Expert: Claes-Gustaf Nordquist, M.D. - 5/29/2008

Question
A month ago I went to see a surgeon who came in the room for 2 minutes said that a lump I was concerned about was just fibrocystic and that I had lumpy breasts and I would be fine. He said that he didn't feel my lump of concern. So my doctor had me go get a second opinion at a near by Army Hospital ( I was at a navy one). The surgeon there said that I don't have lumpy breasts and that the he did feel my lump of concern. He said it felt like a nodule. It was pea shaped and even though it is still the same size it has changed shape to a oval. The first surgeon said my ultrasound came back fine, but the second one said that it came back showing a dense area and that he knows somehting is there even though it doesn't show up on ultrasound. He has decided that he really wants to play it safe and I go in for surgery in a few weeks to have the nodule removed and sent to pathology. He says he thinks that it is fibroadermanoma ( i think ) and that I shoudn't worry, but he rather be safe than sorry. I am having pain in my arm pit and neck, but no lumps are present. Does this sound like nothing or should I be worried? What is the difference between a lump and nodule? Also the nodule is not fixed, it's mobile.


Answer
There is no real difference between a lump and a nodule. I have no objection to what your second dr. is planning. Both your drs. believe this not to be dangerous and just a sign of a fibrocystic breast condition. So there is most probably no reason to worry!