questions on underarm problem

[sassy]

I saw my surgeon yesterday. He did a fine needle aspiration on a hard area on the side of my arm pit. If you have read my posts, you may remember I had a severe staff infection at my mast site, early February,one year after mastectomy. Very unusual, nobody seems to have heard of this before. This hard area appeared after the infection was resolved. No fluid came from the aspiration. He is sending to pathology. My original dx was stage II, triple positive, 5 of 14 nodes positive. Finished a/c. taxol/herceptin 33 rads and about to finish one year of herceptin. Also on arimidex.

Radiologist had seen hard area previous, not concerned. Had a CT two days before staff infection, all clear on it.

Any thoughts on what I may be looking at? Anyone with underarm lymph node recurrence?

Thanks for any help,

Sassy
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[TriciaK]

This is probably totally unrelated, Sassy, but a few years ago I suddenly developed lunps under my arms. I found my deodorant formula had been changed! Now I am careful to use only deodorants without the anti-perspirant ingredients. As I said, probably totally unrelated, but.....Hope you find some answers! Hugs, Tricia

[Lolly]

Sassy, I replied to your question by PM, but will copy it here for the others.

...I know it's tough facing the possibility of lymph node recurrence, but remember it's a very treatable condition, very manageable.

For me, PET scan has been more reliable than CT in defining areas of concern, then we follow up with biopsy. Sounds like your surgeon is on top of that, but if the fine needle is inconclusive, perhaps a PET is in order to see if the area "lights up", then an excisional biopsy, so they can take out a larger piece of the lymph node, might be an option to discuss with your surgeon. It's more invasive, but they have more tissue to examine.

Try to keep your chin up, I know the waiting game is torture. I'll check in again when we're back from vacation.

<3 Lolly

[sassy]

My surgeon called this afternoon reporting no malignancy detected. Findings of fresh blood, and benign stromal fragments. Will stay on antibiotics for now, check status next week and perhaps do a cat scan to see what is what.

The roller coaster ride continues.

Sassy
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[sassy]

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