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Post by mom on Aug 20, 2022 22:42:18 GMT
If you had breast cancer and had a visible lump or growth, did you think it was something else or did you know it was cancer? What did it look like? I guess I am trying not to google (I know this will not be good for me) but I am also wondering what else it could be, given his history. Realistically, what else could it be? They are obviously not moles or a skin condition. I know women can get cysts, but can they be growing outward and be physically seen growing outside?
Here's why I am asking:
Today I met my dad at a football game and as we were talking, I could see something underneath his polo shirt that looked like a marble. I thought he had some weird necklace pendant on or something. But I asked and he was like, oh. Yeah I've been meaning to tell you about this. He has a lump that is underneath his skin that is the size of a marble. Apparently he has been watching it since January and its getting bigger. (insert my WTF face) He has three total, but the largest one is the size of a marble and very noticeably sticks out from his skin. The other two you can see if his shirt is off, but are more closer to the size of an eraser to a pencil but they aren't perfect circles. He says he and his wife (that I am not a fan of) have been watching them grow. (again, insert my WTF face) When they started to notice them, they started off small, like the head of a pin but he didn't really think much about them until June, when they were getting larger, quicker, than they had been.
All of the lumps (growths?) are hard and painless. They dont move when I press on them. All three are just past the center of his chest, on his left side. They aren't red or hot or really look like an infection. They are under the skin, but sticking further out than his skin (if you can picture that).
His last mammogram was last September and he is next one is for mid October. I am thinking we should start with his Oncologist on Monday but maybe we need to instead go see his Dermatologist? He's not scheduled for his next exam until November. Or maybe we should just get into his regular dr? I dont know where to start with this.
Backstory:
My dad (75) has survived breast cancer three years ago. He only found his cancer because his nipple was inverted and when we saw it, there was no doubt in my mind what it was. He had a mastectomy on his right side and got the all clear about a year and a half ago. He also had bypass surgery last November so he does now have that scar on his chest as well, but the lumps are not on his scar. They are to the left of it.
Anyway, I am the main person to care for my dad (besides his wife, who is absolutely no help) so figuring this all out is going to come down to me. I am trying not to panic, but I also know his history and know the odds of him getting breast cancer the first time and yet, he did. So talk me down. Please.
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Post by flanz on Aug 20, 2022 22:46:17 GMT
I'm so sorry mom. I've got my WTF face on over here too. ((( hugs ))) |
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Post by revirdsuba99 on Aug 20, 2022 22:47:37 GMT
First, no panicking... Can't do or call anyone until Monday. Could be cysts, but with his history he needs to see someone, PCP. If he has easy access to the oncologist, make that call.
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Tearisci
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,965
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Post by Tearisci on Aug 20, 2022 22:48:59 GMT
I'm a breast cancer survivor and I absolutely would get anything suspicious checked out pronto. As much for peace of mind as for diagnosis.
I hope you can get him in and get checked sooner than later!
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Post by revirdsuba99 on Aug 20, 2022 22:54:20 GMT
BTW; hugs for your dad!
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Post by grammadee on Aug 20, 2022 22:59:40 GMT
It could easily be cysts. But just as easily be malignant. I would be calling his oncologist on Monday to see how quickly you could get him in for a scan. Good news about the lumps being so close to the surface, they can be easily removed for confirmation of any diagnosis. But they will prob want to look at some lymph nodes, too.
Panic doesn't help. Waiting is hard. But until you know what these are, try not to envision the worst it could be. Hoping that since he has been on this merrygoround before, he saw a difference between this incidence and the last one?
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Post by pjaye on Aug 20, 2022 23:19:20 GMT
You didn't mention if he had chemotherapy...?
I'd go to whoever you can get in to see first, while it isn't "urgent" I do think you need to get started in finding out what this is. If he didn't have chemo, a recurrence of the cancer on the other side is unfortunately one of the possibilities, and if they seem to be actively growing, then it's best not to wait too much longer.
