Enlarged armpit lymphs and lump on breast. Any advice or similar stories please?

Have I got breast cancer? Breast awareness, signs and symptoms
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Hi Ladies,

I am hoping someone has their own story they can share so I can try and prepare myself and know what questions to ask once I get my results.

Has anyone found a lump under their arm (enlarged lymph nodes) and then a small lump on their breast?
What happened and what was your results if you went for further tests?

I first found a lump under my arm about 6 weeks ago (I dreamt I felt one and then checked in the morning and it was there). It grew really quickly and doc reffered me up to hospital for more tests. It’s roughly 4cm now and they have determined through ultrasounds and CT scans that it is my lymph nodes and there are more than one that is enlarged in the same area. I then felt a small lump on my breast, so they refused to go further with tests in the hospital as they said it now needed to be referred to the breast clinic. They requested an emergency appointment and I had it on Thursday past. During the appointment, they did more ultrasounds, a mammogram and then did a biopsy on the large lymph node and the lump on my boob.

They said the lumps are abnormal and they don’t know what the lump on my boob is. The biospy will obviously help tell us more. I am not sure if it is their job to scare the shit out of you and prepare you for the worst when there is no need to, but they did scare me, they did tell me what it could be and it came as a shock as everyone hasn’t been very forthcoming up till that point. I was told to come back next week and bring someone with me. The reality is it could be something silly or it could be more serious. I am trying to keep my mind focused on here and now but also be practical as I do not want to turn up to the results appointment without knowing what questions to ask if it is what they say it could be. No one wants to hear the c-word.

So I guess I am looking for some reassurance of some who have been through this and it wasn’t the c-word. But also if you have and it was the c-word how did everything unfold, what happened, what should I know and how are you now?

I know this may be personal and hoping you can share stories that could help in some way. I feel quite isolated as although I have told a few people, we are keeping it quiet from most of my family and friends because we just don’t know what Thursday will bring. I am also trying hard to not dwell and be positive but not pretend it’ll all be ok either, which is a hard balance.

x

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Hi Deerose

I’m so sorry you find yourself in this situation. Your post is asking an awful lot of people who don’t know the answers. Yes, around 90% of referrals turn out to be benign diagnoses but doctors have a feel for what’s wrong. My GP who was astounded I had breast cancer said the only lump she could feel did not feel at all like a breast cancer lump. In fact, I had 2 and heavy lymph node involvement. 

It’s not the role of the people who carry out tests and biopsies to make a diagnosis but nor is it their role to offer false hope. You have to wait till next week to find out what the consultant says. Then you’ll know. You do sound quite pragmatic in your approach so far so that’s the attitude to maintain - it’s not breast cancer until you are told it is. Focusing on the fear is not healthy.

In this waiting time, you need to think very carefully about what you do and do not want to know, because this will inform the questions that need asking. Taking someone with you has two purposes, I think - to make sure your questions are asked and the answers written down - and obviously for moral/emotional support. Some people have an almost forensic attitude and want to know every detail about the type of cancer they may have and every result broken down for them. They are very proactive in monitoring their treatment plan and, I guess, feel more in control. Others, myself included, want to know as little as necessary. In my view, knowing too much engenders more fear. Ignorance IS bliss. This means you have to trust your team implicitly to do what they believe is best (though they will offer options) and you go with the flow, not worrying about markers and test results unless your oncologist wants you to.

You need also to be ready to face a harsh reality and referring to breast cancer as the c-word is not the way forward. There are many different kinds of breast cancer so this may be one question to ask. However at this early stage they may not be sure. The full extent of my diagnosis wasn’t known until after my mastectomy so I had 5 different diagnoses in under 5 weeks! That’s why I just sighed and surrendered myself to the process. Assuming you do have a breast cancer diagnosis, you want to know what type it is and what the implications are for you. You want to know what your Treatment Plan is and what you can do to help yourself manage it well. If surgery is required, you need to ask about surgery options (mine began with the offer of a lumpectomy with radiotherapy just in case and ended with a full mastectomy and full axillary clearance (the lymph nodes), followed by the full works in the subsequent treatment plan, so things may change). Will you want a reconstruction? Will it be done at the same time or at a later date? What’s the average waiting time? Do you really want to know your prognosis? If this will scare you, don’t ask. Stick to practicalities.

I believe there is a downloadable resource here and at Macmillan to help you know the best questions to ask. PLEASE stay off Google. It is guaranteed to frighten the toughest as it’s not tailored to each unique experience. It’s also out of date, mostly irrelevant and has no consideration for our emotional reactions!! That’s our Rule Number One almost!! Do also NOT assume you have breast cancer but mentally prepare yourself in case. Mindfulness, meditation, practical stuff like baking or decorating, running… anything that makes you feel good about yourself and takes your mind off fantasising about the horrors of cancer.

You can tell by the sheer numbers using these forums that breast cancer is not uncommon, it IS manageable and the treatments, not always pleasant, are doable. Most come out the other side somewhat exhausted but with No Evidence of Disease (NED). Rid yourself of this very last century idea of cancer treatment (I’ve never met anyone who was sick, for example) as there has been massive progress in managing side effects. Don’t fantasise about hair loss - your treatment may not cause it but, for heavens sake, it’s only hair and it grows again!! A small price to pay.

So a lengthy response having said you’re asking a lot. Apologies. I’d say, be practical, prepare yourself for bad news just in case, have someone with you who can be practical (notes) but also supportive of your anxiety and keep your head in the 21st century - times have changed. Also, practise, practise practise any technique that can minimise anxiety and unwanted thoughts. I hope you get a good outcome.

Jan x

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First of all, as Jaybro said, I’m sorry you’re going through this. It’s a horrible time we all know when they suspect something but haven’t confirmed it. I personally refer to it as torture. But there’s nothing to do but forge ahead and get your answers and you certainly seem to be keeping a good attitude about it. Jaybro gave you excellent advice on how to manage this no-man’s land and keep that good attitude.

As far as questions you ask, that of course will depend on if they diagnose you with cancer. But if they do, the minimum you’ll probably want to know is what kind of breast cancer you have. There are four types. You’ll also want to know whether the cells are IDC or lobular and then is there a specific type of either that you have. Grade might be a good thing to know, also, and what stage they suspect you will fall in. All that is subject to change as more testing and procedures get underway but that at least will give you something to start with. Also, they’ll have an idea on what kind of treatment they will recommend first. Make sure you understand thoroughly what that entails. 

I hope you don’t need to use any of the information you get from us. But if you do, know you are not alone, we are all in this together. And there are many of us. Wish there weren’t, we all do in fact, but you can’t escape how common breast cancer is. The positive is that it is one of the most treatable cancers from stage 1 to stage 4 and more treatments come out every year. So just try to focus on staying in the present right now and don’t borrow any trouble until you have to. Many hugs sent your way.