Sylvianne's Journey with Thymus Cancer

These were routine sonomammogram and mammogram, 3 years after lumpectomy of left breast and Tamoxifen drug therapy daily. Revealed small nodule in left breast, different from original excised nodule. Breast MRI recommended.

MRI with IV contrast...hated the one I had in 2008 at the hospital. Had this one at a nice new place. Loved "Ana", my tech. She explained everything lovingly and even tucked me in really nicely with a warm blanket before leaving the room.

Revealed incidental visualization of 5cm mass behind anterior chest wall. Chest CT Scan with IV contrast suggested. Biopsy of breast nodule also indicated.

I had one of these in 2008 and it's a scary experience but I knew what to expect. This one was even better than the previous one. Nice doctor and even nicer tech, Alanna. Left a large purple bruise (still have a bit, 3 weeks later) but the scar is barely visible and I felt no pain during the procedure.

Pathology revealed cellular changes but no malignancy at this time. Same diagnosis as 2008. Due to history, referred to surgeon anyway to decide whether to excise or not.

Scary experience, only because it was my first time and also because it was *there* that I realized they weren't further studying my breast...they were looking to better view a mass in my chest, originally thought to be in my lung! I was happy that it was again Ana my tech. Again she made me feel comfortable and warm.

Chest CT Scan reveals 5-cm. mediastinal mass, thought to be on thymus gland, behind breast bone, a little to the left.

Even scarier than the first, not the procedure itself, but the possibility of finding something else. Ana assisted me again. :-)

Apparently "benign" cysts appear in my ovaries (2 on one side, 1 on the other) and another in the tail of my pancreas. This one scares the willies out of me, but doctor says our priority is the mediastinal mass, that we will have it studied soon and that it would be rare to have malignancy in the tail, rather than the head of the pancreas. Furthermore, they appear benign from the scan.

After 3 weeks of no treatment yet, I've begun to freak out. I'm not sleeping very well, I'm snappy, weepy and not my usual happy, positive self. A half-dollar sized amount of hair fell off...stressed! Doctor prescribed a weekend away somewhere. :-)