I'd start with the oncologist, ring and ask for an appointment and mention that he new lumps, ask if you can send them a photo. They are going to have to do some sort of imaging to make a diagnosis, they may want to start with a mammogram or an ultrasound and do some kind of sampling, either fine needle aspirate or core biopsy. If for some reason the oncologist can't see him soonish then try his regular doctor as a doctor to doctor phone call often gets people seen sooner, or they may be able to book an earlier mammogram or ultrasound and then by the time he gets in to see the oncologist they'll the results of those.
They could be benign lumps, although I think having 3 come up at the same time would be quite unusual.
The reality is that until a pathologist looks at the cells from those lumps under a microscope, everything is just a guess...and with his past history you need to get the ball rolling on getting that to happen so you know for sure what it is and what (if any) treatment he needs.
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Post by mom on Aug 20, 2022 23:21:56 GMT
It could easily be cysts. But just as easily be malignant. I would be calling his oncologist on Monday to see how quickly you could get him in for a scan. Good news about the lumps being so close to the surface, they can be easily removed for confirmation of any diagnosis. But they will prob want to look at some lymph nodes, too. Panic doesn't help. Waiting is hard. But until you know what these are, try not to envision the worst it could be. Hoping that since he has been on this merrygoround before, he saw a difference between this incidence and the last one? I asked him if this was similar to before, and he said no. Because he didn't know anything was amiss until his nipple started inverting. From the first time he saw something going on with his nipple, to it being very obviously inverted and him knowing something was bad wrong, was about 2 weeks. He was on vacation when he first saw it and by the time he was back stateside and made his appointment to his GP, it was completely inverted and he knew. |
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Post by mom on Aug 20, 2022 23:24:19 GMT
You didn't mention if he had chemotherapy...? I'd go to whoever you can get in to see first, while it isn't "urgent" I do think you need to get started in finding out what this is. If he didn't have chemo, a recurrence of the cancer on the other side is unfortunately one of the possibilities, and if they seem to be actively growing, then it's best not to wait too much longer. I'd start with the oncologist, ring and ask for an appointment and mention that he new lumps, ask if you can send them a photo. They are going to have to do some sort of imaging to make a diagnosis, they may want to start with a mammogram or an ultrasound and do some kind of sampling, either fine needle aspirate or core biopsy. If for some reason the oncologist can't see him soonish then try his regular doctor as a doctor to doctor phone call often gets people seen sooner, or they may be able to book an earlier mammogram or ultrasound and then by the time he gets in to see the oncologist they'll the results of those. They could be benign lumps, although I think having 3 come up at the same time would be quite unusual. The reality is that until a pathologist looks at the cells from those lumps under a microscope, everything is just a guess...and with his past history you need to get the ball rolling on getting that to happen so you know for sure what it is and what (if any) treatment he needs. No chemo. But he does get a shot once a month and Anastrozole daily. |
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Post by Zee on Aug 21, 2022 0:05:18 GMT
I have had cysts post-mastectomy but I didn't wait around to watch them grow.
I am betting he is scared to get more bad news so he's putting it off--a response I've seen many times.
Please encourage him to call his oncologist ASAP. They got me in right away for US, bx, and mammo. I was 4 years out from mastectomy. Everything was benign, but I acted quickly and they weren't there for several months.
Remind him knowledge is power. Sending him good thoughts!
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Post by librarylady on Aug 21, 2022 0:30:30 GMT
Prayers that it is only cysts.
(wearing a WTH face with you)
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Post by mom on Aug 21, 2022 2:02:01 GMT
I have had cysts post-mastectomy but I didn't wait around to watch them grow. I am betting he is scared to get more bad news so he's putting it off--a response I've seen many times. Please encourage him to call his oncologist ASAP. They got me in right away for US, bx, and mammo. I was 4 years out from mastectomy. Everything was benign, but I acted quickly and they weren't there for several months. Remind him knowledge is power. Sending him good thoughts! Ok, this is bringing me some comfort knowing cysts aren't unheard of. He gave me permission to email his oncologist this evening telling him everything and we even sent a photo so they would have it Monday when they go into the office. We will follow up with a call on Monday but he knew they were really good about getting back to him when he emailed before, so he thought we should start there. |
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Post by quietgirl on Aug 21, 2022 2:45:03 GMT
I had breast cancer but I can't remember the lump really. I wouldn't have called it hard, though.
