finding lumps in other breast after treatment?

mariam_11_09
mariam_11_09 Member Posts: 691
in Breast Cancer #1
Hi there, I don't post much but I do read the postings on this board regularly and you are all always in my thoughts, heart and prayers.

I am almost done with Herceptin, the Onc. thinks Friday is my last treatment and I have the nip and tuck and port removal surgery on Oct. 14. Yeah, now I can't wait to be done and in that excitement I am try not to think about the 3 lumps that have appeared in my right breast (left was removed) in April. I can feel them, the breast surgeon can feel them but mammo and ultra sound reveal nothing so no biopsy can be done! The breast surgeon has me come in every 3 months to keep an eye on them. It might amount to nothing just as it might amount to something and I can't focus on either however what I keep coming back to is perhaps having my right breast removed!

So my question is, have any of you had something similar, that is treatment for cancer on one breast and then find something in the other breast? Did it amount to anything? Did you do anything about it? I do understand each case is different however it is sometimes good to get different perspectives.

And yeah, I do understand why many women get both removed when only one breast is malignant.

thanks
Mariam

Comments

  • fighting4five
    fighting4five Member Posts: 71
    #2
    Hi Mariam... Congratulations
    Hi Mariam... Congratulations and nearing the end of the Herceptin!!
    I had a Bilateral Mastectomy in June.My Mammo picked up nothing,the ultrasound did show the lumps that I felt,I got a letter in mail saying to come in for a biopsy,but it was marked low suspicion of malignancy. I had stage 2 in my left breast that was confirmed by biopsy then I had a MRI and it showed areas in my right breast they suggested a biopsy and I said No just take it too. It turned out to be nothing but It gave me peace of mind. I had Tissue expanders put in same day I had mastectomy and I am very happy with my decision. I have had 1 Herceptin and 3 Taxol so far, 9 taxol left then 4? A/C.
    I wish you luck. You will be in my thoughts and prayers.

    Mary
  • TraciInLA
    TraciInLA Member Posts: 1,994 Member
    #3
    Hi, Mariam -
    I had bilateral lumpectomies, and seem to have been born with breasts that mammograms have no trouble finding everything in, so I don't have anything helpful to say.

    I just wanted to say how good it is to see you here, and that we miss your voice here.

    Please don't be a stranger, though we would completely understand if you take some time to CELEBRATE completing Herceptin and kissing your port goodbye!

    Traci
  • Lynn Smith
    Lynn Smith Member Posts: 1,264 Member
    #4
    TraciInLA said:

    Hi, Mariam -
    I had bilateral lumpectomies, and seem to have been born with breasts that mammograms have no trouble finding everything in, so I don't have anything helpful to say.

    I just wanted to say how good it is to see you here, and that we miss your voice here.

    Please don't be a stranger, though we would completely understand if you take some time to CELEBRATE completing Herceptin and kissing your port goodbye!

    Traci

    I have a lump in same breast
    2 years into dx they found a lump in same breast by mammo.Ultrasound was done so the radiologist can look at it better.This was over 3 weeks ago and my biopsy was done yesterday.Don't know the results yet but will not see my doctor.He's fired. I've been online looking for a new Surgeon in my area. Yesterday the breast center was so helpful and very patient with me. They've been working with me on getting things done.

    The tumor was very small.That means harder to get a biopsy but it can and must be done.If not then a lumpectomy.Get it all at once. I am waiting for the results but Won't be talking to my doctor.

    This will be the 4th tumor in 2 years.The first 2 were during my lumpectomy.One malignant and 1 benign (was found when I was being prepped) 2 weeks later I found a lump 2 days before my clear margin sugery. That was removed.Another benign tumor.I was so happy.Now this problem just as I was getting my 2 year dx.Not there now though. Odds are more than likely benign.Just very very disappointed.

    Just know that with my 2 friends one had a invasive cancer and One a fast growing cancer.Both of their doctors said that leaving the breast is about the same life expectancy
    as removing the breast. One has lived 16 years and the other 6 years.


    Lynn Smith
  • skipper54
    skipper54 Member Posts: 936 Member
    #5
    Lynn Smith said:

    I have a lump in same breast
    2 years into dx they found a lump in same breast by mammo.Ultrasound was done so the radiologist can look at it better.This was over 3 weeks ago and my biopsy was done yesterday.Don't know the results yet but will not see my doctor.He's fired. I've been online looking for a new Surgeon in my area. Yesterday the breast center was so helpful and very patient with me. They've been working with me on getting things done.

    The tumor was very small.That means harder to get a biopsy but it can and must be done.If not then a lumpectomy.Get it all at once. I am waiting for the results but Won't be talking to my doctor.

