Skin lumps?
 

Hi people, I have been doing really well since June when I got rid of my chronic fatigue through a hypnotherapy-based trauma treatment called TRTP. I have been happily getting on with imagining myself to be cured after 3-4 years of imagining myself to be on the verge of finding my metastases that will kill me. Having a wonderful time getting to know my first grandchild, the beautiful Leah, now 8 months old. However, I have now found a possible problem, and am concerned, trying to switch off catastrophising and switch on sensible management of concerning symptoms. I would value your advice.

My primary IDC diagnosis was in early 2014, with removal, chemo and TCH. I had what may have been a sebaceous cyst in the back of my calf kinda out of sight, about 6 months ago, which I absentmindedly squeezed and scraped/picked without really thinking about it/ seeing what I was doing, and then also picked at the scabby/dry skin on top. This left a small thickening with hard dry skin about the size of a dry lentil. Kept meaning to get this checked but embarrassed about picking it etc. It also seemed a bit far-fetched to suggest it might be a distant metastases.

However, perhaps a year ago, I also became aware of a tiny white pucker (the size/shape of a tiny dry rice grain) in the skin an inch from the end of my mastectomy scar towards my other breast in line with the line of the scar across my sternum. I have not had a reconstruction yet. A week ago this got reddened and inflamed as a flat round reddened patch half a centimetre across.It is possible I could have had mosquito bite there, since I had a couple of bites on my stomach at that same time. But the red raised area on my sternum was/i- not itchy at all, inflamed but not itchy, and is still there now while the bites have gone. I have not picked at this spot, but may well touch it repeatedly in my sleep.

I know that Breast Cancer can, though rarely, grow from "seed" tumor cells accidentally inocculated into the scar site or near it at the time of surgery., and I am worried this may have happened. I am thinking of giving it a week or two, with bandaid over both spots and Vitamin E treatment to give them the best chance to heal, and if they don't go away by then, to get them checked out. If they persist, do I get them checked by my GP (who may not recognise skin metastases/recurrences and think I am worrying needlessly) or to a skin specialist, or to my breast surgeon, or to my oncologist?

I have been thinking of getting my CA15.3 levels tested too.

What advice can you people give me???
best wishes to you all, and thanks in advance,
Jessica

Re: Skin lumps?
 

Jessica,

I think with any change along your scar line a trip to your breast surgeon is not without merit. It is probably nothing, but certainly worth getting a bit of peace of mind. Your Onc would be another good choice, whichever you feel most comfortable in seeing or whomever can get you seen quickest. Good luck and let us know how it turns out. Also, congrats on little Leah! I am jealous as I cannot wait to be a grandma!

Re: Skin lumps?
 

Hi Jessica, I recommend getting this checked right away. I had two “pimples” grow on my scar line after my second chemo. I showed it to a resident at my oncologist’s office while I was there during my third treatment, and he told me it was scar tissue. I had another “pimple” grow shortly after, which I showed to a Fellow at my oncologist’s office, and he also said it was scar tissue. These scar tissues eventually scabbed over, however, during radiation the scabs started to fall off. My radiation oncologist told me it was normal, and to keep it cleaned and covered, however, a week later, I saw another radiation oncologist, as mine was on vacation, and he biopsied the area. It turned to be a cancer recurrence. They then sent me for a rush Breast MRI, which showed three small masses along my scar line. My surgeon thinks that this cancer was left over from my old cancer, and that he just didn’t get it all, however, my oncologist thinks it’s new cancer that grew back during chemo. There’s no way of knowing for sure. Now, my oncologist checks any “pimple” that grows anywhere near my scar line, and I’m to keep track of them as well. I was told that if a pimple continues to grow, or get wax like in texture, I’m to call them right away. I think it’s best that you make an appointment with either your surgeon or oncologist to get this checked out right away! I’m not trying to scare you, but if your cancer has come back, the sooner you know about it, the sooner you can do something about it.

