lump not detected by mammo or ultrasound

Hi all
Today I heard from my surgeon that the ultrasound guided biopsy done last Wed showed cancer cells. The mammogram the previous week showed a small cluster of microcalcifications and a ultrasound done at the same time showed no lump. So I was expecting at worst a diagnosis of DCIS (precancer).. however this was not the case. The breast has become firmer and the nipple more inverted over the past few weeks. My previous dx was a 2 cm tumour Her 2+ 1 node +, 4.5 years ago.
I will be having a masectomy next week. I had chest X ray and blood tests this week also which were clear. I would appreciate any chat from anyone who has had a similar "non detectable" lump and also from anyone who has had a masectomy in relation to the recovery time; eg; not being able to lift/drive etc (last time I had a segmental masectomy).

regards
Jackie (from Australia)

Hi Jackie
I am in Melbourne. I too had an undetectable tumor. My original 'lump" was actually a lymph node i felt but when a mammogram and ultrasound were taken, they could not find the primary site. It was only after a bit of guessing and four cores taken at a biopsy that they found the cancer. But even when they found it, they had no idea how large it was and i ended up having a mastectomy following a lumpectomy(and a wide local excision).
The lump was at least 2.3cm but got cut up a bit in all the ops. Three nodes involved. HER-2+++, estogen +.
Re recovery time, i can't remember!! I am not a good case as i has three ops one month apart so by the time i had my mastectomy, i had been through the wringer. i reckon i would have waited maybe two weeks to drive, probably earlier knowing me. If you are having a saline expander put in, the tightness in your chest takes a bit of getting used to. But all in all the ops were the easy part as the chemo was more trying. Hard at the time I know.
All the best for your op. Are you going to have CT scan and bone scan?
Regards
Christine

In Jan 02 (age 51) I thought I felt a thickening in a breast, but my breasts were so lumpy from fibrocistic "disease" that even my doctors had a hard time knowing what was what during an examination. At a physical exam in Feb 02, I questioned that area of the breast that I thought seemed a little different. No comment was made from the Dr, so I let it go.

With such difficult breasts to examine, sometime in my 30's I resigned myself to a breast full of lumps, and, not wanting to make myself sick with worry all of the time, I just "let it go"; let go of the worry about the lumps, thinking that with my yearly physical and mamogram, and sometimes ultrasound exam, that any cancer would be found early. NOT so!!

May 02, mamo. Nothing special noted

Sept 02, I find a hard lump in breast while in shower. Received an ultrasound. No sign of cancer. I see a surgeon, who does a biopsy, because this lump felt hard and I had concerns.

Oct 02 mastectomy. Large 4.5cm tumor, Her2 positive, Grade 3, 1+ node.

One year later, had a second mastectomy to get rid of the other breast that also could hide cancer from doctors and scans. The mastectomies were realtively "easy" as far as pain goes. I didn't even ask for a Tylenol. But the drains were sore and uncomfortable.

I'm sure there are others like us..........

Best Wishes

Insist on a Pet Scan because it is the only test that is not based on tissue density.

After feeling a lump that came out of nowhere in May of 04 my wife was diagnosed by core biopsy with Infiltrating Ductal Carcinoma, ER+/PR+, HER2 3+, Estimated size was 2.3cm by ultrasound.

She had a Lumpectomy later that month and the Actual tumor size was 6.5 cm, margins not clear, 14/15 nodes positive. Bone & CT Scans clear.

She had dose dense AC then Taxotere.

Prior to left mastectomy she had a breast MRI and BRAC genetic testing, both were negative.

She had the Mastectomy in October after Chemo- They found 2 multicentric tumors 2 mm & 1 mm Margins Clear.

Chest, Neck & Axillary Radiation in December 04.

In January 05 she Started 1yr Herceptin regimen and 6 rounds of Navelbine.

In March she had a full CT scans which were all clear.

In May 05 her OBGYN found nothing unusual during a manual exam on the remaining breast.

In July she felt a small lump in the remaining breast. The Surgeon did a lumpectomy which turned out to be a 4CM tumor with positive margins.

She had a whole body PET scan prior to the 2nd mastectomy which only showed a hot spot in the breast. (This is the only test that actually showed something.)

She had the mastectomy in mid-August and she is now going to start 6 rounds of Taxotere + Carbo + Herceptin.

The doctors are scratching their heads over why the Manual Exams, MRI, & CT's did not show the 2nd tumor earlier and how it could be there with all the Chemo. 4CM tumors do not just appear.


Whole body PET scans are expensive, but I would push to have one.

Thanks very much for your replies. I feel a bit cheated because I have had 6 month checkups (being on the taxotere trial) and I thought that the oncs. would be able to tell if something felt not right. I am also a bit annoyed to be in this situation again because I wanted a masectomy first time round because this breast has always been lumpy and worrisome and then you just dont worry about it and boom..in trouble probably worse than last time. I am having my op. on Tuesday and will be insisting on the Amazon route.
Jackie (from Australia)

Hi Christine
I had CT abdo and bone scan. I peeked at the results and I think there is a suspicious liver spot.
I am currently in St V's private in Melb and would like to catch up in person sometime if that is OK.
Jackie