Proactive Vs Hypochondriac…Part II

Forums General Melanoma Community Proactive Vs Hypochondriac…Part II

  • Post
    MattF
    Participant

      I really appreciate all the help last week.

      Just a little update. 13 May i feel "full" in right chest/armpit for the first time. Last monday 20 May when i went to Oncologist i had a small almond shaped change under my right armpit…could not see it with naked eye…but i could feel the contour chnge. he could not feel anything and the Targeted/Limited Ultrasound ( done at point of patient complaint) showed one node 1.8×1.5 node…all well and good. He spent about 8 min with me and ultrasound results were given to me at ultrasound location.

      I really appreciate all the help last week.

      Just a little update. 13 May i feel "full" in right chest/armpit for the first time. Last monday 20 May when i went to Oncologist i had a small almond shaped change under my right armpit…could not see it with naked eye…but i could feel the contour chnge. he could not feel anything and the Targeted/Limited Ultrasound ( done at point of patient complaint) showed one node 1.8×1.5 node…all well and good. He spent about 8 min with me and ultrasound results were given to me at ultrasound location.

      It is now Sat …still same contour changes…red little bumps under my arm and

      when I lower my arm I have what looks like a bit bigger than 1/4  to a 1/2 of a tennis ball lump that pushes out of my chest wall under my right arm..pushing skin/flesh both out the front of the armpit toward brest and even more out the back of the armpit. onto my back

      It is noticable to the naked eye..actually it is almost noticable through a shirt. Is this progressing?

      It may have been like that last weekend and even on monday…i felt full but always was examining and being examined with my arm up so the lump kind of pulls back inside the pit.

      Anyway i have never had anything like this in 40+ years…and if i was just a standard person i would not even think about it and probably let it go for months. 

      i will probably let it go for a few weeks before I go see a doc…I just don't like being herded through and told not to worry about it.

      Anybody seen, have or have knowledge of the kind of thing in armpit I'm describing?

      Thoughts etc.

    Viewing 5 reply threads
    • Replies
        POW
        Participant

          Matt, didn't you say just the other day that your PA and a medic saw that swelling when your arms were down and advised you to get it checked out? Do you now have an appointment for that?

          It might be fluid buid up from your SNB. It's probably not melanoma. But do what the man said– get it checked out by your oncologist. Why wait?

          POW
          Participant

            Matt, didn't you say just the other day that your PA and a medic saw that swelling when your arms were down and advised you to get it checked out? Do you now have an appointment for that?

            It might be fluid buid up from your SNB. It's probably not melanoma. But do what the man said– get it checked out by your oncologist. Why wait?

              MattF
              Participant

                No SNB was in the neck 9 months ago. 

                I didnt get an appt yet…The PA told me I need to see someone with MD in their name 3 days after i saw the Oncologist…to be honest I can go back to my same Onc as last week who after feeling around said "i'm underwelmed, don't worry an about it. but we can get an ultrasound of that spot if it will make you feel better" 

                obviously the ultrasound didn't make me feel better.

                I guess the reason to wait is to see if it improves or gets worse.

                I just don't like going to the doctor and being told don't worry about it.

                Or having it seem like they will do something beyond a physical exam because they are doing me a favor.

                I could go back to same oncologist as last week  or

                I could go to dermatologist or 

                I could call MD Anderson and see if they will move my appointment up 3 weeks as I don't think i want to wait a month.

                I'm just curious what people mean when they say there is a "lump" under their arm.etc. 

                MattF
                Participant

                  No SNB was in the neck 9 months ago. 

                  I didnt get an appt yet…The PA told me I need to see someone with MD in their name 3 days after i saw the Oncologist…to be honest I can go back to my same Onc as last week who after feeling around said "i'm underwelmed, don't worry an about it. but we can get an ultrasound of that spot if it will make you feel better" 

                  obviously the ultrasound didn't make me feel better.

                  I guess the reason to wait is to see if it improves or gets worse.

                  I just don't like going to the doctor and being told don't worry about it.

                  Or having it seem like they will do something beyond a physical exam because they are doing me a favor.

                  I could go back to same oncologist as last week  or

                  I could go to dermatologist or 

                  I could call MD Anderson and see if they will move my appointment up 3 weeks as I don't think i want to wait a month.

                  I'm just curious what people mean when they say there is a "lump" under their arm.etc. 

                  MattF
                  Participant

                    No SNB was in the neck 9 months ago. 

                    I didnt get an appt yet…The PA told me I need to see someone with MD in their name 3 days after i saw the Oncologist…to be honest I can go back to my same Onc as last week who after feeling around said "i'm underwelmed, don't worry an about it. but we can get an ultrasound of that spot if it will make you feel better" 

                    obviously the ultrasound didn't make me feel better.

                    I guess the reason to wait is to see if it improves or gets worse.

                    I just don't like going to the doctor and being told don't worry about it.

                    Or having it seem like they will do something beyond a physical exam because they are doing me a favor.

                    I could go back to same oncologist as last week  or

                    I could go to dermatologist or 

                    I could call MD Anderson and see if they will move my appointment up 3 weeks as I don't think i want to wait a month.

