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Old 07-03-2018, 09:38 PM   #1
Kimberly Lewis
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Exclamation Lump in Breast and now one in armpit

My daughter shares the BRCA2 gene and now at 35 she had a good sized palpable lump in her breast. She went to the Dr. who gave her an Ultrasound and said it was not cancer. Now just a short time later she also finds one under her arm. She is going for ANOTHER ultrasound and I am going with her. I don't understand why an ultrasound is a good option! I had a stereotactic biopsy, and several mamograms and still no one saw that I had stage 3a Breast cancer till they went in to remove my supposedly stage 0 cancer. So I have a low trust factor for Dr.'s to begin with. I need to do my very best to see that she gets good care and quickly. What should we be asking? What should I be doing to help her get this taken care of? She was already talking to a plastic surgeon to go ahead with the Double Mastectomy with reconstruction, now this happens. arrrrrgh I am so worried about her. Can anyone offer me some advise? I think that being away from the medical side for so long makes me insecure and feeling out of the loop. thanks in advance for any advice or help.
Kim
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Kim

Diagnosed 7/05
Stage 3a er+(45%) pr+(68%) Her2+ (40%)
3.8 cm + .8cm multi focal - pleomorphic lobular tumors
high grade DCIS
7/20 nodes

BRCA 2
positive as of 5/07
surgeries: double mastectomy, hysterectomy (LAVH)
A/C,Herceptin for 1 year completed 11/06
femara


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Old 07-03-2018, 11:33 PM   #2
sarah
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Re: Lump in Breast and now one in armpit

Maybe get a second opinion from another radiologist? and will they do a mammogram?
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Old 07-04-2018, 02:19 PM   #3
tricia keegan
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Re: Lump in Breast and now one in armpit

kim I don't know if your daughter saw a breast surgeon but I would recommend she does for another opinion. He may decide a biopsy is the way to go which is the only way to know for sure of course. Sorry I can't be more help as I've been a while away from Dr's myself but know it's always best to see someone who's expert in a particular field. Good luck and hope she's fine.
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Dx July '05 IDC 1.9cm Triple positive 3/9 nodes positive
A/C X 4 ..Taxol/Herceptin x 12 wks then herceptin 1 yr
Rads x 36 ..oophorectomy August '06
Currently taking Arimidex..
June 2011 osteopenia/ zometa x1 yearly- stopped Zometa 2015 as Dexa show normal bone density.
Stopped Arimidex July 2014- Restarted Arimidex 2015 for a further two years on the advice of my Onc.
2014 Normal Dexa scan
2018 Mammo all clear, still NED!
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Old 07-05-2018, 05:16 AM   #4
jra40
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Re: Lump in Breast and now one in armpit

Kim - I agree with getting a second opinion. My best friend has significant cysts in her breasts that the radiologist has been watching for years. Recently they got so big they needed drained. I made her go see my breast surgeon just to get a second opinion and have someone that is a specialist in that area make sure she is being watched closely. Glad I did and so is she. Find the best breast surgeon or specialist in your area, and seek more opinions if you are not satisfied. Her life is too precious!

Jessica
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11/17/10 - Diagnosed with 4.5cm tumor in right breast, IDC, Stage 2, Nuclear grade 2, ER+ PR+ HER2+
12/13/10 - Lymph node biopsy - negative
12/28/10 - Started neo-adjuvant treatment along with clinical trial with 4 rounds of AC chemo every 3 weeks
3/15/11 - Began weekly Taxol/Herceptin infusions along with 750mg of Tykerb taken by mouth daily
6/28/11 - Finished last cycle of Taxol
7/27/11 - Breast MRI shows tumor has dissolved, remarkable reaction to chemo
8/31/11 - Lumpectomy, Sentinel Node biopsy. Node negative, clear margins, 7mm of cancer left over from chemo.
10/05/11 - Started radiation, 5 days a week for 7 weeks.
11/8/11 - Finished radiation
3/21/12 - Last Herceptin!
3/26/12 - Port removed!
Tamoxifen for 5 years
8/4/15 - Hysterectomy & bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy. Due to large fibroids. No cancer!
8/8/15 - Started Arimidex
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Old 07-05-2018, 07:02 AM   #5
Laurel
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Re: Lump in Breast and now one in armpit

Kim,
Love the fighting spirit for you daughter, the mama grizzly is in full force! I am in the second opinion camp because I do not like the second lump appearing under her arm. I suppose a cyst can form in the nodes, but less likely and that it is why its appearance is concerning to me. Be aggressive and do not let anyone make you feel you are being too pushy by being so. You know the battle is less formidable if the foe is caught early, so be proactive because no one cares more about your daughter than you. Please let us know what transpires. We'll pray and hope for cysts!!!
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Dx'd w/multifocal DCIS/IDS 3/08
7mm invasive component
Partial mast. 5/08
Stage 1b, ER 80%, PR 90%, HER-2 6.9 on FISH
0/5 nodes
4 AC, 4 TH finished 9/08
Herceptin every 3 weeks. Finished 7/09
Tamoxifen 10/08. Switched to Femara 8/09
Bilat SPM w/reconstruction 10/08
Clinical Trial w/Clondronate 12/08
Stopped Clondronate--too hard on my gizzard!
Switched back to Tamoxifen due to tendon pain from Femara

15 Years NED
I think I just might hang around awhile....

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Old 07-07-2018, 06:30 AM   #6
Donna H
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Re: Lump in Breast and now one in armpit

I would think a biopsy is in order. Glad your daughter has you to help her along the way.
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Old 07-07-2018, 08:04 AM   #7
Carol Ann
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Re: Lump in Breast and now one in armpit

I agree with everyone here ... especially with Laurel that the lump in her armpit is especially something to be concerned and check, and that a biopsy is the only way to know for sure. I don't understand why they haven't biopsed, at the very least, the lump in her armpit.


