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475796 tn?1207776029

Solid small nodule.....should I be worried?

Hello there.  Hopefully somebody can help ease my mind a bit here.  I had found a lil' lump in my left breast, had noticed some pain, itching, etc.  Went in to my PCP yesterday and had an ultrasound done. The ultrasound report reads as follows:

"A small solid nodule seen @ area of interest (appx 3 o'clock).  It measures 3. 8 x 6.1 mm.  There is also a small cyst seen in the close proximity to it that measures 3. 8 x 4.0 mm."

I am set up for mammography Tuesday.  Should I be worried??  I have burning in that area, a bit of pain and sometimes itching.  Of course, there is always going to be that "panic" feeling when something like this comes up I am sure, but I am worrying prematurely or should I be worried?  Is cancer more prominent in solid nodules versus fluid-filled?

Any information here would be greatly appreciated.
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475796 tn?1207776029
Girl, I am sure your sense of humor got you through a great many things on a day-to-day basis!!  Laughter they say is the best medicine, and I have to agree with that, because in the past few days, laughter has been a great reliever for me!  Never payed that much attention before to how it feels after one has a good belly laugh!!

I am medical transcriptionist and now do that from home which is great!  Maybe not so when my mind is a million miles away, but nevertheless I love it!  Very interesting job!

Yes, it surely does sound as though God has had his hand on you, giving you the nudges you needed to get out of the valleys and putting that extra hop in your step to get up that mountain!!  And yes, a little "life" sign would be wonderful, will have to talk to Him about that on my walk this afternoon!  LOL  My sign is "TELL ME NOW" and such a patient Father is He!!  As I am yelling, kicking and screaming, He just says in a calm, gentle voice "not now my child, but in time".  UGH!!!  LOL  Now I know how my step-sons feel!!!  LOL  Since I became a Christian four years ago, I have had so many "God wink" moments it is amazing!  I just am so very thankful for all He has given to me and my family and thankful for Him!

Adoption is truly amazing.  Both of my brothers have adopted.  My oldest brother adopted a lil' angel from Kaz, Ana Lee!  She is just an amazing child!!  Has a complete ear for music, just turned a year and is incredibly smart!!  She is just a sweetie!  They have three biological children of their own and all of them adore Ana!  My baby brother and his wife adopted four children just recently from Liberia!  They have three biological children and one on the way so that will make a total of 8!!!  Nuts I tell them but love being the Auntie!!  LOL  When we adopt, we are going to adopt within Arkansas.  There are so many children that want and NEED a family to love them, guide them, hug them, laugh with them and most importantly teach them what a real family is and what it is to love one another!  My heart goes out to so many of these children....wish I could take them all in and just make it all okay for them ya know?  God once again will place His hand upon me when the time is right and whenever that is He will place my baby girl in my arms so I anxiously look forward to that day.  I saw baby girl, but we may go for a child a bit older, like up to 4 years old or so.....I would like to have a year before starting kindergarten for adjustment time, etc.  I have a feeling though that will not ultimately be my decision....have placed that in His hands.

Well, am babbling here and have to get back to work!  LOL  Have a great day and hope to hear from ya again soon!

Rach
Helpful - 0
326352 tn?1310994295
Yeah, don't you wish God would just post a sign somewhere with directions or at least an explanation???  Maybe a "patience, please" notice on your door?  Naw, that would be too obvious.

I'm so sorry to hear about your losses.  I lost one baby, but it was very early on.  I had such a terrible time dealing with it after so long with nothing.  I cannot even imagine going so far and giving birth and not having that child to come home (at all).  Leaving Lauren at the hospital for 3 more days than I stayed was the worst, and I know a lot of people have their babies there so much longer.  My doc was the best he had already planned for an extended stay, and then there was one of those unplanned things from God...my blood pressure which during pregnancy was picture perfect, suddenly on day 2 after my C went haywire.  This one nurse realized that my heart was also taking some unplanned beats.  So I got 2 extra days in the hospital just to get the medication right to straighten that out.  Therefore, we got to stay close to the baby for another 2 days instead of going home (an hour away).  How weird is that?  When we did get clearance to bring her home, the nurses in the NICU were wondering when we were going to get her because she had been so stable the entire weekend.  She FINALLY came home on that next Tuesday.  Whew.

