Good Advice?

Joe · 10-09-2009, 05:14 PM

I found this on the National Breast Cancer Coalition's website and beg to differ. In 1990, my wife Christine discovered a lump in her breast while doing a self exam in the shower 2 months after having a clear mammogram.
Nine years later in 1999, she discovered an enlarged node in her neck again while taking a shower. She had to fight with her primary physician to obtain a referral for a breast surgeon. The node was biopsied and found to be malignant. She was restaged and found to have metasthesis to her chest wall and several metastatic brain tumors. She was treated and is still in remission today.

I am just curious, how many women on this board discovered their tumors through a breast self exam?

Regards
Joe

Myth #1: Monthly breast self exams save lives

FALSE. The evidence actually shows that breast self-exam (BSE) does not save lives or detect breast cancer at an earlier stage.

For decades, women age 20 and older have studied shower cards, read pamphlets, watched videos and prodded silicon breast models to find a hidden lump - each resource teaching BSE as a life-saving personal responsibility. Seems to make sense. In reality, there is no scientific evidence to prove this is true. In fact, the studies that have been done show an increase in potential harm from monthly, regimented BSE including elevated anxiety, more frequent physician visits and unnecessary biopsies of benign lumps.

Many organizations share NBCC’s viewpoint on BSE. The National Cancer Institute (NCI) no longer prints a BSE guide; the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force states that "the evidence is insufficient to recommend for or against teaching or performing routine breast self-examination"; and the American Cancer Society is phasing out materials that focus only on breast self-exam.
For more detailed information and specific clinical trial evidence analysis, read NBCC’s position paper on BSE. Learn how to make a difference in the world of breast cancer at StopBreastCancer.org.
Get OUT of the Shower, Get Angry, Get Educated, Take Action: download NBCC’s breast self exam shower card and learn more.

Joan M · 10-09-2009, 05:29 PM

Joe,

I did. I had two tumors -- one DCIS and one infiltrating. The DCIS was a lump (which is unusual, apparently), but unfortunately I ignored it for about two months since I would always have a lot of cysts. But after awhile I thought it was strange that the lump was still there.

When I first started having cysts I would run right away for a mammogram, but after several years I started to drop my guard. To add insult to injury, I was behind that year in my annual mammo by about four months, which was a first.

Joan

10-09-2009, 05:29 PM

I think a lot of premenopausal women find them that way, especially younger, because while a lot of docs send women 40 plus for screenings, there are still questions about whether mass screenings for women under 50 are of great benefit.

Never mind the millions of women who are uninsured.

Mgarr · 10-09-2009, 05:30 PM

Discovered my own lump in the shower and yes, I did have the exam card hanging on my shower.

Mary

hutchibk · 10-09-2009, 05:31 PM

That is pretty disturbing. Speaking for myself, my lump was found by me... in the shower.

I have two stage I friends who both found theirs during self exam.

I think their position paper and new wave of poo-pooing self exam is dangerous beyond comprehension.

10-09-2009, 05:38 PM

oh and yes that is how I found mine too (in the shower). Know a woman who was found to have 4 tumors in one breast at 28 and her docs tried to convince her at first it was just cysts that she had found.

Barbara H. · 10-09-2009, 05:50 PM

I found mine myself.
Barbara H.

ammebarb · 10-09-2009, 05:51 PM

I was 35 at the time I found my breast lump myself. My doctor convinced me to wait for three months, before doing a mammogram. (Mine was not HER2 tested....this was twenty six years ago).

Barb A.

yankeebikachic · 10-09-2009, 06:00 PM

I did. At 34 years old.

Becky · 10-09-2009, 06:12 PM

I felt my lump too - in the shower. Thank goodness too - it was almost 2cm as it was and a positive node

Faith in Him · 10-09-2009, 06:21 PM

I was 37 when I noticed a lump. Also, I felt a heaviness in my breast when I was lying down at night. Mamo was clear but on a fluke my dr order an ultrasound which discovered a mass. By then my mass was 2.5 cm with 18 positive nodes. I would have not made it to 40 (for screening) if I hadn't discovered it myself.