    This will be the 4th tumor in 2 years.The first 2 were during my lumpectomy.One malignant and 1 benign (was found when I was being prepped) 2 weeks later I found a lump 2 days before my clear margin sugery. That was removed.Another benign tumor.I was so happy.Now this problem just as I was getting my 2 year dx.Not there now though. Odds are more than likely benign.Just very very disappointed.

    Just know that with my 2 friends one had a invasive cancer and One a fast growing cancer.Both of their doctors said that leaving the breast is about the same life expectancy
    as removing the breast. One has lived 16 years and the other 6 years.


    Lynn Smith

    Understand your concern
    I had a right mastectomy in December. At the time of my mammogram and MRI a nodule showed up in the left breast but it didn't "light up" on the PET scan and because of characteristics was felt to be benign by all docs. It showed up on the repeat PET scan with no changes and on the mammo last month the same way - no changes. Because of the shape and other characteristics, and no changes it is just being monitored. Yeh, I think about it but everyone has been so straight with me, and so good with everything, that I trusst them at this point. I've seen the test results and the camparisons to "problem" lumps etc. and am comfortable with the decision to monitor for now.

    Wishing you the best!
  • mamolady
    mamolady Member Posts: 796 Member
    #6
    bilateral mastectomy
    Mariam,
    I had 3 masses in the right breast and a sister that died from breast cancer. I had them take the left one so I wouldn't have it come back in the other breast.
    That was something I had planned on if I were ever diagnosed because of my sister.
    Every one is different, that just made the most sense to me

    Cindy


    PS I am 48 years old.
  • lori1961
    lori1961 Member Posts: 56
    #7
    Hi mariam, congrats on
    Hi mariam, congrats on almost being sone with Herceptin, I had a lumpectomy in the right breast and then had to go in and take moe for margins. Then I had an Mri to confirm getting all the cancer in the right breast and they found a tumor in the left one twice the size. In the meantime has my first dose of chemo. Did a lumpectomy in the left breast
    and positive node for cancer so they took all the nodes out. Finished chem and rads on July 1 and now taking tamoxifen. Good luck. Both my mamo's were negative and they could not see the lump on the ultrasound on the left breast. They had to get the results of the MRI to see the lump. Perhaps they can order one for you. Good luck and let us know what happens....

    Lori
  • jnl
    jnl Member Posts: 3,869 Member
    #8
    TraciInLA said:

    Hi, Mariam -
    I had bilateral lumpectomies, and seem to have been born with breasts that mammograms have no trouble finding everything in, so I don't have anything helpful to say.

    I just wanted to say how good it is to see you here, and that we miss your voice here.

    Please don't be a stranger, though we would completely understand if you take some time to CELEBRATE completing Herceptin and kissing your port goodbye!

    Traci

    I had a lumpectomy and the
    I had a lumpectomy and the only lumps I have felt have been in that breast and it is scar tissue. Have you had a MRI too? I get a mammo, ultrasound and a MRI.

    And, congrats on finishing Herceptin!


    Hugs, Leeza
  • VickiSam
    VickiSam Member Posts: 9,079 Member
    #9
    lori1961 said:

    Hi mariam, congrats on
    Hi mariam, congrats on almost being sone with Herceptin, I had a lumpectomy in the right breast and then had to go in and take moe for margins. Then I had an Mri to confirm getting all the cancer in the right breast and they found a tumor in the left one twice the size. In the meantime has my first dose of chemo. Did a lumpectomy in the left breast
    and positive node for cancer so they took all the nodes out. Finished chem and rads on July 1 and now taking tamoxifen. Good luck. Both my mamo's were negative and they could not see the lump on the ultrasound on the left breast. They had to get the results of the MRI to see the lump. Perhaps they can order one for you. Good luck and let us know what happens....

    Lori

    Finished with chemo, last Herceptin coming up ...
    and deportation -- Congratulations! Sorry to hear about the presence of lumps in your remaining breast --- UGH ..

    Additional testing needed? Please know that you are in my thoughts and prayers -- dear Mariam..

    Strength, Courage and HOPE.

    Vicki Sam
  • DianeBC
    DianeBC Member Posts: 3,881 Member
    #10
    lori1961 said:

    Hi mariam, congrats on
    Hi mariam, congrats on almost being sone with Herceptin, I had a lumpectomy in the right breast and then had to go in and take moe for margins. Then I had an Mri to confirm getting all the cancer in the right breast and they found a tumor in the left one twice the size. In the meantime has my first dose of chemo. Did a lumpectomy in the left breast
    and positive node for cancer so they took all the nodes out. Finished chem and rads on July 1 and now taking tamoxifen. Good luck. Both my mamo's were negative and they could not see the lump on the ultrasound on the left breast. They had to get the results of the MRI to see the lump. Perhaps they can order one for you. Good luck and let us know what happens....

    Lori

    Congrats to you Mariam on
    Congrats to you Mariam on the herceptin! Should you have more tests, a MRI maybe?

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