Growing lump not seen on scan and now second lump beside it
I’ve had mri with contrast, ultrasound and mammogram and none show a palpable lump. I found it last spring and doctor confirmed but it’s not visible. Since the spring it has increased in size and changed in shape. A new smaller lump has sprung up next to it. Both are confirmed by my GP.
The hospital does not want to biopsy because it is not seen on imaging. I have been waiting for doc to find a specialist willing to investigate without confirmation on imaging. My doctor has mentioned it could still be another 6-12 months waitbut she is aggressively trying to find a quicker resolution.
Has anyone had a similar experience or have any advice?
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gretknee: According to my breast surgeon there are some rare situations where a tumor does not show up on imaging. Architectural distortion was found on my mammogram so I was put on 6 month surveillance. A year and a half later a palpable lump appeared in the same location of my breast but did not appear on the mammogram or ultrasound. My PCP at the time told me not to worry since I had no family history of any kind of cancer. A year after that pleomorphic calcifications appeared at that spot on my mammogram and a biopsy was done. There was still no sign of a tumor but the biopsy showed DCIS. When I went to a larger teaching hospital for treatment the surgeon, who could feel the lump, accompanied me to radiology and took over the ultrasound wand. She said that there was no tumor visible but her gut feeling, based on the screen image, was IDC so she scheduled me for SLNB as well. It turned out that her gut feeling was correct.
The surgical pathology found multiple radial scars in my tumor margins which, according to my surgeon, had hidden the tumor from view. Radial scars are uncommon benign growths which happen in an environment which can be conducive to cancer and a large number of them can block the imaging rays. She told me that she had another situation where a malignant tumor was encased by a fibroadenoma and the biopsy sampling just got the adenoma part of it. While such cases are rare they do happen.
It sounds like your GP is trying to find a specialist to have a look and possibly order a biopsy since that is the only way to tell for sure. A specialist is much more likely to have encountered unusual situations and is able to override the opinion of a radiologist who is not a breast expert. Chances are that the lumps are benign but I don't blame you for wanting a definitive answer. I hope something happens soon.
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Thanks Maggie. I appreciate you sharing your experience. I’m hopeful I can get some answers soon from a specialist so I take it off my worry plate. It’s been since like April without and answers so I’m feeling frustrated
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I’ve found two more lumps. One is about a cm and the other probably half the size on the opposite side of the breast. So much ugh. The original first lump was round and now it feels like chunky lumps clustering.
My doctor gave an update that the surgeon/specialist wait is expected over six months. It’s just plain ridiculous at this point. I have lumps that are growing and multiplying in one breast and the specialists are too effing busy??
At this point I’m so angry. I have another appt with doc on Wednesday but without any better plan I feel I need to get politicians or news involved or somethingand that strongly does not appeal to me. But seriously it will be a year in spring since I found first lump and no one has been able to say if they are benign or othewise.
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gretknee, do you have access to a major cancer center? I would try to get a referral to somewhere like that.
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That is where my doc first sent a referral to in Kelowna and they said it could take a year and she has checked in with them again with no update of appointment given. 😞 I don’t understand why no one seems to be motivated to help on the other sides of the referrals.
On Wednesday, I’m going to make it clear to doc I will literally driveanywhere.
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I think the post you are referring to about biopsy was when I was told that they wouldn't biopsy on a first scan at the hospital. They would need to review the scan first before biopsy and when it was explained to me I understood the reasoning. Unfortunately, because they can see the lump they wouldn't biopsy.
However I have wanted it and now then biopsied from the beginning and it's stressing me out. My doc also thinks it needs biopsy and we keep pushing.I have had an mri, mammograms and ultrasounds and non have seen the lumps. I have one lump on other breast and only the ultrasound ever saw that one.
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I just discovered a lump 6 weeks after a clear mammogram. It’s 3 cm. I have an appointment scheduled Monday for another mammogram, ultrasound, and if needed a needle biopsy while there. Has anyone had this type of thing happen before? Would love to hear some comments. Jayn
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Hi Jayn, It's possible for lumps (benign or otherwise) to not show up on a mammogram. It looks like your doctor is being proactive scheduling all three procedures if needed on the same day. My 3 cm tumor did not show on three mammograms but was visible on the ultrasound that was eventually done. You can tell from my diagnosis line how mine turned out but I have friends in a similar situation who had cysts and fibroadenomas diagnosed. Best wishes for a benign result. Let us know how it turns out.
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