Praying she is okay. Please keep us posted.


Carol Ann
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July 24, 2013: "Infected" Right Nipple and benign cyst removed, pathology report revealed Paget's, DCIS, and ILC 1.25 cm, ER+/Pro+/HER2 equivocal, Grade 2 under benign cyst, previous diagnostic mammo/ultrasound said I was perfectly healthy in both breasts.

Aug 18, 2013: MRI report says Left breast is perfectly healthy "consistent with previous studies".

Sept 2013: I insist on a bilateral mastectomy anyway. Too nervewracking to let left breast remain with higher risk after 3 cancers in right, nipple in right is already gone anyhow.

Sept 18, 2013: Bilateral mastectomy, 11 right nodes removed, ALL negative BUT -- ER+/PRO+/HER2+ tumor, 1.0 cm, Grade 2 found in a piece of "grossly unremarkable" breast tissue from prophylactic mastectomy of left breast, no nodes removed.

Oct 25, 2013: 13 left side nodes removed, ALL negative, Stage 1 across the board, NO RADS needed, YAAAAY! Port also installed.

Nov 25, 2013 Begin 6 rounds TCH.

March 10, 2014 Just finished 6th and LAST Chemo today, YAAAAAY!

March 24, 2014 Echocardiogram to make sure I'm still good for Herceptin every 3 weeks.

March 31, 2014 Echo results NORMAL, first Herceptin all by itself. Now if only my eyes would stop streaming from the Taxotere ... :)

April 21, 2014 Started Arimidex and therapy for "mild" lymphedema in left hand and arm

May 2014 Therapy completed, I have sleeves and gloves for both arms, a Flexi touch lymph pump to hook up to for an hour every day, and I've become an arm bandaging expert. :)

June 2014 Begin Fosamax to prevent osteoporosis; bone scan revealed osteopenia

Nov 17, 2014 FINAL Herceptin!

Dec 4, 2014 My right thigh muscle has been extra achy for days ... I discover a blister rash cluster on the side of my right thigh while taking a shower. Port appointment cancelled until Dec 17, my doc is working me in tomorrow afternoon to see me and the rash. My muscle at least feels less achy.

Dec 5, 2014 Yep, I have shingles. Boo! I start acyclovir and also have a prescription for a painkiller just in case for over the weekend.

Dec 17, 2014 Port is OUT!

January 2016 Shingles again and this time it started where my left breast (where the hidden HER2+++ tumor was!) used to be. My onc nurse got me a same day appointment to see my doc when I called and told her I had a rash on the site. The antiviral meds are working once again, though, so that is good news. :)
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Old 07-10-2018, 05:28 AM   #8
lkc Gumby
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Re: Lump in Breast and now one in armpit

the only thing i can think of is that the lump feels soft and on ultra sound appears cystic so clinically it's dismissed as being a cyst.
However, Ultrasound is not entirely diagnostic. Would get a second opinion, with CT scan confirmation, and biopsy if CT is conclusive.
wishing for only good news!
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Linda

Dxed Stage IIIC May 05, 12 pos nodes
er/pr -neg,Her -pos
LVI
Right partial mast & partial axillary dissection-June14,2005
Right modified mast-no clear margins- June 30, 2005
DD AC x4
Taxotere X4 with Herceptin
Rads x 35( 5 fields )
Left prophylactive mast( atypia & hyperplasia found ),
put on Tamoxifen x 1 yr; D/ced due to endometrial thickening
bilateral recon (saline implants)May 06
Nipple recon July 06
metformin 2010
removal of implants due to severe encapsulation, insertion of gummies 2013
Reclast Q yr
NED!!!
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Old 08-31-2018, 01:02 PM   #9
sassy
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Re: Lump in Breast and now one in armpit

Hey Kim,

I agree that a second opinion by a breast surgeon is the best route.

BTW, where are you located now?
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Rhonda (Sassy)
dx age 45
DX 2/15/05 Stage IIb (at surgery)restaged IIIa
Left mast .9cm tumor 5 of 14 nodes
Triple Positive
4 DD A/C
12 Taxol/Herceptin
33Rads
Strange infect mast site one year aft surg, hosp 1 wk
Herceptin for total of 18 months
Lupron Monthly 4 yrs
Neurontin for aches, pains and hot flashes(It works!)
Ovaries removed 11/09 stop Lupron and Neurontin
Arimidex 6 yrs (tried Femara, no SE improvement)
Tried Exemestane-hips got so bad could hardly walk
Back to Arimidex for year seven
Zometa 2X Annual for 7years, Lasix
Stop Arimidex 5/13
Stop Zometa 7/13-Bi-lateral Stress Fractures in Femurs from Zometa
5/14 Start Tamoxifen
3/15 Stem cell transplant to stimulate femur bone growth/healing
5/15 Complete fracture of right femur/Titanium rods both femurs
9/16 Start Evista stopTamoxifen
3/17 Stop Evista--unwelcome side effects!
NED and no meds.......
14YEARS NED!
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Old 09-05-2018, 06:50 PM   #10
Lucy
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Re: Lump in Breast and now one in armpit

When I was diagnosed I first had the mammogram followed by another mammogram and ultrasound. I think part of the ultrasound is to measure any masses that may be present - at least that was my takeaway from the reports on the ultrasound.

That said, I'm in the second opinion camp because several doctors - specialists - saw my mammogram and ultrasounds and I was assured the mass wasn't cancerous but they did a biopsy just to confirm it and it turns out they were wrong. I don't know if back then I would've requested a biopsy but I was okay with following their advice. Today I think I would insist on one.

Let us know how your daughter is doing and if you've found out anything more on her situation. Sending good thoughts and prayers your way!
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