Sunday, July 05, 2009 Sue asks

Q: I'm 35 yrs old, mother of 3, I've had a lump in lower armpit area for the last 7 years.

When it first appeared I was told it was just a lymph node, no big deal, and did a follow up mammogram and ultrasound confirming nothing to be worried about. With my last Gyno visit, I mentioned the lump because it has been getting "achey" by the end of the day, due to pressure from my bra. I redid a mammogram and ultrasound and followed up with a biopsy because the dr wanted further information on the contents of the lump. Is it possible that the lump could be cancerous after 6 years of existance?

And I have recently been diagnosed by 3 different dr.s with a fibromyalgia which seems to have the same symptoms of a cancer which has progressed. I have another 6 days to wait for the results, but I'm starting to get very anxious about a lump that I've always considered as benign?? My Dr was extremely unwilling to give me any statistics for my situation, and i'm very confused! Thank you for any extra information!

Answers (1)

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Phyllis Johnson

7/ 5/09 10:46am

Sue, it's unlikely that a lump that is seven years old will turn out to be cancer. Since it has changed characteristics lately, it's a good thing that your doctor took it seriously enough to do the biopsy. Probably it will turn out to be benign just like the majority of lumps that doctors biopsy. If they do find cancer in this lump, it will probably either be new growth or a very slow-growing cancer because for a cancerous lump to stay the same for years would be very unusual.

I know the diagnostic process for this and your other symptoms can be frustratingly slow, but keep on asking questions and being persistent with your doctors until you are satisfied that you have been correctly diagnosed. I hope everything turns out OK.

sue

7/ 5/09 12:03pm

Thank you for responding! That helps, but I know i'm still going to be a bit of a basket case till I know for sure, and I imagine that's normal as well...

thanks

sue

Phyllis Johnson

7/ 5/09 5:09pm

Yes, waiting for test results is terribly stressful. I've done it all too many times both before my cancer diagnosis and since then. Usually everything has checked out fine, but there are never guarantees. I've found I cope best if I stay busy and try to concentrate on other things.

Phyllis Johnson

7/ 5/09 5:10pm

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Q: I'm 35 yrs old, mother of 3, I've had a lump in lower armpit area for the last 7 years.

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