Lymph node under arm; ultrasound questionable?

[patti74]

I felt a lump in my right breast, and had a greenish discharge.  Went for a mammogram.  The mammo was fine and they compared it to the mammo done 2 yrs ago on me.

My mom has had breast cancer (after age 40).

I am 35.

Doctor said I had fybrosistic breasts.  

Although the mammo was fine, doctor found an enlarged lymph node under my arm.

The ultrasound I had showed what looked like fatty lymph nodes.  Lymph nodes that were fat filled pretty much.

But, the doctor said if it stays the same or gets bigger he would want to do a biopsy.

This all has taken place in a couple of months.

Well, I think the lymph node is bigger... but to biopsy - he wants to take the lymph node out.

But, with a normal mammo and an ultrasound that says its most likely fatty lymph nodes... I dont know what to do.

I dont want to have the doctor remove a lymph node if its just fatty... but, then again - I dont want cancer to spread if its there.

Needle biopsy could miss cancer cells the doc said.

Isen't there any kind of blood work to do to detect cancer or infection??

I had my wisdom teeth out last week, could this make my lymph node grow in the past week?

I dont have aids or anything like that.  

I'm pretty stinkin' scared right now.  We are military - so our insurance is not that great, and I am being treated by a military doc.

Can fibrosysitic breasts cause enlarged lymph nodes?

[japdip]

Lymph nodes can become enlarged or larger due to any type of minor infection that may be present in any other part of the body. Fibrocystic breast condition wouldn't cause enlarged lymph nodes. I agree with your Dr. because needle biopsy takes such a small sample that some cells can certainly be missed with this type of biopsy. I'm not sure why you are reluctant to have the node removed ; this would be the best method to determine the true nature of this lymph node. Certainly blood work could indicate an infection but NOT cancer. Personally I'd rather have a lymph node removed than the dental surgery you recently had ...... I think since this seems to be the only option you have been given, you would be best served by having the procedure but I don't think you need to rush your decision. If the enlargement has anything to do with your wisdom teeth you might wait 2 weeks or even more to see if the lymph node changes.  Regards ....

[patti74]

Ugh, I dont know why I am so nervous.  I am about in tears right now.  My doctor just called me and said he is going to schedule some blood work, and he is going to schedule the biopsy.  

It just sickens me to think that cancer is even a tad bit possible.  It really puts things in to prospective... I just think of my kids.  The past few years have been incredibly stressful - to add the "c" word would not be good at all.