Mammo update, BIRADS 3.

[Chelee]

I saw my surgeon yesterday & got the full report on what exactly was found on my mammo. (As most of you know, I was told to WAIT 6 months for follow-up mammo.) But NO WAY.

Mammo report says: Breast tissue is average. This could obscure a lesion on mammography. There is a benign-appearing 0.7 cm density round mass with well-defined margins in the left breast at 2 o'clock anteriorly, consistent with lymph node, cyst, or fibroadenoma. Conclusion: Probably benign finding (BIRADS 3).

My surgeon said its a lymph node in the breast? They were MISSING my mammo from last year & just NOW told me. They could not make a comparison without it. (Which they now have.)

My surgeon didn't seem that concerned...but I am! I have been telling him & my onc for a long time now I have had PAIN in my left breast & axilla area. It got REALLY bad a few wks ago when my onc would NOT let me have my zoladex until she checked my estrodiol level which was way UP without it. I wouldn't be all the concerned if not for this on-going pain in that breast. nipple & axilla area. Plus my breast seems a cup size larger. My surgeon said that can happen after you have a mastectomy on the OTHER side. (Sure got big all of a sudden?)

I called today to see if they compared them yet? She said they would get back to me next wk. I told her I did NOT want to WAIT anymore. I've waited long enough and I have PAIN & I am concerned. I want a MRI & US ASAP. She finally called back & said the soonest they can get me a ultrasound is NEXT Thrus.. I am hopping mad.

Does anyone know of ANY thing else that could be causing this breast to be larger & the pain in it? My surgeon told me absolutely nothing. If it is a lymph node in the breast or a cyst...can it cause all this pain and tenderness in nipple and breast area without being cancer? (I'm stressed!)

Chelee

[Ruth]

Honey ~ Take a deep deep breath...this stress is not good for you. Remember that anything that shows up on your Mammo's they will take special care to study because of your history. Stress rises cortisol levels and your body will respond to this usually by an inflammatory reaction. I too have had pain in my other breast and had a few rechecks on mammo's just to be sure that it is OK. Many things can cause breast tenderness...my understanding is a swollen lymph node can be painful (which can be caused by infection and not cancer!); cysts or changes in hormonal levels can cause swelling and tenderness. Also, have you been examining the breast more than normal yourself? Too much squeezing can do it too!

Try to think of everything positive you have going for you & do something fun to get your mind away from this for a little while. Have faith in your Doctors knowledge and it will help set your mind at rest. Fear can cause pain....please let some of that go and lower your stress. Do something fun for yourself ASAP!

Ruth

[Chelee]

Ruth, Maybe thats all it is....a swollen lymph node as you mentioned. My surgeon said it was a lymph node *in* the breast. I sure know my entire breast hurts really bad...and under axilla area. I was hoping it would of settled down by now.

Since you mentioned hormonal changes...I wonder if the zoladex and femara can be the cause of this pain & enlarged breast? I am peri-meno and my onc *withholds* my Zoladex each month from me till she checks my Estrodiol level. She says they like it to be UNDER 20. Well this last time it was already at 34 on the day they took the blood & I had been without Zoladex for days. By the time I finally got my Zoladex it was probably in the mid 40's. Thats when all this pain started & has gotten worse.

I made then check my Estrodiol Tues. Called today and I am ON the Zoladex now...and it was 18. (Barely under the 20 mark.) So maybe its all this causing it? I just hope this Femara isn't making things worse since my estrogen levels go up the minute I'm off the zoladex. Other women I know say their estrodiol level is 6 or so. Mines high compared to them?

Thanks so much for your reply Ruth. I really appreciate it.

Chelee