New Lump - reassurance needed!

Hi

I know that I need to get it checked out, but I want somebody to tell me that it’s nothing to worry about, so that I can get some sleep tonight!

I finished my treatment 2 years ago ( apart from I’m still on Aromasin etc.) I am 43 now.
Yesterday I spotted a small lump on my chest (not my breast much higher up, a couple of inches below my collarbone) I looked on the internet and in the diagrams etc, there don’t appear to be any lymphnodes there! So I’m hoping it’s not an enlarged lymph node just a little cyst. It doesn’t move. (I didn’t feel it first, I saw it, it is visible in some lights!) I had radiotherapy in that region, so does that mean that cancer can’t occur there? Having had 10 lymph nodes affected I was given 33 rads (including 8 booster ones right up to my neck)

I guess I want somebody to tell me that cancer can’t appear after rads or that their aren’t any lymphnodes in the chest!

I will phone my BC nurse Tomorrow and ask her advice, was just wondering if anyone on here can help me? (even if it’s bad news - it will be no worse that I’m thinking already!) Will I need to get it checked out asap or will I be told to see if it disappears or changes in a week?

Hope to hear from somebody soon,

Nicky x ( a rather jittery Nicky tonight!)

I don’t have any easy answers for you - but just wanted you not to feel too alone. A friend of mine had some small lumps roughly where you describe, and after scans and a biopsy she was told that they were benign and not cancer. Her immune system had been totally compromised by the chemo and they were an auto immune side effect, was how I think it was described.
Please try not to worry too much, although I know how difficult it is not to worry. I hope all is well when you do get it checked.
Best wishes.

Hello Nicky
Sorry to read about this new worry and I have no answers for you but you’re definitely doing the right thing in getting this checked straightaway. I do hope this is nothing but until you get it checked out you’re going to worry.
Please let us know what happens. Hope you manage to get some sleep.
Best wishes
Anthi x

Sorry - forgot to say. I have a history of benign breast problems - for more than 10 years before I was diagnosed with BC. One of my scares was a lumpy area about 4 inches below my collar bone which turned out to be nothing to worry about. Good luck. Anthi x