Hi, I had my original diagnosis in Feb 2018 IDC Grade 2 Stage 3, 2.8cm tumour with node involvement. I say stage three as this was what I led to believe but opted for radiotherapy to the axilla rather than removal so never knew how many lymph nodes were involved.
My question is I had a consultant appointment this week> I mentioned I thought i could feel a very small lump near the original tutor site which the consultant could not identify, but then said I will order a mammogram (which I had 10 months ago) and ultrasound following examining the axilla. Am I being pacified or is there possibly something he pick up during examining the axilla.
Hi chairleg123,
Thanks for getting in touch with us.
It’s natural to question why the doctors are asking for further tests. It’s encouraging that your doctor didn’t feel anything when he examined you. However, it’s not uncommon for doctors to ask for a further mammogram when someone advises that they have felt a lump. He may be thinking that you’re almost due your routine surveillance one and it would be prudent to check.
I’m not sure why he would want to do an ultrasound. Is it an ultrasound of your breast as well as your axilla? He may have requested this as a routine test, not because he felt something but as an addition to your mammogram to check you. I wouldn’t think that he felt something and didn’t tell you. Doctors would usually want to inform patients if they had found something on a clinical examination that needed further tests.
You can contact your breast care nurse specialist and let them know that you’re worried about why your doctor has asked for an ultrasound. They will be able to talk to him and hopefully reassure you that it is a routine test.
Best wishes and take care.
Ellen-Macmillan Online Digital Nurse Specialist.