Skin Mets

tomatojuice · 09-12-2009, 10:00 AM

Had two small dime size growths on my elbow. They have been there about two months. The dermotologist biopsied them yesterday. I will know in a week. Anyone sadly have experience with something like this. I finshed chemo and rads and herceptin last september. DX feb 08 , stage IIb, masectomy, lump was 2cm, 18 nodes removed, 4 positive, er-pr-her positive.

Ruth · 09-12-2009, 05:47 PM

Yes, I did...I had one spot in the crease of my elbow about the size of a dime and had it biopsied. It was not IBC or mets but a B9 growth and goodness I can NOT remember what on earth it was called. However, it was on the arm where I had all the nodes removed. I still have the spot but it has faded in color. This happened in the first 2 years after I was diagnosed so I'm sorry that I can't remember more. It was slightly darker in pigment than my normal skin and raised with little bumps in it. I would think that the location of your elbow is not a place that mets would pop up very often. I was told that it being that far down my arm was not a place it would usually go. I know it is scary and I feel for you. Please let us know what the results are. Try to think positive.
Hugs ~ Ruth

09-12-2009, 06:40 PM

Thanks so much Ruth for responding. I have only mentioned this to my brother. We are very close, but I am a bit sorry now that I told him.We lost a younger sister in 2003 to breast cancer.I have been reading also that mets do not usually occur that far from the original cancer site. But it is on my arm where all the nodes were removed.I will definately post the results. I got really scared, because I overheard the doctor ask the student doctor if she knew why it needed to be biopsied. And I heard him say for mets. In any case I have a real busy and fun week this week, so I will not have as much time to worry.(if thats possible)!

tomatojuice · 09-12-2009, 10:50 PM

previous post was from me. I forgot to sign in.

harrie · 09-13-2009, 06:45 PM

I had a spot on my back and was experiencing the same concerns. Was about the size of a dime and had it for over a month.Had it biopsied and the results were good. Was not even basal cell.
wishing you good results also.

tomatojuice · 09-13-2009, 09:52 PM

Thanks Harrie .I really appreciate the response. My daughter lives in Maui. She's been there for 5 years. She's coming to visit this November. I can't wait. Not sure where Hilo is. Will have to look on a map.I am in NYC.

harrie · 09-13-2009, 11:50 PM

Hilo is on the island of Hawaii, also called The Big Island. It is the youngest, get the biggest of all the islands in the chain. Maui is visible from the Big Island if you are on the right side.

Lien · 09-13-2009, 11:55 PM

Sounds to me that the doc wouldn't have bothered to do a biopsy if you hadn't had the BC diagnosis. So most likely it's benign. Why else would he have asked the student why he should do the biopsy. It's most likely a "cover one's ass" biopsy.

Love

Jacqueline

tomatojuice · 09-14-2009, 07:24 AM

Hi Jacqueline...Very funny...made me laugh. That thought has entered my mind.

lexigirl · 09-14-2009, 08:08 AM

I had a single skin met at my initial diagnosis. It was right above the mass in my breast. I think most commonly, the first place that you may see a skin met appear is at the mast site. However, bc is sneaky, so I am happy that the derm has biopsied it. I really have a good feeling that your growths will be benign.

Hugs,
Lexi

suzan w · 09-14-2009, 06:06 PM

hoping to hear that it was B-9 (bingo!!) I have also heard that skin mets usually start near the surgery site. XO Suzan

tomatojuice · 09-15-2009, 04:33 AM

Hi Susan W....I am also hoping for s B9 dx. I am not supposed to have any needles cuts scratches or anything on the arm that was biopsied. The doctor knew this , but said he had to do it anyway.Sure enough last night it became infected. A 3" swath surrounding the wound of redness and heat. I took my temp, it was normal. I had an emergency dose of keflex on hand, so I took two 500mg tabs. Being a lymphodemiac its good to keep antibiotics in case of an emergency. I have an appointment today I must keep, and a meeting tomorrow I can't cancel. My son wants me to stop everything and go to the er or a doctor. But I feel I can put it off til thursday and go back to the derm. I think the antibiotics will hold back the infection. Tomorrow I will try to call my oncologist, although I will be 2 hours out of the city. I see you are osteoporotic. I had osteo, but was able to reverse it to osteopenia with diet, citrical plus, and strontium and lots of exercise. (mostly walking). Biophosphates are scary.Forteo seems like a good alternative.Hoping it works for you. Love dotty

tricia keegan · 09-15-2009, 03:13 PM

I also like Harrie, had a spot checked on my back and it was B9!
I think they definatly are more aware of doing a bx on a cancer survivor and we are probably more prone (obviously) to ask for one.
Good luck and I hope your news will be as good as ours was and this infection does'nt take hold

tomatojuice · 09-18-2009, 02:11 PM

Got results today. It was B-9. Though actually what they said was that it was not mets. I don't understand dermatology lingo, but somehow it could be related to my breast cancer, but it is not mets. It is a Lymphocyte rich granuloma annulare tissue reaction. In any case after worrying for a week about it ,you would think that I would be calm and contented. I don't know why, or even if it was called for , but I flew into a rage when I got home, on the telephone to the derm, because she wouldn't renew my prescription for keflex. I always keep it on hand in case of just such an event(infection in lymphadema arm). Also after reading the handout she gave me today I noticed that she never told me to wash it and use hydrogen peroxide on it before the bacitracin and bandaid. Also both times I saw her she gave me only two bandaids. I asked her for more and she refused. I had to spend over $12. for these bandages. Today I asked the nurse and she gave me a ton(over twenty), which I will need. All of these things weighed heavy on my mind. When I called on the phone, the secretery insulted me by saying"Well would you like to see a paying doctor". Thats what did it. I didn't ask to be disabled. I have another major disability most of my life. I would have preferred to be normal and have medical bills. Her saying that to me was so insulting. It made me so angry. I hung up and called back later and apologized. Just for peace sake. Thank you all. Don't know but I feel I need a vacation.

Laurel · 09-18-2009, 03:41 PM

The never ending stress of breast cancer! It makes us tired, fat, flat, and poor! Well, I sure am glad you did not have skin mets. Have a glass of vino and toast all the idiots out there in the medical world. Sometimes when I am really annoyed by a fellow human being I calm myself by saying, "well, You love them, Lord!" Of course I am bratty enough to think that only the good Lord and the person's dog could possibly love the boneheads!

Aren't I awful? I'll join you in that glass of wine later after I repent! LOL! Glad you can celebrate on this one.

Ruth · 09-18-2009, 03:57 PM

Dotty ~ Good news! Happy to see that it was not mets and the "granuloma" definitely rings a bell with me so that's probably what I had too. I remember my derm saying it had something to do with an overreaction on my lymphnode empty arm.
I don't think that people really "get" it when we say we need to be so careful with our arms that have no nodes left. It's so hard and I feel for you honey!
But it is good news and I am happy that it is ok.
Have a good weekend and enjoy some wine or chocolate :-)
Hugs ~ Ruth