Don't know if I'm "vibrant", but I have a wicked sense of humor that I try to nurture everyday.  Exercise is so very important, don't ya think?  Oh, and I'm 4'10", so I'm probably overcompensating for something....?  You should have heard my bald jokes.  ;)

Adoption is a good thing.  We've a number of friends who have been blessed and so fortunate in that arena.  One little girl at our church from China has a hearing problem and had the cochlear implants.  We had a discussion last Sunday from another little girl who had never seen them.  Luckily, I could explain in her terms so that she was comfortable.  She was really freaked to start.  But the little girl with the hearing problem is just about the prettiest little thing, blue, almost purple eyes, and gorgeous black hair.  She's starting to look more and more like her adopted mom, too.  Now, that's weirdness.

Mayo Clinic eh?  Are you a nurse, doc, or otherwise?  My mom's a retired nurse and I take her everywhere I go for surgery.  Well, except the tram.  She had to keep my babies, so that was all up to me and hubby.  UAB was wonderful, though.  I never had a time when I thought I needed someone and someone wasn't there just about immediately.  Now that's good care.  I was so glad I was directed there for my tram.  That was also one of those God things.  Tell ya what, most of my cancer and babies were directed (not by me, I'd have screwed it ALL up!) by God's hand.  There were so many things that "just happened" or "had to be a certain way".  It was amazing to me to look back and think "Wow".

Well, back to the grind.  Take care!
Helpful - 0
475796 tn?1207776029
Good morning Lisa,

I previously worked for Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota.  Mayo was where I had every possible test to try to figure out why I could not carry.  Their take on progesterone was one of much controversay, stating some state that it does in fact help and some state it does not have any bearing on holding a pregnancy.  With all that I have read up on concerning progesterone levels, etc., it seems to be an answer/solution perhaps for many (such as yourself!! :)) and others that still were not so lucky.  I have come to the conclusion that God just has a different plan for me and have become settled with that.  

Also, I had one pregnancy  (1995), and she was born at 7 months, still birth, with anencephaly.  That was the hardest thing to deal with.  Then, have had 8 miscarriages since that time, all within the past 2 years, the last of which was twins so............the mental distress that put on me and dealing with repeated losses and heartache has made me come to the conclusion that I need to move on to Plan B!!  LOL  My husband and I have custody of his two boys, ages 11 and 8, so being a step-mom must be what God had in the plan for me, and my husband and I have decided that adoption in a few years is the direction we are going to head in!  That way I am guaranteed my baby girl!!  LOL  Need some more estrogen in this house, being that I am completely outnumbered, except for my two female dogs and one cat, all of whom are fixed, so does that count!!!  LOL

Your message cracks me up!  I have never met you, but for some reason, I can just picture you making that phone call when you found out you were pregnant!!  You have me chuckling here!  What an incredible blessing and what a vibrant woman you are.....your energy truly is contagious!  And yes, God's timing is not always our timing, which is the hardest thing to understand at times!!  LOL
Helpful - 0
326352 tn?1310994295
Did they check your progesterone?  That was our big problem for keeping a baby once we figured out what to fix to get the baby to make.  DH had issues, I had issues, the whole system had issues.....we were just issues, lots of little ones which made into one big "nothing".  We just about fell out when Lauren was conceived with no assistance.  She had to have progesterone to keep her there, though.  I live an hour from the lab and when I got the first indication of a positive pregnancy, I was already 10 minutes away when I called to tell them (at the opening hour).  They asked "how soon can you be here to check"..."how's 10 minutes?"  They were shocked, amazed..and jumped right in to check and make sure everything was in the right place and my levels were good.  They were VERY supportive through the whole breast cancer process, too.  It was nice to have a team of docs doing everything they knew to help you get through with a healthy pregnancy even when your body was about to be put through the ringer.

