I have a breast lump that they can't seem to be able to tell me what it is

[mijeva]

I woke up 4 months ago with a sore tender right breast, it felt a lot like a breast infection. I waited 5 days it was then swollen, hard, red, hot to the touch and very tender I went to see my pcp this was a Wednesday, and was put on antibiotics and was told to come back in 2 days. I went back on Friday, there was no change and was sent for an ultrasound which showed a thickened area of tissue but no obvious infection. My Dr. told me to put hot compress' on it and to take Motrin for the pain. I went back on Monday and we were able to express some thick green fluid that she sent out for a culture and gave me the name of a surgeon who specialized in breast issues. I was put on Cipro and told to continue the warm compress'. I saw the surgeon on Fri morn, my breast was still swollen, hot, tender and hard. After examining me and measuring the area to be a 10x10cm lump told me to continue the cipro. I saw her again a week later and scheduled me for another ultrasound and a mamo. After not seeing anything other than a thickened area on ultrasound and really nothing on the mamo, she scheduled me for a biopsy the following week. She took 5 core samples from several different areas. The results came back as inflamed tissue with granulomas. I felt that the results were wrong...that I had Inflammatory Breast Cancer. I asked her if they could be wrong and she reassured me that she had gotten samples from several areas so she didn't think so.  She spoke with my pcp and an infectious disease dr. and decided to change my meds to Keflex 2000mg a day and bactrim 1000mg a day. I was then taking 12 pills a day including the Motrin 800mg. I was on the antibiotics for 13 weeks total. I have been off of them for 10 weeks. I had another ultrasound at some point during all of this that found mobile debris in my ducts. My lump is now about 9x6 cm, some swelling,the redness is gone and the tenderness has now turned to occasional sharp shooting pains and a pain that goes up the side of my breast into my underarm. And a pain that comes and goes in my shoulder behind my right breast. I had an MRI 3 weeks ago and the radiologist found some areas of concern, and suggested an ultrasound guided biopsy, an MRI guided biopsy or to do a large area biopsy.My surgeon choose to do an Ultrasound guided biopsy which was done last Tuesday.I was fortunate to have a radiologist who has already done my ultrasound and knew my case. I am now waiting for the results which I will be getting on Tues.  This has been going on for 4 months and will be going for a second opinion to Boston on Feb. 9th. Any ideas???....I'm going crazy...I need to know what this is and how to take care of it once and for all. Sorry to be so lenghty... but I have a lot to say


This discussion is related to BREAST INFECTION NOT RESPONDING TO ANTIBIOTIC..POSS. SKIN INFECTION.

[mijeva]

I know exactly where your coming from, I just need to know. After my last biopsy they said again that it is an acute, chronic granulomatis mastitis, which means that the infection has been there for a long time and the tissue has developed granulomas. My surgeon has reassured me that it isn't granulomas mastitis. It sure sounds it to me. But even after the 2nd biopsy still don't feel 100% with the diagnosis. I am being sent to an infectious disease Dr. who has never delt with this type of infection, then in 2 weeks I get to go to one of the top guys at the Avon Breast Center at Mass General Hospital in Boston for a 2nd opinion. After all this I hope to finally have the answers and will feel confident in the Dr.s in Boston. I hope for you that you find the answers soon. Let me know how things go.
~Blessings,
Mijeva

[wondering1719]

hi mijeva, i really feel for you.  i have had concerns about ibc for 5 months now and all docs say don't worry--well now there is a 2cm axillary node they say should come out and i want to say i told you there was a problem--but i hope it is a more minor problem.  i have been going crazy with this as well.  i have a 2 year old and i can't bear the thought . . . i want to know what is wrong with my breast, and i simply don't trust the explanations i get.  been on 5 types of antibiotics continuously, node just growing, pain, thickening.  will probably fly to large center soon for more expertise.  hang in there, good luck to you and be well.
wondering1719

[mijeva]

Thank you for your response....I am at a loss and feel very alone. I have asked my surgeon about GM but she said that this is defiantly not it. I will wait till I get the results on Tues and then decide from there if I keep my appt. in Boston. I have a friend who keeps telling me not to borrow trouble but I just really need to know, I'm a single parent with 3 kids and I really don't have a support system.

[japdip]

Well, since there was some fluid expressed I would tend to go with the infectuous process. Has Granulomatous Mastitis ever been mentioned ??? This is often referred to as being rare but I certainly see a lot of posts here regarding this condition. Everything you say seems to fit and it is VERY hard to cure .... may last for months and even longer. Perhaps the recent tests will reveal something definite. I'm not sure if I'd go for a second opinion because all I can see as a result there is more of the same testing procedures. If it does turn out to be G.M. then you may be dealing with it for some time to come.    Regards ....,