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MedHelp Member's Question

First Presentation of Symptoms

by hackman, Dec 03, 2002 12:00AM
Help if you have some thoughts. 42 yr old overweight male. My symptoms first presented as unilateral gynecomastia last May. I had mammo and u/s of right breast. Diagnosis was gynecomastia. Moved to a new state and took a new job in August. Beginning in September I had strong lymph response in chest and arm pits to something. Pain in groin too. Went to urologist who ordered u/s of testicles. It was ok. PCP did blood work up and liver panel. All was ok except sed rate was slightly elevated. Developed headaches. CT and MRI of brain showed nothing. In the meantime PCP referred me to endocrinologist. His blood work up shows slightly low testosterone. Wasn't sleeping well, so PCP gave me Amytriptaline (50 mg) to help sleep. Last week noticed slight yellow tint in whites of my eyes. Went back to PCP who ordered u/s of gallbladder and another liver panel. Yesterday he called and said liver panel was abnormal (still waiting on results from gall bladder ultrasound). AST was 41; ALT was 74. Could amytriptaline have caused abnormal liver panel? Can hep present first as gynecomastia? Any suggestions? PCP wants to refer to gastroenterologist. I think PCP has been worthless. I fear either HEP C or male breast cancer that has mets to liver. Any thoughts? Sorry for the looooooong post. Am scared to death. Wife thinks its all psycho and is encouraging a visit to a psychiatrist. I can tell something serious is wrong
Member Comments

by jon671, Apr 23, 2008 07:57AM
To: hackman
            I'm in a similar situation. I'm 25 years old and i have a lump under my left nipple. I am scared it is male bc. I got an ultrasound done and it is a black mass with irregular and lobulated margins. The radiologist said it isn't gynecomastia because the right breast doesn't have the same thing. Now they have me going for a core needle biopsy and I'm scared to death. What did your gynecomastia look like on the ultrasound? Where is yours located? Mine is directly under my left nipple. The radiologist told me he wasn't sure if it is solid or fluid now when i look at the report it says it is solid.  It hurts when i touch it and sometimes aches on its own. No other signs of male bc. There is more detail in my post if you could pleas take a look at it. Sometimes i have a dull ache in my right testicle that extends into my butt and leg. No lumps or any other signs of testicular cancer. I work with computers so i think it might be because im on my a** all day. My wife is supportive but she is getting tired of me talking about it. She doesn't want to think about it because she thinks its nothing and wants to be positive. Since the radiologist and my doctor suggested i get a biopsy I have been freaking out. I'm losing weight sleeping and eating less. I think im starting to become a hypochondriac. Felt fine until the day a biopsy was suggested. Anyway your not alone. Good Luck.

by meki, Apr 23, 2008 11:55AM
GET the biopsy ---- They're nothing... HONEST...

Some folks feel a little "pinch"..

But it is BETTER to be in the "know" than to be sitting there worrying yourself to death with fear of the unknown.

If you know then you can deal with it... Just like any other problem that comes along.

If you don't know --- all you do is sit there and worry about the what "ifs" the possibilities --- and we - as humans - tend to think negatively --- and worse case scenarios.

Go get the biopsy - stop freaking out - and deal with it.

AND --- if you're losing weight - and not sleeping - and eating less --- well then stop -- take a deep breath and go get a full set of tests.

Blood tests for diabetes, hep - etc.

They also have tumor marker blood tests... etc.

So stop feeling like a hypochondriac and go get it checked.

If nothing comes back - and you still feel that way --- Go get more checks --- branch out... Tell your doctor HOW YOU FEEL.. and for him/her to find whatever they can - even if it means referring you to other doctors.

DO NOT DISCOUNT these two things:

1) The power of the mind ---- to make us feel better or worse - depending on our thoughts.

2) That we humans understand our bodies intimately because WE live in them - not the doctors.

OK?

Meki

by Trinity4, Apr 23, 2008 02:30PM
To: Meki
Well said. Whew, I understand the need to vent on this forum but then there are those who conjure every worst case senario in the world.  Dealing with it rationally is so much better.  As you stated, take the necessary steps to resolve whatever issue you are having.   Not everyday is a good day but freaking out all the time doesn't solve a thing.
Trinity

by jon671, Apr 23, 2008 07:08PM
To: meki and Trinity4
       I am going to get the biopsy done. It is a core needle biopsy. I called yesterday and they told me I have to wait for two weeks. They won't see me any sooner. I had a blood test all was good except cholesterol was a little high nothing bad. I don't think I need other blood test like to check for markers unless the biopsy comes back positive. I am "dealing with it" I felt a lump under my nipple that hurts. I went to a doctor he checked it and told me its probably some fat, but I could get an ultrasound done if I wanted. I got it done even though it was kind of embarassing in my opinion for me. After I got it done the report used words like lobulated, irregular, retroareola, solid mass, and biopsy. My doctor told me its probably nothing he said either he'll give me antibiotics for a few weeks or I can get the biopsy. I chose the biopsy.  I also understand the power of the mind i.e. me admitting I'm a hypochondriac. I understand that knowing is better than sitting here worrying. I have at least two weeks before I find out the results of the biopsy. I think stress is what is causing me to lose weight eat and sleep less. I wish doctors understood the power of the mind better. Neither my doctor nor my radiologist showed any sympathy mostly my radiologist. The only concern they showed was that it might be cancer. Not that I as a person might have cancer. I understand they don't know and it is really unlikely, but why not at least tell me what my chances are or reassure me that if something is wrong it is possible I will be okay. Basically all I've been told is that male breast cancer is rare, but what I have looks like cancer so we need to double check to rule it out. If it is cancer we are going to give you a masectomy, chemo and radiation. You should get a biopsy. I scheduled one so I don't want to hear that I am here creating worst case scenarios and not doing anything. I am scared, I am looking for answers and other males who have had similar experiences. This whole thing is scary, embarassing and demasculating, but I am moving forward hoping for the best and trying to not let the stress take over my life but it is hard.


I understand where you guys are coming from and I appreciate it.

Don't judge. Not knowing is one of the worst parts. I don't know because I am waiting not because I don't want to.

Jon

by Trinity4, Apr 23, 2008 08:06PM
To: Jon
Never any intention to judge.  Kind words and sympathies can go a long way but at the end of the day when it just "me, myself and I" is when the power of positive thinking has to come into play.  There are no guarantees with anything.  The reality of my having hepc is maybe I clear the virus with this treatment I'm on and maybe I don't.  Maybe I develop cirrhosis, maybe I become incapacitated.  A thousand maybe's but I can't control the outcome.  The only thing I can do is everything in my power to try to beat it.  The reality for you is if it turns out to be cancer and they treat you it will be cured.  The time in between can make a huge difference in your life if you try to stay focused and keep a positive attitude.  Dealing with hepc has caused me to take a totally different approach on how I deal with things.  Initally, it was a waiting game with nothing definite until tests came back.  Sometimes I'd leave the doctors office just shaking my head.  You have to be your own advocate when dealing with the medical community.  Once you have some definite answers, start asking questions.  The medical community for the most part is not concerned with your mental well being.  They have a tremendous work load and isn't in their best interest to try and make you feel better emotionally. It's kind of like "just the facts" and nothing more.   I'm not saying that is true for all doctors and hospital staff but that has pretty much been my experience from a fairly young age.  Yes, the unknown is scary, and so what if you have a lump on your breast.  It doesn't make you any less of a man and here is that word again except MAYBE in your eyes.  Hopefully it will all work out but in the interim, what I am trying to say is don't let what you have no control over become bigger than you.  I hope I've helped you to understand my position a little better.