All in all, I had a good team, a lot of support from our friends and family, and a wonderful God who had it all planned out.  And my theme song "If you're going through he**, keep on moving".

Do you go to an RE?  What have they found?

Lisa
Helpful - 0
475796 tn?1207776029
That would be fabulous!!  LOL  I will let cha' know what I find out after I get "squished"!!  LOL  That cracked me up and thank you, needed that!!  I think once I know something definite, whether it be good or bad, I will be able to better control my mind because I will then know what I am dealing with....I don't fair so well in the not knowing and having to wait process.  I am the type of person who wants it told like it is, not sugar coating anything and then press on from there.

I promise to keep on keeping on throughout this waiting game.  I have two step-sons that live with my husband and I and don't want them to even know I am freaking out about something so...that will keep me grounded.

Funny, but I seem to have a problem with fertility as well.  Well, not actually the fertility part because I can get pregnant quite easily but cannot seem to get past the first trimester.....have had every test done that one can possibly have and they say no reason I should not be able to carry.....confusing!  I am so happy for you that that turned out to not be an issue after all!!  LOL  You have a beautiful family!

Rach
Helpful - 0
326352 tn?1310994295
Adult ADD!!!!!  Yep, that about sums up the experience of most when they find out they have a suspicious lump.  Even me... shoot I did that when they diagnosed us with infertility.  I read EVERYTHING.  Scared myself silly and even frustrated that OB doc I love.  He told me to "stop reading and listen".  That's hard to do when your mind is going 90-to-nothing with questions and worries.

I hope you won't have to learn what chemo-brain is....that's been hard to recover from.  Apparently the ADD you experience has a tendency to shove any current knowledge out of your brain and then, when you need that information again...it's gone!  Then chemo knocks a few brain cells off-line for a while.  I'm recovering my brain right now, went back to work last fall and still haven't fully managed to come back up to speed after 3 years off.  It's not quite like riding a bike.  

Two weeks for a followup, that's a bit long to wait, but .... in the meantime, do what you have to do.... don't stop living just because this is in a state of limbo.

Get squished and then we'll see what you have to experience next.  Maybe just a wait, hopefully a "go away" and come back with a REAL problem.  ha ha ha  Wouldn't that be nice?

Cheers,
Lisa
Helpful - 0
475796 tn?1207776029
Lisa,

The only words I have for you are AMAZING WOMAN!  You truly are a great focus for strength, happiness, hope!  Look at you, trucking through chemo baby and all!!  Amazing story!  Feel very fortunate to have met you on here, thank you.

Mammo is on Tuesday and then I do not have follow up with my doc until two weeks following that so................that is the real bummer!!  I am trying to focus on work and let my mind rest from all of this, but I feel like I have adult ADD right now with all of the racing thoughts, what ifs, is it or is it not, blah, blah, blah!!  I work from home and typically would never say this because I love working from home dearly, but keeping focused on work right now is VERY difficult!!  LOL

Thanks Lisa so much for your story, strength and guidance!

