My mom called. She has a lump on her breast. I need someone smarter than me...

[WillParkinson]

To tell me what this means:

"Just that the lump was about 1 cm on top and 2 cm on the bottom.
Other than that I will have to wait and see."

I understand the wait and see part. The measurements not so much. Is that big (in terms of a lump) small? What?

[Aristus]

1. The size is not as important as whether it was fixed to the dermis

or if you could roll it around under the skin.

[Connonym]

2. it's not huge

Most of the time lumps are benign so don't panic until the results come back. It's terrifying to have a lump and hard not to panic but try not to. I had a cyst removed from my breast that was totally benign. My mom had one that they were able to drain with a needle and it was benign. And even if it's cancer, it's far from a death sentence. :hug:

[FloridaJudy]

3. That's about 1/2 x 1" - the size of an almond

And as others have noted, it's not the size but the consistency that counts. Also whether it popped up overnight, or has been growing for some time. The vast majority of breast lumps are not cancerous, but it will undoubtedly need a biopsy.

That's about average for a breast lump, BTW.

[jxnmsdemguy65]

4. bras and breast cancer...

This is an interesting link that I ran across a while back - info may be of some use to some one:

http://willthomasonline.net/willthomasonline/A_Pinch_Of_Cancer.html

[malta blue]

5. interesting link - thanks for sharing

and welcome to DU :hi:

[TZ]

7. .

Please don't believe that crap--thats the kind of thing that makes PhD's and MD's yank out the hair at their roots..there isn't a shred of scientific evidence behind it...

[TZ]

6. Thats pseudoscientific bunk.

And I am a biologist who does oncological work...There is NO link between bras and cancer...

[FloridaJudy]

15. Thank goodness!

When you've worn a D-cup or above since Junior High, you're more or less forced to wear a bra when out in public. Hmmm - I wonder if there could be a correlation between breast size and the difficult of performing an adequate exam? It could make it look as if there's a link - even though there's not - because the overly endowed rarely go bra-less.

[4 t 4]

12. Oooh so scary

I wear my bras to bed.

[Hell Hath No Fury]

8. Ask her how it feels under her skin....

when she palpates it -- is it kind of "rubbery"? Does it move under her finger tips? Does it feel encapsulated, with a defined edge, like a pea would feel? Where is she in her cycle? Is she somewhere between ovulation and her period?? If she says yes to any of these, then it is most likly a cyst and harmless.

I have a long history of breast cysts, ranging in size from a pea to an egg -- the first one you find is always the hardest -- you have no idea really how to distinguish a cyst from a tumor, and all you can think of is "cancer!" until the doctor takes a peek. If it is a cyst, they can either aspirate it (put a needle in it and remove the fluid for testing) or just leave it be -- most cysts resolve themselves on their own.

[WillParkinson]

9. Her cycle

Mom is beyond that. She's 64 years old.

I'd ask her about the feel of it but she's already in uber-worry stage and I don't want her to think that something is wrong if it really isn't. Basically this advice was to give me some peace of mind.

[kick-ass-bob]

16. What did they say they were doing next?

That'll tell you some of how concerned the docs are about it.

More views? Ultrasound? Straight to biopsy?

[WillParkinson]

17. Next

They're going to do a mammogram and a ultrasound. Beyond that Mom didn't really say much. I have the feeling she WANTS to talk about it but at the same time she doesn't want to talk about it.

[kick-ass-bob]

18. That's standard procedure.

So there is no heightened concern at this point. That's good, at least :)

I can definitely understand wanting/not wanting to talk about it. Let her run the conversations :hug:

[onlyadream]

10. I went thru this scare in the spring and I can tell you that 80%

of lumps are nothing to worry about. I had a mamo, sono and then a core biopsy and it was nothing (my tumor was 13mm). I was scared to death, convinced it was cancer. Just hold tight and wait for the biopsy - it isn't easy but there is nothing more you can do. I would also stay away from any breast cancer forums - they can really scare the bejesus out of you.

[FloridaJudy]

11. Me too

Although her age (64) is worrisome. I had one a few years ago that popped up over night, was regular, freely movable and rubbery - all good signs - but my age and my family history made it likely to be a bad one. It turned out to be a rare benign tumor that usually occurs in adolescents, not in women in their fifties. Oh well, I always knew I was a teen at heart!

Sending good vibes for the OP's mom. Even if it's a bad one, my mother and grandmother both survived for decades after losing a breast. And by the time my sister got it, medical science had it down to such an art that she all she has to show for it is a two-inch scar.

[onlyadream]

14. True

I was very worried b/c my mom had breast cancer (age 60) and had a mastectomy, so the family history was there. I'm 42, but breast cancer can happen at any age (I have 2 good friends that had it in their 30s). But my lump was nothing but a cyst. In any case, I think I'll always feel that possibility hanging over my head.

[Midlodemocrat]

13. I'm sorry. I know you must be frightened.

But breast cancer can be cured these days. Even if there is node involvement. The size of the lump doesn't really matter, and in all actuality, it could end up being benign. That exact scenario happened to me.


Best wishes to you and your family. :hug: