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Diseases & Conditions Breast Cancer
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Hi... I found a lump, and saw my obgyn Tues... he confirmed the lump, and set up an  mammogram and ultrasound ( I am 35) then set up appt. with surgeon.  He says it is 2.5 cm by 2 cm ( I am assuming this is approx)  and "stationary".....I go tomorrow for the mam and ultrasound, and then wait til Thurs to meet with the surgeon...
I have a few questions I should have asked the dr, but was a bit stunned when I left the office...
 
 
Does the size matter at this pt?  Does a bigger size mean more likely to be cancer?
( I just lost about 75 pounds in the last yr, so I am worried that it has been there a while and I just found it)
 
Does stationary mean solid? 
 
And I am really really scared, and I haven't found anything out yet.  It this a "normal" feeling at this pt?  I am a pretty rational person, three young boys, so nothing fazes me.  But I am almost sick to my stomach thinking about this.  Just wondering if I am "too scared?"  at this pt...
 
thanks in advance!
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Being scared at this point is about as normal as it gets after you discover a mass in your breast. No, size has nothing to do with whether or not it is cancer. My lump was 6 mm, or about 1/4 of an inch. But, it was still cancer.

Congratulations on the weight loss!! That is really wonderful!! Good for you!! The lump could have been there before, but there is no way to for sure, so do not try to second guess yourself on that one.

Know that your doctor is taking the appropriate steps ind determining what this lump is. Please know that 80 percent of breast lumps are NOT cancer. What you want is a biopsy to know what this is for certain. It sounds like that is the course you are on right now.

You have found a wonderful group of women who have been through it all. We are here to hold your hand and comfort your fears in the days and weeks ahead. You can come here anytime and know that there are women who really do understand what you are going through. Try to take a few deep breaths and know that you are not alone. Please keep us posted on what you find out. We really do care. You can find out more about all of us by reading the roll call post at the top of the messages. Feel free to add yourself to the post and tell us whatever you are comfortable sharing. Hugs, Lauri

"Go confidently into the direction of your dreams. Live the life you always imagined" Thoreau
 
Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away.

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Hi and welcome! Take a deep breath, and another...and yes you are normal! Finding a lump is very frightening, no doubt! Let me do my best to answer your questions. First though, congrats on losing 75 pounds! Way to go!!

To the best of my knowledge, size at this point has no indication of cancer or not. The larger it is, the more likely it has to come out, even knowing if it is benign. My cancer was 2.5 cm, but a lot of women had much larger tumors and others had much smaller cancers. If it is cancer, size does matter...but cross that bridge if you come to it.

80% of breast lumps are benign, odds are in your favor. Most breast cancers have been there for years before we find them, with maybe the exception of calcifications found in a mammogram.

Stationary means not moveable, or fixed. It has nothing to do with solid or fluid filled. Fluid filled means a cyst and is most likely benign. A solid lump can also very likely be a fibroadenoma or other benign breast condition, so solid does not guarantee cancer.

Most of us will agree that the waiting and the fear of the "what if" is the hardest part of the whole process. I was terrified during the diagnostic process. I sobbed during my first mammogram, which was at age 30 and after I had found my lump...I could not believe I had to go through that. Your feelings, whatever they are, are normal!!

Some suggestions...write down your questions and bring a tape recorder to the appointments, as well as a friend or relative. That will allow you to ask all you need to and not worry if you miss what is being said. Also, consider getting copies of all your reports, for baseline purposes if nothing else.

As hard as it is, try not to worry. Stay busy and distract yourself. Yes it is scary, but worrying won't change the outcome. It either IS or IS NOT cancer (we'll route for the NOT), and worrying won't help....it will just make you feel worse.

Tell us about yourself if you'd like...you can read in the roll call at the top of the board about us...
Lori

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LOL....Lauri, we wrote the same things again...I did not see your post when I wrote mine. Great minds (with great names!) think alike!

