole thing for me and maybe that's probably why people are so confused about it,esp because it is rare. With respect to chemo and radiation, those were the answers i got from my doctor, and my second opinions. (My second opinion came from Standford). I mean, all she really told me was that if i found a lump i have to make an appt asap. But yes I am going to make another appt. to figure out an answer to my questions. I just thought I would ask on this board first.
    Thanks!
    -Belen
  • expresslove
    expresslove Member Posts: 19
    #12
    elizarose said:

    I just read your profile and
    I just read your profile and was also a little confused. Did you see an oncologist? When they removed the tumor did they determine it was benign or malignant? Also, you're not too young for mammograms and ultrasounds do work. BC is scary and I can only imagine how hard it must be for someone so young.

    No, they didn't refer me to
    No, they didn't refer me to an oncologist for my type of tumor. and yes, my tumor was malignant phyllodes tumor. The reason why she said i was too young for mammograms was because my breast tissue is too dense. I dont really know much about this b/c well i have never had a mammogram. I did have an ultrasound before, and a biopsy (the result was benign) before i saw another doctor who advised me to have a surgical biopsy.
  • expresslove
    expresslove Member Posts: 19
    #13
    Ritzy said:

    I am confused.
    I am confused. Have you had bc? If you have, then you need a new oncologist. Because yours makes no sense and isn't smart. This just doesn't sound right..sorry. Have you had surgery? Was it malignant? Are you going to have rads, chemo or hormone therapy? Your situation isn't clear to me.

    Sue :)

    Yes, i have been diagnosed
    Yes, i have been diagnosed with bc, but i have a rare type of it... My only type of treatment is surgery. Meaning rads,chemo, or hormone were not an option for me. My tumor turned out to malignant after my second biopsy. I had the tumor removed and it was later sent to Stanford for multiple opinions.
    Belen
  • expresslove
    expresslove Member Posts: 19
    #14
    expresslove said:

    First off, I think you are
    First off, I think you are super sweet for finding information about my tumor! :D Its hard to explain the whole thing for me and maybe that's probably why people are so confused about it,esp because it is rare. With respect to chemo and radiation, those were the answers i got from my doctor, and my second opinions. (My second opinion came from Standford). I mean, all she really told me was that if i found a lump i have to make an appt asap. But yes I am going to make another appt. to figure out an answer to my questions. I just thought I would ask on this board first.
    Thanks!
    -Belen

    and that is why i wanted to
    and that is why i wanted to ask how to tell the difference between a lump and scar tissue.

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