Breast lump

[Thisoldchestnut]

Hi everyone, I found a lump in my armpit last week, the size of a small marble/large pea. It was rock hard, I then found a sizeable lump in my boob. My Gp was fantastic, she found two swollen lymph nodes and has done a 2 week fastrack and I have my appointment for the 13th September (Friday 13th, what could possibly go wrong!?).
In the meantime, the 2 armpit lymph nodes have almost gone. Obviously I'm convinced it's the worst news, my younger sister has had bc twice now. But do lymph nodes usually dissappear if it is bc? Xx

I would take it as a good sign but ultimately until you've had your scans +/- biopsy no one here can say.

pleasw remember that majority of people referred with breast /armpit lumps do not turn out to have cancer. I think it's less than 1 in 10.
Good luck.

Thanks, I just needed to hear that, I'm currently on holiday and arrive back on the 13th, so I'm being distracted by swimming etc x

Hello. Just wondered how you are doing? I found this thread by searching 'breast lump'.

I know the answer to this is that none of you can give me an answer & I should check with GP... however, I just wondered if any of you can describe the feeling of a lump?

I noticed something a few days ago on the side of my breast that was just pea-sized and shaped. I then couldn't find the lump for a few days, but noticed it again today. I do have fairly large (F cup) breasts. Getting a GP appointment is quite complicated for me for numerous reasons and I'm really not sure if it is a concern or not? (Especially as I couldn't find the lump for a few days and it's only pea-sized.)

Hi! Definitely get it checked.
I went to the hospital last Friday (13th of all days!). The nurse practitioner had a feel and although my armpit lumps had disappeared she could still find them, and also said in her experience my boob lump felt like a cyst. She sent me next door for a mammogram and ultrasound just to tick the necessary boxes. The mammogram didn't pick anything up as the lump is on the very underside of my boob, but the ultrasound did. At first they agreed it felt like a cyst, but as the scan progressed it became apparent it wasn't. So they took biopsies, and put titanium markers in there. Another mammogram then back to the nurse practitioner who was quite shocked tbh. I have an appointment in the morning (20th), and have been told on the scale they use I'm at the higher end so they think it is cancer. I'll post back tomorrow to let you know.
It's been an awful week, but I feel blessed, apparently the armpit lumps are likely to be pure coincidence but if I hadn't felt them, I wouldn't have felt my boob so early. Fingers crossed for us both xx

Wishing you well OP ….and if it is cancer, then you’ve caught it early and loads of treatment options with BC

@Thisoldchestnut wishing you well. Hope you have good support today.

Evening, well its cancer. Apparently they don't give a stage now? (Is that true?), but its a grade 3. Phonecall later confirmed I'm having an mri first, then a treatment plan to follow (surgery then probably chemo).
I'm 2 hours away from all my family having moved 3 months ago with my husband. He's been amazing. But I have to tell my kids and mum/sister on Sunday, that's the part I'm dreading tbh devastating their worlds x

Yes I was never given a stage….just a grade….pretty usual…..I’m really sorry you got this…..you just need to get the scans etc over so you know exactly what you dealing with……but once you get a treatment plan I promise you things will seem better….like you have some control back and are moving forward…..I wish you well

I’m so sorry, I don’t have any advice just didn’t want to read and not comment. Sending you all positive vibes and hope for your speedy recovery and that you will be on the mend before you know it 🙏❤️ our strength in times of toughness can be truly amazing xxx you’ve got this ❤️❤️

Thank you so much for your replies and support. I've felt weirdly calm so far. The only thing I'm dreading is telling my kids and the mri as I'm claustrophobic. I did ask the consultant about sedation but he said we'll see "but I do have a hammer!?", I replied "I'd rather stick to a bottle of gin tbh", it felt good he has a sense of humour x

I’m a survivor from ovarian cancer. Just to say, we find strength we didn’t know we had, to get through this. My three kids were amazing, yes it’s the hardest thing telling them but they coped. You’ve got this @Thisoldchestnut . 💐

So sorry to hear you’re in a similar boat. I was diagnosed 2 months ago and have been through surgery, with further treatment planned. It’s a horrible thing to be going through but hopefully you’ll find all of your team as amazing as mine - sounds like you have a great consultant.

There is a really supportive thread in the general health section. Look in, or join in when you’re ready to. 💐

Didn't want to read and run.

Thinking of you, and wishing you the speediest recovery.

Xx

Huge hugs OP.

Thinking of you and wishing you a good recovery. 💖

So sorry to hear this @Thisoldchestnut

So sorry to hear this @Thisoldchestnut & just to say I’m a few months ahead of you in the breast cancer club (grade 3 IDC). They don’t give you a stage anymore that is correct (& wouldn’t be able to do until after all scans + surgery anyway as i understand) but I found mine out as I had an insurance form I needed it for & wished I hadn’t cos unless you aer stage 1 it makes you feel even more shit! (They go with either curative or not !). I just wanted to say I’ve had surgery, recovered really well & now going thro chemotherapy. So far everything is do-able & like someone else has said you will draw upon strength you never knew you had. All the scans after diagnosis & waiting to get your treatment plan are truly awful, once you get your treatment plan you wont even have time to think & worry & you’ll feel a bit more in control if that makes sense. I’ve found the breast cancer now forum a godsend for chatting with people going through the same things x

Thank you 😊. I'm quite a proactive person, so hanging around waiting for a plan of action is truly awful, but can't be helped. I told my mum/sister on Sunday (younger sister already knew), I then had to tell my youngest (m23), who responded in a very worrying manner. He asked if it's curable etc. And after a few minutes just went "cold", I said it's OK to be sad/angry/worried/anything, his response "its OK, I'm a shell of my former self, I show no emotion in front of family " . I asked if he thought counselling would help, no. Well that's now on my mind! Worrying about that! I have to tell my 2 older kids on Thursday.
One thing that strikes me now, every single lump bump etc I'm worried about it being sinister! I hate that! Xx

Hi all, another update-its been a whirlwind!
Mri picked up another 2 lumps so yesterday I had an ultrasound and biopsy. There's "only" one more lump so I have 2 in total. I got my biopsy results back a couple of weeks ago and I'm triple negative. Given my age (56) and tnbc plus my younger sister has had it, I'm now being tested for the BRAC gene. I saw my oncologist on Monday (he's hilarious!), and started chemo & immunotherapy today! So I've had 2 ultrasounds, mammograms, 1 mri more tests re brac, and started treatment-all within 7 weeks! I'm so lucky!
My treatment is 12 weekly chemos, then every 3 weeks for 12 weeks. Maybe a lumpectomy, but if I have the brac it's a double mastectomy and radiotherapy x

Sending you healing vibes and strength . From one stranger to another. ❤️‍🩹

Gosh what a whirlwind but at least the treatment has started quickly. I hope things go as well as possible. I start 12x. weekly chemo next week then onto 4x 2-weekly. May the odds ever be in our favour.

Thinking of you @Thisoldchestnut 💐