Yesterday in the shower I noticed a small lump in my armpit where I had senital node biopsy, didnt tell anyone, coz I had 12 month check up today. Saw consultants registrar and told him. I said that I thought perhaps it was just a bit bunged up because I have lymphodema and had just got rid of a stinking cold. He thought otherwise and said that he wold arrange for a scan and a biopsy and that this would take about ten days. When I got home there was a message waiting for me that I have to go in this friday at 9.15 I am so scared as I thought I had got this beaten, no chemo after op just rads to my chest area as the lymph nodes were not affected. Now I am imagining all sorts of things. I have not felt as well for ages, have put on lots of weight and was really pleased with myself as I was severly underweight. Now everything is all over the place again. Anyone else had this sort of thing?
I didn’t find a suspicous area in my armpit but by my scar, rang BCN and was seen straight away, consultant did scan and FNA …results came back as fatty lump…even when I looked at what he had drawn off and put on slide it looked like fatty substance.
My original tumour was in my armpit [not suggesting this is what yours is]…how long ago were you originally diagnosed?
You have done the right thing in bringing it to consultants attention…the sooner you get scan and biopsy done the sooner you will get results…can you get your BCN to hurry results along and ring you with results asap?..fortunately my BCN does this for me.
Hope all turns out well
Karen
NOt lump but awful burning pain in armpit and swelling in breast. Had clear sentinel nodes like you but did have chemotherapy…waiting to see Onc 13th November, breast care nurse didnt think it was worth hurrying up appt.
Keeping fingers crossed for you (and me, and a few others [see’scared, pain in armtpi]) love Zoe x
Hi
I have just had an op for my 3rd local recurrence in Axilla. I had my original surgery in 2001. and noticed a little lump about 2 years later, which I had removed, this was the same cancer just a little bit left behind. This time 7 years later it is still a little bit a what was left behind, there is no spread, just an annoying blip. So hopefully this is the same for you, strangely over time it just gets more matter of fact. The fact that you feel healthy is a good sign.
Best wishes
Ann
Hi Sweetheart
Glad you are getting this sorted. From what I have learnt from here, best to check. Personally I had some pain and lumps return 10 months post op and treatment end, but I had mx, node involvement, chemo and rads. In my case it was the cancer come back, thankfully only locally and I start another set of chemo’s next week so I can kick it’s *** again. BUT, I have read a lot of others experiences that this sort of thing turns out as nothing bad… so get it checked and I hope all will be well for you. Keep us updated
Luv
Nikki
I was due back for my next check-up in Feb 2009 but ended up back at the consultant last week due to a lump under my armpit and another beside my collarbone. Ultrasound was done today and the lump under the armpit has been given the all clear - the radiographer says that it is fatty tissue which has died (probably asa result of the rads) and when fatty tissue dies off it goes hard. The smaller lump in the collarbone area is an enlarged/inflammed lymph node but again she does not think this looks sinister (I hate that word) - they did a biopsy to check on it but this is more to discover why it is enlarged rather to confirm or rule out cancer.
Try not to panic about the quick appointment - when I discovered my 1st lump I was seen at a hospital which did not have mammo facilities and was told I would get contacted by another hospital to go in the following week … like you I got a call same day asking me to come in the following afternoon … the speed was just cos they had a slot available and decided not to leave me hanging on and worrying til the next week.
Hope you get the all clear … it’s awful when you think you are in the clear then a lump or ache pops up out of nowhere.
Thanks for all helpful messages for Sweetheart, they have buoyed me up too. I feel tons better knowing there are so many other things it can be, and even if it is the cancer back in my armpit it can be tackled…Zoe x
Hi All
Thanks for your comments, went on fri morning and sonographer said all clear as far as he was concerned, but I have to see the consultant on weds, not really sure what for. BCN said I must keep the appointment, but she did not know why I had to go back if sonographer said all clear, so now I have to sweat until the 12th wondering what they are up to.
Sweetheart
Its probably more to do with protocol rather than they are concerned. Even though the sonographer thought it was fine (which I am sure is right) the norm is that a radiologist, who is a doctor, will need to read the scan result and pass on the findings to your consultant. Its just the way they do things, not that they have found anything.