L&H,
Lori

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Thank you both so much. I feel better knowing that fear is OK... sounds strange, but oh well. Tomorrow is the first step I guess. Will let you know how it goes, but I am assuming I will not get any info tomorrow, but will have to wait until I meet with the surgeon?
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Nan, you are probably right, in that you may not get information tomorrow. It is hard to say, depends on whether a doc is there to read your reports or not. Go in assuming that you won't know anything,it may help with the mind set.

And yes, fear is OK! It stinks, but it is OK. We all know how you feel and we're here for you.
Lori

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Well Lori and Lauri did a wonderful job at answering your questions, so I won't even go there.  But I wanted to let you know that you did good in finding this place and these incredible people!  I didn't find them until after I had surgery, wish I had been here during the diagnostics, I could have used it then too.  But at the time I thought it was nothing to really worry about since I had a biopsy in the same breast 9 years before and that was benign (B9).

But ultimately know that your doctor is doing what he should be doing.  Having a mam and US is good.  My lump didn't show up on mam.  After they get a look at it they will most likely schedule a time to have it removed.  Biopsy is usually pretty easy, out patient and back to work if you need to.  The waiting really is the worst part.  Keep busy with those kids and find new distractions.  Read a book that will really absorb you.  Or find a way like gardening to keep you away from the things that will remind you. 

Most importantly we are here for you.  We wish our group didn't grow anymore, but we love helping all who come here for answers, support and friendship.  Please keep us informed as you go through this.  It is a really hard time right now, but you sound like you are in good hands and have a good grip on it. 

We'll be chanting B9 for you!

Hugs,

Mia
 
Snowflakes are one of nature's most fragile things, but just look what they can do when they stick together.


-Vesta M. Kelly

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Just got back from the US and mam... I got a two for one.. they found another smaller tumor underneath the ( and I quote) "huge" one.... he said they were both solid, and needed to come out. He also said he wasn't comfortable with some of the signs....

now, I know we can't determine anything from that, and the radiologist didn't want to discuss much else.. but I was wondering if any of you knew any of these answers...

Could the smaller one have come from the larger one? like "spread" from the larger one?

He wants them both to come completely out and biopsied... does that mean he is more concerned of malignancy? And last question, can a radiologist tell? Or only the path reports from the biopsy?

Thanks again in advance!
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Hi Nan-

I can't answer your question about the 2 being related. I have heard of women who have 2 lumps, one benign and 1 cancerous, both benign or both malignant. And even if both are malignant, they can be totally different cancers. The path report would give information related to that, based on cell type, etc.

Yes, often a radiologist can tell, but not always. In my case, the mammogram did not show my tumor, which was 2.5 cm (I was 30, and they often cannot read much in the mammo of a younger woman). I learned after the fact, that the u/s showed the tumor "was highly suggestive of malignancy". I think it depends on what they can see...in my case, they could see different densities throughout, rather than a homogenous and evenly distributed texture. Plus the borders were uneven and mis-shapen, another red flag.

I had the u/s and went to see the surgeon before the films were read officially by a radiologist. My surgeon had a radiologist in her office read it, to help her determine how to proceed surgically, and "he had some concerns about the borders."  But they seemed interested in taking it out before they knew it was cancer, it is pretty common to take it out. And it is routine to biopsy anything that they remove, even if they know it looks benign.  THey have to evaluate it on a cellular level. 

When do you see the surgeon? Did he say which "signs" he was not comfortable with?

At any rate, hang in there....we're waiting with you!

Lori

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Yes, I agree with Lori, I have heard of two lumps, one being benign and the other not. I found my first lump after losing weight, too. It was benign as was the second one found via mammogram. That weight loss could turn out to be more of a blessing than you figured. An inch is equal to 2.54 cm if you didn't have any idea. My third lump was malignant and it was the size of a man
s thumb. I had a mastectomy, my choice, and had no further treatment. It was a slow growing type and I was 58. My daughter was diagnosed with a little larger lump, she also had a small one behind it, and she had a mastectomy because of the location high on the breast, they were afraid it might be in chest wall, but it was not. She was given standard 4 chemo treatments. We are both doing fine, six years for her, eight for me. Hang in here and we will help all we can with questions and support. Hugs MaryK. MK


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Hey I am new here