                    I'm just curious what people mean when they say there is a "lump" under their arm.etc. 

                  POW
                  Participant

                    Matt, didn't you say just the other day that your PA and a medic saw that swelling when your arms were down and advised you to get it checked out? Do you now have an appointment for that?

                    It might be fluid buid up from your SNB. It's probably not melanoma. But do what the man said– get it checked out by your oncologist. Why wait?

                    Cindy VT
                    Participant

                      Matt,

                      My lump was in the armpit.  When I had the ultra sound done, the radiologist told me I had cancer and to see an oncology surgeron.  So my guess its not much to worry about. 

                      Cindy VT

                      Cindy VT
                      Participant

                        Matt,

                        My lump was in the armpit.  When I had the ultra sound done, the radiologist told me I had cancer and to see an oncology surgeron.  So my guess its not much to worry about. 

                        Cindy VT

                        Cindy VT
                        Participant

                          Matt,

                          My lump was in the armpit.  When I had the ultra sound done, the radiologist told me I had cancer and to see an oncology surgeron.  So my guess its not much to worry about. 

                          Cindy VT

                            MattF
                            Participant

                              Well I have good ultra sounds at MD Anderson every 90 days where they do both sides in a  dark room…come in and go over the changes and differences in nodes of my neck then give me Needle Biopsy on one supisious node in my neck. this can take over an hour easily.

                              The one I had the other day at oncology office was over a 3 inch square on one side with no biopsy etc and lasted time in the door to out less than 10 min. lol

                              Did she needle you or was just telling you off of seeing the scan?

                              Was your lump something you can feel? or was it visible?

                              I am just one of those people (and there are some here on this site) that don't want to be told it is nothing …but want to be shown it is nothing.

                              My Dermatoligist said this back in Aug of 2012 "This is nothing I would bet my life this is nothing but we will take it off if it bothers you." 3 weeks later he called me on my cell phone and gave me the melanoma diagnosis. 

                              I have read too many stories on here of i had blood test or i had x ray or i had MRI or i had ct scan and everything was good….until something got biopsied.

                              I'm actually not worried at all…it is what it is and will be what ever it is…..i'm just curious. But that curiousity leads me to dig for answers.

                              MattF
                              Participant

                                Well I have good ultra sounds at MD Anderson every 90 days where they do both sides in a  dark room…come in and go over the changes and differences in nodes of my neck then give me Needle Biopsy on one supisious node in my neck. this can take over an hour easily.

                                The one I had the other day at oncology office was over a 3 inch square on one side with no biopsy etc and lasted time in the door to out less than 10 min. lol

                                Did she needle you or was just telling you off of seeing the scan?

                                Was your lump something you can feel? or was it visible?

                                I am just one of those people (and there are some here on this site) that don't want to be told it is nothing …but want to be shown it is nothing.

                                My Dermatoligist said this back in Aug of 2012 "This is nothing I would bet my life this is nothing but we will take it off if it bothers you." 3 weeks later he called me on my cell phone and gave me the melanoma diagnosis. 

                                I have read too many stories on here of i had blood test or i had x ray or i had MRI or i had ct scan and everything was good….until something got biopsied.

                                I'm actually not worried at all…it is what it is and will be what ever it is…..i'm just curious. But that curiousity leads me to dig for answers.

                                MattF
                                Participant

                                  Well I have good ultra sounds at MD Anderson every 90 days where they do both sides in a  dark room…come in and go over the changes and differences in nodes of my neck then give me Needle Biopsy on one supisious node in my neck. this can take over an hour easily.

                                  The one I had the other day at oncology office was over a 3 inch square on one side with no biopsy etc and lasted time in the door to out less than 10 min. lol

                                  Did she needle you or was just telling you off of seeing the scan?

                                  Was your lump something you can feel? or was it visible?

                                  I am just one of those people (and there are some here on this site) that don't want to be told it is nothing …but want to be shown it is nothing.

                                  My Dermatoligist said this back in Aug of 2012 "This is nothing I would bet my life this is nothing but we will take it off if it bothers you." 3 weeks later he called me on my cell phone and gave me the melanoma diagnosis. 

                                  I have read too many stories on here of i had blood test or i had x ray or i had MRI or i had ct scan and everything was good….until something got biopsied.

                                  I'm actually not worried at all…it is what it is and will be what ever it is…..i'm just curious. But that curiousity leads me to dig for answers.

                            Viewing 5 reply threads
                            • You must be logged in to reply to this topic.
                            About the MRF Patient Forum

                            The MRF Patient Forum is the oldest and largest online community of people affected by melanoma. It is designed to provide peer support and information to caregivers, patients, family and friends. There is no better place to discuss different parts of your journey with this cancer and find the friends and support resources to make that journey more bearable.

                            The information on the forum is open and accessible to everyone. To add a new topic or to post a reply, you must be a registered user. Please note that you will be able to post both topics and replies anonymously even though you are logged in. All posts must abide by MRF posting policies.

                            Popular Topics