Ruth · 10-09-2009, 06:34 PM

Found my lump and swollen lymph nodes myself after going to lacation specialist and general dr for problems with nursing who told me warm compresses, cabbage leaves and other creams would help me with my problems. Knew something was wrong and made appointment with my Gyno who felt my spots and immediately left the office with me to walk me downstairs himself to a general surgeon who did a needle biopsy without even a mammo or ultrasound. AND Gyno waited in the waiting room until I came out and wanted to see if the GS got any fluid out. He is amazing needless to say and, well, I think he knew I was in shock and by myself. Had to force hospital to do a mammogram since I was nursing the following day - totally against policy. Wasn't really needed and had punch biopsy done on nodes and lump in breast same day too. I was 36 then.
Hugs ~ Ruth

Sherryg683 · 10-09-2009, 08:30 PM

Must be something about showers or bath tubs here. I found mine in the bath tub. I had just had a breast exam done my my GP a week before and he did not report feeling anything. He did the little circular motions that they show you to do. I felt my lump by running my hand straight down and around my breast. I have always had lumpy breasts and never thought I would be able to feel anything but this little lump jumped out at me, that and it hurt (they say cancer doesn't hurt either). Later my breast surgeon said that they are now saying that you should indeed exam yourself in this manner but was surprised I could detect a lump that small by myself. What that study says is pure BS if you ask me and it is steering many women in the wrong direction..sherryg683

Paty · 10-09-2009, 08:52 PM

I found my lump after taking a shower and four months after I had had a deep check up in my clinic with my family phisician, the lump had grown very fast...

sassy · 10-09-2009, 09:28 PM

I found mine...in the shower. It was so small, neither my gyno nor my surgeon could feel it, but I could put my finger spot on it for the mammogram.

Good thing I found it, it was stage 3 with five positive nodes.

Mary Anne in TX · 10-09-2009, 09:29 PM

Me too. Found my lump in shower! ma

Diane H · 10-09-2009, 09:48 PM

I found mine myself sitting at the computer and running my hand over an itch, still remember the sick shock of it... I knew instantly it was not right. It is a painful memory.
So I beg to differ too. I know too many women where a mammo did not find their lumps.

Chelee · 10-09-2009, 09:49 PM

I found mine myself also. I was late for my yearly mammo by three months. I still swear to this day mine showed up almost over night. I always did BSE and felt nothing till one day I was standing in my bedroom & crossed my arms up around my chest and felt this lump. Seems most woman I've spoken with found their own lumps by BSE.

Chelee

SoCalGal · 10-09-2009, 10:55 PM

I was 38 and found mine, too. Also in the shower - that's the most convenient way to do a monthly self-exam.

On another note of irritation - I had a solicitation from my Allstate insurance agent trying to sell me "CANCER INSURANCE" - all neatly packaged in a PINK envelope. I would be more specific except I fed it right into the shredder.

bejuce · 10-09-2009, 10:59 PM

Joe, you must have been reading my mind before posting this! I received an email today from the NBCC and then visited their web site where I found the myths they're posting daily for the month of October. They will post 31 myths - one for each day.

I read the 9 myths they have posted so far and was confused and frustrated with some of their postings, especially the one you mention here. I, too, found my lump (under the armpit) in the shower and after much insistence with my doctors was finally able to get an MRI/mammo 6 months later. Had I not been so diligent and persistent, I don't know where I would be today. I strongly believe that self exams do save lives, more so than the doctors suspect. I think we know our bodies better than anyone, and can tell much earlier whether something doesn't feel right. Isn't this how many symptoms are found anyways - with the patient herself reporting feelings and sensations to their doctors?

It's a total disservice to women to shy them away from their self-exams..