Guest guest Posted November 6, 2004 Report Share Posted November 6, 2004 Dear Janie, I had that same swelling/mass at the end of my scar in the center of my chest too (had double in June) and though it was the end of the world. I had a post-surgery checkup last Monday (had my port out the week before) and finally had the courage to ask him about it - turns out it's extra tissue - that's all - he's seen it before many times and said "you know when you iron a shirt sleeve? when you get to the bottom of the sleeve many times you wind up with too much material? Deep down I felt so much better and relief was so much nicer than worry. He mentioned that I could go in again and he would "remove" the extra tissue - I said "No, that's okay - I'll wait till reconstruction in the Spring after I finish radiation and my skin heals. Had my first five treatments this week - so nice to have the weekend off after going every day. I'm sure you will get the same answer when you visit your doctor next week. Unfortunately, this "beast" creates panic every time something new or unusual occurs...I guess it will be a way of life for us now. My best, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 7, 2004 Report Share Posted November 7, 2004 Thanks so much. That information has relaxed me. I was starting to have despondency worse than I've ever had. I do hope it's the same kind of swelling you describe. It's not very big, but definitely got bigger. If I dig my fingernails into my ribs a little, I feel what seems like a little cyst (like a subacious acne cyst) under it all, but it also keeps changing. Right now it is a flat sort of mass/cyst, so not entirely sure what it is. Most of the time it is a " lump " or " thickening " that has " changed " from what it was... I guess I haven't really told you anything clearer. Oh well, I see my doctor on Friday morning who wants me to see a bunch of doctors with her (not about the cyst which she doesn't know about yet.) (But I will bring it up then.) She is a young resident who is my primary care physician at this big hospital clinic. She feels she may not be addressing all my needs because I have multiple problems (heart, diabetes, cancer, etc.) and wants some help from the other docs. She says I'll be able to raise any issues I might have, which I took to mean whatever questions/problems/issues I still have in different areas. However, she said a psychiatrist would be among them. I am coming to the conclusion that that must mean she thinks I am over-anxious about everything because my heart symptoms bother me a lot, and some are mysterious. Well, maybe talking to a psych wouldn't be a bad idea since this may be right. However, I now have the feeling there might not be any other docs like cancer or heart specialists, etc., but that this really might JUST be a psychiatric interview.... I dunno.... We'll see.... Janie > Dear Janie, > > I had that same swelling/mass at the end of my scar in the center of my > chest too (had double in June) and though it was the end of the world. > > I had a post-surgery checkup last Monday (had my port out the week before) > and finally had the courage to ask him about it - turns out it's extra tissue - > that's all - he's seen it before many times and said " you know when you iron > a shirt sleeve? when you get to the bottom of the sleeve many times you > wind up with too much material? Deep down I felt so much better and relief was > so much nicer than worry. He mentioned that I could go in again and he > would " remove " the extra tissue - I said " No, that's okay - I'll wait till > reconstruction in the Spring after I finish radiation and my skin heals. Had my > first five treatments this week - so nice to have the weekend off after going > every day. > > I'm sure you will get the same answer when you visit your doctor next week. > Unfortunately, this " beast " creates panic every time something new or > unusual occurs...I guess it will be a way of life for us now. > > My best, > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 9, 2004 Report Share Posted November 9, 2004 Janie, Will keep you in my prayers. Hugs nne Breast Cancer Patients Soul Mates for Lifehttp://www.geocities.com/chucky5741/breastcancerpatients.html Check out my breast cancer ornaments at:http://www.geocities.com/chucky5741/bcornament.htmlalso check out my other ornaments and lots of nice gifts at:http://www.cancerclub.com Re: For Janie Thanks so much. That information has relaxed me. I was starting to have despondency worse than I've ever had. I do hope it's the same kind of swelling you describe. It's not very big, but definitely got bigger. If I dig my fingernails into my ribs a little, I feel what seems like a little cyst (like a subacious acne cyst) under it all, but it also keeps changing. Right now it is a flat sort of mass/cyst, so not entirely sure what it is. Most of the time it is a "lump" or "thickening" that has "changed" from what it was... I guess I haven't really told you anything clearer. Oh well, I see my doctor on Friday morning who wants me to see a bunch of doctors with her (not about the cyst which she doesn't know about yet.) (But I will bring it up then.) She is a young resident who is my primary care physician at this big hospital clinic. She feels she may not be addressing all my needs because I have multiple problems (heart, diabetes, cancer, etc.) and wants some help from the other docs. She says I'll be able to raise any issues I might have, which I took to mean whatever questions/problems/issues I still have in different areas. However, she said a psychiatrist would be among them. I am coming to the conclusion that that must mean she thinks I am over-anxious about everything because my heart symptoms bother me a lot, and some are mysterious. Well, maybe talking to a psych wouldn't be a bad idea since this may be right. However, I now have the feeling there might not be any other docs like cancer or heart specialists, etc., but that this really might JUST be a psychiatric interview.... I dunno....We'll see....Janie> Dear Janie,> > I had that same swelling/mass at the end of my scar in the center of my > chest too (had double in June) and though it was the end of the world.> > I had a post-surgery checkup last Monday (had my port out the week before) > and finally had the courage to ask him about it - turns out it's extra tissue - > that's all - he's seen it before many times and said "you know when you iron > a shirt sleeve? when you get to the bottom of the sleeve many times you > wind up with too much material? Deep down I felt so much better and relief was > so much nicer than worry. He mentioned that I could go in again and he > would "remove" the extra tissue - I said "No, that's okay - I'll wait till > reconstruction in the Spring after I finish radiation and my skin heals. Had my > first five treatments this week - so nice to have the weekend off after going > every day.> > I'm sure you will get the same answer when you visit your doctor next week. > Unfortunately, this "beast" creates panic every time something new or > unusual occurs...I guess it will be a way of life for us now.> > My best,> Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 9, 2004 Report Share Posted November 9, 2004 Thanks nne. Hugs, Janie > > Dear Janie, > > > > I had that same swelling/mass at the end of my scar in the center > of my > > chest too (had double in June) and though it was the end of the > world. > > > > I had a post-surgery checkup last Monday (had my port out the week > before) > > and finally had the courage to ask him about it - turns out it's > extra tissue - > > that's all - he's seen it before many times and said " you know > when you iron > > a shirt sleeve? when you get to the bottom of the sleeve many > times you > > wind up with too much material? Deep down I felt so much better > and relief was > > so much nicer than worry. He mentioned that I could go in again > and he > > would " remove " the extra tissue - I said " No, that's okay - I'll > wait till > > reconstruction in the Spring after I finish radiation and my skin > heals. Had my > > first five treatments this week - so nice to have the weekend off > after going > > every day. > > > > I'm sure you will get the same answer when you visit your doctor > next week. > > Unfortunately, this " beast " creates panic every time something new > or > > unusual occurs...I guess it will be a way of life for us now. > > > > My best, > > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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