­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­
12/15 – First mammogram
01/16 – Second mammogram and ultrasound.
01/16 – Meet surgeon and go for third mammogram, ultrasound and biopsy. Surgeon confirms cancer in left breast and lymph nodes and sets surgery date.
01/16 – Chest scan and bone scan done– all looks good
02/16 – Surgery - left breast mastectomy and 16 lymph nodes removed (8 had cancer)
02/16 – CT scan done – small nodules on lung but Doctor advises it’s normal. They will continue to monitor just in case.
03/16 – Meet radiation oncologist and find out results of Pathology Report. I’m told that I have locally advanced breast cancer, based on the size of my tumour (7 cm!) and the fact that they found cancer cells in eight lymph nodes. Also told that I’m HER 2 positive, and that my cancer is stage 3, grade 2.
03/16 – Meet oncologist and am told that my cancer is actually grade 3, and that I should have done chemo before surgery. Too late now!
03/16 – Start first of six doses of chemo (Carboplatin and Docetaxal) and Herceptin (for one year).
04/16 – Have port put in.
04/16 – Get second dose of chemo, but Docetaxal is left out due to liver enzymes being high. I was unable to get a full dose of Docetaxal after my first treatment.
06/16 – Finished chemo! One month off and then I start radiation.
06/16 – Start Tamoxifen
07/16 – First radiation treatment – 24 more to go!
08/16 – Went for Genetic Testing to see if I have the BRCA gene
08/16 – Radiation oncologist biopsies “scar tissue” on my scar.
08/16 – I am told that I have a “local recurrence” and need to have rush surgery.
09/16 – Meet surgeon who advises that I need to meet with a plastic surgeon, as they will need to do a skin graft to close me up after surgery.
09/16 – Go for rush ultrasound, bone scan, breast MRI and CT scan.
09/16 – Meet plastic surgeon and all looks good. A surgery date is set for October 4.
09/16 – Meet oncologist who advises that ultrasound and bone scan look good, and that MRI shows three small masses at surgery site, but lymph nodes are clear. Still awaiting the results of the CT scan, but we are positive it will look good.
09/16 – Get a call from my oncologist, who advises that CT scan shows small spots on my lungs, and a large lymph node in the middle of my chest. This means the cancer has spread! She looks into getting me funded for TDM1 and cancels my surgery.
10/16 – Meet oncologist, who advises that I have to take Perjeta before I can take TDM1. I start Perjeta/Herceptin every three weeks for an indefinite amount of time, and Taxol, which I will take two weeks on, one off for 8-16 treatments.
10/16 – Stop Tamoxifen
10/16 – Meet surgeon, who reviews my CT scan and advises that the spots on my lungs may not be cancerous, and that he doesn’t see a lymph node in my chest. He thinks it’s a spot on my lung. I’m feeling very confused! He advises that my oncologist doesn’t want me to have surgery to remove the three small masses on my scare line, as she wants to use them as a way to determine if the treatment is working. He advises that if they have not shrunk in 6 months, he will revisit surgery.
10/16 – Take first CEA blood test to determine Tumour markers. Asked for PET scan, but am told I don’t qualify.
10/16 – Get results of CEA blood test, and it is normal (my results were 2.7). My doctor advises that this could mean two things: (1) that the treatment is working, and the tumours are shrinking, or (2), that I'm one of those people who never get elevated CEA levels. Given that some people never get an elevated CEA level, this test doesn’t seem very accurate to me!
10/16 – Brain MRI – NED!
11/16 – CT Scan scheduled for November 22. I can’t wait to find out if the Perjeta is working!

Re: Skin lumps?
 

Jessica I'd see my Onc as my breast surgeon discharged me, I had a worrying tiny scab at the back of my calf a few years ago and was dx with Bowens disease, not cancer but would have gone on to develop into cancer so had some PDT therapy. I'm now getting another spot looked at, I think you should have it checked asap as found early we can avoid more major treatment if it's anything sinister.

Re: Skin lumps?
 

Let us know how it goes.

Re: Skin lumps?
 

Let us know how it goes.