Rachel
Helpful - 0
326352 tn?1310994295
Nope, no symptoms other than the lump I found.  I was breast feeding Kathryn (1st baby) at the time I found the lump.  She was around 5 or 6 months.  Went to my OB (whom I LOVE to death) and he said to watch it.  It wasn't mastitis like the last 2 reddish lumps I had previously.  Went back the next month, then onto my breast surgeon (whom I'm no longer seeing) who did an ultrasound and mammogram.  The mammo tech and  the surgeon both concluded that it was "probably a lactating adenoma" and come back in 3 months.  Ok.  He, nor I, wanted to stop breastfeeding at the time (thank that man for that decision!).  So, it was a bit more than 3 months, no more than 4 though, when I did go back and by that time I had a confirmed pregnancy, heartbeat and all.  (That's important because we were infertile up until this time and this pregancy was a SURPRISE).  No symptoms, it was just politely growing.  It didn't affect my milk supply or anything.  Didn't hurt...it was just there.  When he did a second ultrasound, it had grown nearly double.  He wanted to do an immediate biopsy, which I didn't.  Went back the next week for a biopsy, then got the results a week later.  It was indeed cancer, stage II possibly III.  Scheduled an immediate mastectomy for the following Monday.  Sentinal Node Biopsy was done at surgical time, 1 node positive...all nodes removed, but no more positives.  The lump was greater than 5 cm, so it was Stage IIIB.

I hated it, I cried at first for the breast and then when I realized I was going to have to face lymphedema, but I lived and have learned that it wasn't horrible, just very frightening because so much is unknown.  When I decided to face it and go about my pregnancy as if nothing were wrong, I marched in the onc's office each time wearing a smile and dancing a jig.  I was his first and apparently last (since he no longer will be doing onc work) preggie-chemo patient.  It was definitely an experience for both of us.

Get mammo, get a good breast surgeon to work with you.  Find out what it REALLY is so that you won't have to worry.  Face cancer, IF you have to, but keep on living regardless.  Don't let worry rob you of the life you are supposed to be living right now.  

Any more questions, just holler!
Lisa
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Hi,

You should relax and go ahead with the mammogram.

What is your age?

Have you noticed any abnormal features on breast self examination like a breast lump, skin changes or nipple discharge, etc?

Post us about the report when it comes in.

It would be advisable to consult a breast specialist and get a clinical examination.

Let us know if you have any other doubts and post us about how you are doing.

Regards.
Helpful - 0
475796 tn?1207776029
Hey there Lisa,

Me again!  LOL  I just noticed that you were diagnosed with breast cancer.  You obviously are a very strong woman and my congrats to you!!  My heart goes out to you and that alone gives me strength in the "unknown".  If this is tooo personal to ask, did you have any symptoms prior to being diagnosed?  I have read so many conflicting stories on breast cancer being asymptomatic so if you have breast pain absolutely nothing to worry about, then again have read that that is not true and breast cancer can bring fourth its ugly face with pain as well........If that is too personal of a question and you do not care to answer, I completely understand!  Just trying to fill some questions in my head!  LOL

You have a beautiful family, congrats to you!

Rachel
Helpful - 0
475796 tn?1207776029
Lisa,

Thanks so much for the reply and advice, greatly appreciated.  I need to just put my worry completely into God's hands but that seems much harder to do than to say!!  Once I have gotten my mammo next Tuesday, I will speak with my PCP about seeing someone who specializes strictly in breast disease/cancer.  I realize the nodule and cyst are both quite tiny, but nevertheless cancer doesn't pick a size, it just picks!!  LOL  I have such an icky gut feeling about this whole deal....nerves getting the best of me I pray and nothing to worry about.  I just wish I knew what way to sway.....I am much better in dealing with facts than unknowns.  I would rather know okay....you should probably be concernerd or quite concerned ....or.....you really have nothing to worry about...don't like being in that "unknown" area.

Anywho, praying time flies so I can put an end to this feeling I have inside of me!

Again, thanks so very much for advice and quick response!

God Bless, Rachel
Helpful - 0
326352 tn?1310994295
To be sure, I would ask for a referal to a "breast" surgeon, one who specializes in breast diseases/breast cancer.  He/She may want to perform a biopsy on the solid node, that's really the only way to find out for sure if it is cancerous or not.  If they "think" it's not and want to wait 3-6 months for a re-evaluation, then it's more than likely just a suspicion.  If you want to pursue and get a biopsy, then please do for your own peace of mind.  However, the wait of 3-6 months won't change things much, if any, if it is cancer.

Here's hoping you have nothing more to worry over!
Lisa
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