hard, unmoveable, pea size lump

tinygina said...
I am 57, i found a hard, unmoveable, peas size lump in my right breast about a month ago. I went for a mammogran almost 2 wks ago. The clinic called and said it was neg. How can they know tha,t without a biopsy? My neice had the same type lump, they said it was neg. She got a second opinion, they did a biopsy, to find that she had triple negative breast cancer, a rare, very agressive form of breast cancer. Should i get a second opion? I have heard of several others that had the same thing happen to them, then find out later, that it was breast cancer, but was very advanced before they found it, after being told it was neg. I am very nervous. I think a biopsy should be done to rule out cancer. Im concerned that because the state is paying for the tests , since i have no health insur. they arent persuing it like they would if i had health insurance.

This is what I have in my breast too. Luckily I am covered by my state's indigent care program and if any cancer is found I will be eligible for medicaid. If the mammogram that I had Thursday comes back negative I plan on seeing the doctor who did my endometrial ablation because he would be more willing to investigate it further than the women I see.

I would get a second opinion, Do you have a Community Health Center in your area? They usually go on a sliding fee pay scale so you might check into them.

How is your niece doing?

If you don't mind me asking what state do you live in? Maybe there is some kind of program that can help. If you're low income you might even qualify for medicaid which you should check into if it comes back that you do have cancer. My sister has lymphona and she is on the last drug that they can give for it and if it stops working there is nothing else they can do.

I've read a lot of stories like your niece's. Sometimes these things don't even show up on Mammograms so it's always best to get a lump checked. That's why I'm calling my CHC tomorrow to see if I should wait till the Mammogram result is in that I had last Thursday or just come in and see him. I didn't discover the lump till last night. I decided to check myself from now on since the CHC people do a crappy job at breast exams. I had one three weeks ago and this lump is big enough for her to notice if she had done it properly.

Since you seem to have a family history I would demand the extra tests for peace of mind. Let me know what happens. Good luck:)

Wow-you're state sucks. Mine pays for surgeries(I had 3 last year) plus any other visits you have to make when you're sick. I only have to pay $15 for surgeries. The radiology places they send us to are so nice-I've never had a rude tech. The lady that did my Mammo was even apologizing for keeping me waiting. Even when I had my surgeries I couldn't have asked for nice people-they actually make the experiences more pleasant IMO.

The CHC has some people working for them that I've found to be indifferent though. I had to change one doctor because she wasn't following up on the meds she prescribed and kept telling me I had high arches when in fact it was arthritis. I had 2 surgeries last year to have bone spurs removed. I also have a co-pay cap of $120 so if I go over it all my healthcare is free for the rest of the year(I reached that last year)

I'm calling tomorrow for sure. I was still a little in doubt tonight so I did a BSE lying down with a pillow under me. I could really feel the lump and it's bigger than I thought. And REALLY hard.

I don't have a job since I am a caregiver so I can't afford to go somewhere else.

I'll be praying for you too.

Any woman with dense breast should get an ultrasound. I'm 49 and my density is 51% to 75%. It's more common in younger women but I'm an example of the other ones that have the problem.

Gina how did it go today? I called and the nurse scheduled me to see the NP next Monday even though the Mammo came back cat 1 like yours. I'm sick of these people and told her I felt I got an inadequate BE on the 3/23.

Post Edited (Poochiewoochie) : 4/11/2011 7:45:44 PM (GMT-6)

Let us know what happens Gina. It seems a shame you have to pay for something like that since there is a family history of the disease.

I went to the place today that did the mammo and asked for the film for all my mammos-I'm going to look for a radiologist that specializes in dense breast tissue. When I told them that I had dense breast and a lump and that I knew sometimes they don't show up on x rays she shook her head and said she knew. I'm also calling the director of the program that I am part of on Thursday to complain about the substandard care I've been receiving. When I went for my exam three weeks ago I didn't need a pap but she was supposed to do a pelvic exam which was as half-a-ssed as her breast exam. She didn't even look at my vaginal area-just had me spread my legs and she performed the part where she feels inside me from the side.


I'm also annoyed at them because my knee xray came back without an problems yet no one has called me to follow up in why I am having pain in the knee. I told them it wasn't in my joint yet he ordered an xray. Stupid, unqualified people there.

Hi Gina-thanks. I got my Mammogram films today-my breast are dense from the nipple to the back of them The only part that isn't is the area close to the surface.

You have a wonderful day tomorrow!

Well I had my appointment today with a nurse practitioner and here's what she said.


She THINKS the lump is breast tissue. She said that she THINKS it's that because of the way it keeps going in and out of the tissue around it. She said she also feels the same thing on the other breast which I don't even though she tried to show me. I know what I'm feeling. And I DON'T feel the same thing on the other breast.

She said that I have what she calls "donut hole" breast and that when I push in the tissue in the center area it collapses into something like a donut hole. She said what I was feeling was the tissue around the hole when I felt it. Problem is that the lump is on the outside of the nipple so I'm confused as to what the heck she is talking about. In other words, it's my breast tissue that is making the small hard lump I feel.

She also said I had very dense breast while she was examining me and that mammos do find small changes in breast tissue. I don't know if she's been keeping up on things but that's not what I understand.

I told the MA that they do bad breast exams and she got defensive and said that they know how to do them. I told her it should take longer than 15 seconds and she patronized me and said, we know how to do breast exams. I got myself so upset that my blood pressure was 170/100.

The problem today is that Nurses, Physicians Assistants and everyone else but DOCTORS are examining patients and making diagnosis these days. Since I don't have insurance it's hard to get a second opinion so I'm going to Planned Parenthood for a breast exam. I'm not going to tell them what the NP diagnosed me with and see what they say. It's going to cost $85 but at least I'll have peace of mind. After the substandard care I've been getting at the Community Health Center I have very little faith in them. An example is my knee. I told him the pain wasn't in my joint but he ordered and xray to see if it was arthritis. It came back negative but no one has called to say you need to come in to see what is causing the pain. I'm between providers now since mine left so I'm just going to wait.

They don't know I suspect. I go to the Community Health Center like Gina and we can't get second opinions so we are basically stuck. I have a discounted state medical program but regular doctors don't take it.

I've been feeling my breasts to see if I can feel the other lump that she says is there but I can't . Besides if I DID feel it before going I wouldn't have gone since it WAS in the other breast

In my case I have VERY dense breasts which makes it hard for mammos to pick up any growth.
Oh, she thinks it's breast tissue and she isn't worried but she wants me to keep an eye on it. Go figure.