I just wanted to say I'm sending good thoughts and prayers for your dad and my best wishes.
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Post by scrapmaven on Aug 21, 2022 3:27:54 GMT
You were given really good advice here. That she just watched these lumps grow has me SMH, too. I'll think benign thoughts for your dad. ((((HUGS)))).
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TXMary
Pearl Clutcher
And so many nights I just dream of the ocean. God, I wish I was sailin' again.
Posts: 3,410 
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Post by TXMary on Aug 21, 2022 3:42:57 GMT
Another breast cancer survivor. I am glad he agreed to let you contact his oncologist. He definitely needs to have them checked out. Sending good thoughts that they are not anything serious.
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seaexplore
Prolific Pea
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Apr 25, 2015 23:57:30 GMT
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Post by seaexplore on Aug 21, 2022 3:44:22 GMT
I had lumps that were visible, hard, and growing when I was 18. Had them removed (total of 3 was softball sized!) from my large breasts. Turned out they were fibroadenomas and nothing to worry about. Haven’t had a recurrence for 30 years now.
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Post by lucyg on Aug 21, 2022 4:44:49 GMT
Do what the nurses here said!
I have not had a recurrence, and I am terrible about going in when something is visibly wrong in general (it’s a miracle I got an early BC dx), but if I had growing lumps on my remaining tissue or the other side now, you’d better believe I’d be in there for them to take a look.
And I would try not to panic, because it could easily be something more benign than a recurrence, too.
Good luck to him and to you.
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RedSquirrelUK
Drama Llama
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Location: The UK's beautiful West Country
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Post by RedSquirrelUK on Aug 21, 2022 9:04:18 GMT
I have had cysts post-mastectomy but I didn't wait around to watch them grow. I am betting he is scared to get more bad news so he's putting it off--a response I've seen many times. Please encourage him to call his oncologist ASAP. They got me in right away for US, bx, and mammo. I was 4 years out from mastectomy. Everything was benign, but I acted quickly and they weren't there for several months. Remind him knowledge is power. Sending him good thoughts!  I had breast cysts several times before I had breast cancer. The cysts were painful for me, but women's and men's breast tissue are different. The cancer lump I found was like a large garden pea, quite hard and movable. It didn't hurt until it had been poked and prodded. The doctor found the other tumour in the same breast. I didn't know it was there, and couldn't feel it even when it was pointed out. I had a mastectomy, chemo, immunotherapy (only just finished that) and am on a daily aromatase inhibitor like Anastrozole. I check everything regularly and if I found a lump anywhere I would probably be on the phone as soon as they opened, even if it turned out to be a mosquito bite! But men are different, aren't they?  I hope your dad is OK. Hugs to you. |
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Post by KelleeM on Aug 21, 2022 12:01:10 GMT
My breast cancer presented the same as your Dad’s with an inverted nipple.
Please get him seen as soon as possible. And I agree with others who said that he’s probably scared. I can understand that.
sending hugs.
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Post by elaine on Aug 21, 2022 14:01:06 GMT
(((Hugs))) I couldn’t feel the tumors I had due to dense breasts. The doctors couldn’t initially feel it until they knew where to feel for it from the mammogram.
That said, I see my oncologist every 6 months for an infusion of a bisphosonate. He spends a bit of every exam palpitating every inch of my chest and armpits looking for lumps. So, I am glad that you are going to contact your dad’s oncologist.
Hopefully they will be something benign. ❤️
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Post by malibou on Aug 21, 2022 14:20:46 GMT
Hugs, aging parents aren't easy.
Keeping you both in my thoughts while you straighten this out.
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I had breast cysts several times before I had breast cancer. The cysts were painful for me, but women's and men's breast tissue are different. The cancer lump I found was like a large garden pea, quite hard and movable. It didn't hurt until it had been poked and prodded. The doctor found the other tumour in the same breast. I didn't know it was there, and couldn't feel it even when it was pointed out.
