Tests Not Picking Up Lump

[Sissy281]

I am new to this site having found it yesterday. I am 67 years old and was diagnosed in March 2018 with cancer in my left breast. I had a lumpectomy and 4 weeks of radiation. I currently take Anastrozole everyday. Four weeks ago I felt another lump in my left breast. The really strange thing is that although I can feel the lump and so does my surgeon and oncologist nothing can be seen on the mammo, ultrasound or MRI tests I have taken. Has anyone experienced something like this? I will be having a biopsy next week so a determination can be made whether or not the lump is cancerous.

Hoping for the best.

[urthmothr]

I had a "mystery lump" that couldn't be felt and wasn't detected by any routine tests. I only learned about it when there was a discharge from my nipple, and it was confirmed by MRI. In my case, it was "in situ" (not aggressive) but still had spread enough that they took the whole breast. I hope your lump turns out not to be cancer, but something more easily treated!

[Sissy281 in reply to urthmothr]

Thank you. I will post once I know result of biopsy.

[PJBinMI]

Having the biopsy is certainly what I would suggest if you hadn't mentioned it! (One of my cats just ran across the keyboard, not the first time that's happened!) I have lobular bc and it is often sneaky and does not always show up on scans! It's usually E + and often responds well to treatment. That is one possibility. Cancer has to reach a certain size to show up on scans, so tiny cancers can go undetected. I hope that the biopsy will clarify it for you and your onc! And that you will find peace within the waiting. You certainly have some things going for you! Being "older" (post-menopause) is always a plus! One of the great unfairnesses in life is that we older women tend to have slow growing bc while younger women often have more aggressive forms of bc. So this is one time when age is an asset! Some of us who do have breast cancer that has metastasized are living longer and longer. First time I went to an MBC conference, there was a woman there who had been living with mbc for 30 years! That was sure hopeful! And now I have just celebrated 15 years with mets. Please let us know what you find out from the biopsy! We'll be here for you whatever the results!

[Sissy281 in reply to PJBinMI]

Thank you for sharing. Stories like yours keep me from crumbling to pieces. I will post again once I know result of biopsy.

[Carol817]

Yes. I felt a lump and went immediately to my doctor. He sent me for mammogram and ultrasound. The radiologist said I did not have cancer. When he got to the door, he asked the tech can you feel a lump, and she replied that she could. He came back and said we need to biopsy. I am so thankful he made that decision. The biopsy was positive for cancer. I had lobular carcinoma. It is not always seen on mammogram and ultrasound. Insist on a biopsy. Six months later, I had DCIS in the other breast, a completely different form of breast cancer than the first and found on mammogram. The radiologist said we are looking at you with a magnifying glass.