Mass near Liver/Adrenal

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Hi Everyone

I’m looking to find out if anyone has experienced anything similar?

My original diagnosis was in 08/04 - bilateral mastectomy, with lympth node clearnace (right ax). FEC Chemo, Tamoxifen (4 years) 07/07 reconstruction (beckers)

In 12/07 I was then diagnosed with a mass 20 x 14 on my liver. Scan showed this to be a cyst and I was sent on my way. Happy Days :slight_smile:

11/11 I started running again, and experienced the most incredible stitch. GP referred me for ultra sound which has returned a diagnosis of a 10 cm mass. It’s not on my Liver this time - more below it and involving the adrenal glands.

Currently I am now waiting for an MRI to assess what it is. The results are not conclusive this time ie that it is just a cyst. As you can imagine I’m trying not to panic!

I had a phone call this morning from a friend who has told me his auntie has experienced something similar - that a mass has developed near the Liver. Her son in law is a pharmacist who has reviewed her biopsy results. He has told her her mass has been caused by the cancer treatment drugs and is not cancer - worrying but hopeful at the same time.

What worries me is that 7 years ago, ‘they’ got my initial diagnosis wrong, I was told it was a blocked duct as I was breast feeding at the time (son was 10 months). Which resulted in the tumour growing and me having much more invasive surgery than first needed. This time around the GP has said, ‘this is NOT an urgent matter’ I said ‘it IS to me!’ and now I am waiting!!!

I have rung the consultant’s secretary and 3 weeks on she has heard nothing from my GP - no referral letter has been received her end. I am concerned as to why they are not taking this seriously considering my history? I’ve been to my GP 3 times to push this along and still nothing.

Also, when I explained to my GP about the pain I was getting, I was told ‘it’s just stitch’ - wrong again!! My faith in my GP practice is going down hill rapidly, I feel let down and that they do not feel my health is important. I have just about got my life back on track after 7 years - I’m a single parent with a 7 year old child, I’ve had to play catch up big time with my job, got divorced in the middle of it all, nearly lost my home due to poor finances as I couldnt work. And still managing the other long term side effects of the treatment and diagnosis.

I know once my consultant is aware of the situation, he will be onto it straight away. It just dont understand why the GP practice is not taking this seriously. Afterall a 10 mass (whether it is cancer or not) is significant considering I’ve had cancer already.

Rant over lol

Many thanks Jen xxxx

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Jen,

Can’t you just go straight to your oncologist. Before my secondary diagnosis, I just rang the secretary and asked.

Another way in is to get in touch with the breast care nurse team at your hospital.
I certainly would not wait any longer. What about another Gp if you are reluctant to try the other 2 options?

It may be nothing to worry about but surely it is up to the specialist to determine that.

Julie

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Hi Julie

Thanks for your reply. I’ve seen 2 different GP’s and spoken to a 3rd. I rang my surgeon’s secretary on Fri, she said he’d been on holiday for 2 weeks. I’m going to ring her back on Monday and my BC nurse (didn’t think of that one as it’s not BC - doh lol)And I am going to see a different Doc on Monday - the one that saw me and got the BC sorted before …He and the surgeon wont take any messing lol

I’m just frustrated because the beaurocracy is so bad!

Thanks again!

Jen xxx

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If you have any concerns, even the slightest inkling that it could in any way be related to bc, then you should be able to express those concerns to a bc nurse. xxx

By the way my bc came back after 8 years clear. We have every right to be cocerned and a lot of people have been fobbed off by GP’s.
I really hope it is nothing but if it is worrying you, you are doing the right thing by chasing it up.

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Absolutely! Here’s me looking after my health and being a good self manager lol Looks like someone’s ass at the GP’s is going to get a kicking on Monday. I’ll be onto Jules my BC nurse & Surgeon first thing Monday morning :slight_smile:

I did have the initial panic when the radiographer told me about it. But in general my health is ok, no major symptoms and nothing drastic showing on my feet :-)(I’m training to be a reflexologist)

Thanks again!

Jenx

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Hi Jen

I hope you have not injured you foot kicking all those asses but I sincerely hope it has worked and you are getting somewhere fast now.

Whatever it is I would recommend keeping a diary/note of symptoms, dates, outcomes of appointments. It does two things 1. keeps them all on their toes because you have your own record and 2. makes it much easier for you to refer back to dates and outcomes etc. Anxiety and treatment often mixes up your memory (or is it just me???) and this way you can be proactive and very positive about referring back to things.

Good luck and I hope all goes well for you.

Sue x

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Hi Sue

I spoke to my BC nurse on Monday. Even though I’m not on her books so to speak, she rang the consultant and got back to me within 1/2 hour :slight_smile: She said the ball is now rolling for investigations to start :slight_smile: So just waiting again now for MRI Appt.

I’ve got no symptoms as such, I’ve not lost weight etc. 4 years ago after recon I had 20 x 14 cyst on liver, which they just left alone - I had no problem with it. I started running again, and had the most incredible stitch - that’s the only symptom I’ve had. odd!! Health wise I feel fine (apart from the fluctuating energy levels since having chemo etc. and intermitent anxiety & depression lol) I wangled some bloods late last year (I make sure I get annual bloods done - just in case :wink: )and they came back fine.

Thanks Sue!

Lots of love

Jeni xxx

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Jeni,

So glad something is happening for you. Here’s hoping it’s nothing and you will have some peace of mind.

Julie x

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Hi Jen and everyone

The title drew me to this thread as I have something similar (I think).

Jen, I hope your MRI scan comes through quickly. I think we all know what you mean about your GP surgery. I wonder if anyone was ever diagnosed promptly?

Hi Julie. Nice to see you again. I haven’t been on here in quite some time. As usual, your advice to Jen was sound.

Sue, good advice about keeping notes. Since I had chemo-brain I’ve had to write everything down.

Things went a bit pear-shaped for me over the winter but I think we’re getting on top of things now. I had a bone scan in October which showed there’s further bone spread. Then I had a CT scan early December which recommended I have an ultrasound on my liver. They “forgot” to tell me this at clinic and it wasn’t activated until a few weeks ago. I was told they could be cysts, three of them, and I’d probably have an MRI scan to confirm what they were. I waited for an MRI appointment but nothing materialised. I phoned the hospital, to be told an MRI wasn’t done routinely and that I’d have another ultrasound in three months. I said hold on a mo, this should have been done back in December. My previous CT scan was in 2008 so whatever’s growing on my liver could well have been growing since then. The upshot is I’ve got a clinic appointment next week to discuss things in more detail. In the meantime, I wrote to the onc with a list of questions and delivered it by hand so he can’t say he hasn’t seen it and fob me off.

Oh yes, when I spoke to the clinical nurse specialist about the MRI scan she said did I know I had gall stones?! O joy!!

Good luck to us all.
Maureen xx

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Hi Maureen,

I was only thinking about you the other day. I said to India1 we had not heard from you for a while.

So are all of your liver issues caused by gall stones ? Glad things have been brought back under control !!

Julie

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Dunno, Julie. I’ll find out more on Tuesday. There are three lesions on my liver, that’s all I know. I thought the pain in my side was due to tumours on the ribs but obviously not. I’ve asked for a printout of my skeleton showing the hotspots but they don’t seem to be able to provide one. I’d have thought that was doable in the 21st century. But then what do I know …

I hope you’re keeping well in yourself.

Maureen xx