Topic: My daughter, 31, breastfeeding2 months postpartum has lump

May 25, 2012 03:22 PM Mzmerz wrote:

Hi Kay

I am sorry, that is scary.  I am hoping that it is nothing, keeping my fingers crossed!

Amy 

May 25, 2012 03:35 PM, edited May 25, 2012 03:36 PM by Cynthia1962

Well, unless scans and/or a needle biopsy can show it's a cyst, then only a biopsy will definitely show if it's b9 or not.  I was dx'd while bf'g and the mammo and u/s were both inconclusive and the fna showed it was solid and not a cyst.  My surgeon and OB said it needed to come out, but I know that many women here have core biopsies instead of surgical ones like I had.  Most likely her lump is b9, but she needs a biopsy to know for sure.  I was able to continue breastfeeding even though I had an excisional bx and my recovery was quick.  I hope your daughter's lump is b9 and everything goes well for her.

May 25, 2012 03:54 PM SPAMgirl wrote:

I initially thought my lump was just a clogged milk duct. It just didn't go away. My doctor agreed that it was just a lumpy milk duct. I was bad and didn't have my next checkup for 1.5 years. By then, it was 2+ cm and I was stage iii. Then, exactly 1 year after my last chemotherapy, they found the liver and bone mets. I did watch them do the ultrasound, and the tech could tell it was cancer by the way it looked. Then the radiologist explained how you could see the difference between the different kinds of lumps. From her explanation, I knew I had cancer before the biopsy came back. I think my mammogram just indicated that I should get the ultrasound. I have a lot of faith and confidence in the ultrasound. Make sure you ask a lot of questions about the color and shape of the lump and what it means.

May 25, 2012 04:10 PM, edited May 25, 2012 04:14 PM by kayfh

I phoned my daughter after the last post and offered to hold her baby while she has USS. She is happy not to go alone. She understands my paranoia, but she is also not one to get too perturbed until she has a documented reason to be perturbed. She is aware that I asked YOU and she is pleased to have had such a response. Thank you.

May 26, 2012 01:11 PM, edited May 26, 2012 01:12 PM by kayfh

I will tell my daughter about your considered opinions. It seems that she needs to know about what your experiences have been, how issues were followed up, good and bad, so that she can make an informed decision about her healthcare. As it now stands I think she thinks she is supposed to passively accept what her physician agrees to arrange. It is most likely that she has something entirely benign going on in her breast, but I think that she should know that and not be put off. He said "it doesn't feel like cancer". Mmmm. If we knew exactly what it "felt" like we could avoid mammograms USS Ct scans, MRIs and even biopsy.;)

May 26, 2012 01:48 PM, edited May 26, 2012 01:58 PM by weety

I agree with all the above posters.  I was diagnosed 6 months post partum during breastfeeding as well.  Although there are some unlucky ones, that doesn't mean that your daughter's lump is not benign.  It just means it can happen.  Definately have her get it checked out asap.  I caught mine at 7mm.  Had I waited and assumed it was pregnancy related, I might have had a totally different story to tell.

Edited to add:  The radiologist that saw me thought it was "low suspicion for malignancy" and even posted this in my exam notes,  but luckily she had me do a biopsy "just to be absolutely certain."  I am so grateful for her being proactive.  Again, a different radiologist might have had me telling a different story, because I would have just walked out and gone on my merry way and not even have given it a second thought.  We are taught to trust our doctors and do what they tell us.  But breast cancer is not a one size fits all, and it comes in so many different sizes, shapes, and irregularities.  It might not be a textbook case but still be cancerous.  I especially urge you to have your daughter pursue it because in young women breast cancers tend to be the more aggressive types.  Do not let her walk away with the mindset of watching and waiting--even if it is just 6 months.  Aggressive cancers can grow and spread quickly.  Demand the biopsy.  It is a needle "punch" guided by an ultrasound--it's an easy procedure, and I doubt if it is very expensive.  It is ALWAYS better to be safe than sorry in my opinion.

May 26, 2012 11:06 PM allisontom911 wrote:

i went thru the exact same thing. I did not find my lump until the baby was 5 weeks, was going the next week for post partum 6 week check up but in between then I found a lump under my arm. I knew it was cancer. My OB sent me for an Ultrasound on a friday  and they knew something wasnt right. I could see the blood flow and they were talking about "fingers" on the lumps. Then I got a mamogram that same day. I had a biopsy on Monday and confirmed cancer on Tuesday.

She could certainly request a biopsy just for peace of mind.

Sending good thoughts that all is just fine and only a clogged milk duct!

May 27, 2012 10:03 AM kayfh wrote:

Oh wow. Thank you, all of you, for your advice and the sharing of your experience.

Jun 5, 2012 01:04 AM Cynthia1962 wrote:

I'm so glad she doesn't have a malignancy!!!  Thank you so much for the update...we really need good news around here.  Her situation is definitely unusual but beats some of the other possibilities.  I'm glad she had it checked out.

Jun 5, 2012 10:12 PM allisontom911 wrote:

what a huge relief. I am so happy to hear that it is all ok! thank you for letting us know