worried about a lump

I recently went to a general surgeon to have a lump looked at on my lower back. The lump is hard and feels about the size of an earaser head on the end of a pencil. I was refered to him by my gp, who thought the lump was a lipoma. The surgeon didn't agree with that and ordered an MRI.  He said the results were clear and there were no masses anywhere, but he couldn't even see the lump in question. It is definitely there and is, for the most part, painless and non-moveable and seems to be very close to, or attached to the muscle.  He wants to wait a year or so to see if it changes or grows. I'm not comfortable with that now that I have researched sarcoma. I asked him if he could do a biopsy and he said he was uncomfortable doing that without having seen in on the MRI, but  he wants me to come back in a month so he can look at it again. SHOULD I INSIST ON A BIOPSY??  or ask to be refered to an oncologist since he can't confirm sarcoma, nor rule it out?? I certainly don't want to wait to see if it gets bigger!!! Suggestions please!

 T.M.

Dear T.M.,

I would take some kind of action rather than the "wait and see" plan.  There is nothing to be gained by "wait and see."  If it's bad then it has time to get worse.  If it turns out to be an insignificant non-cancerous growth then you will get peace of mind by knowing that.  After being told to not worry I insisted on further testing which revealed I had cancer.  I recently finished 6 months of chemo following surgery.  Most of the time the doctors are right, but there are exceptions and I was one.  It does happen.  It is important to take an active role in managing our own health care.

Good luck. 

 2ndtimer     

On 3/28/2007 Tamim wrote:

I recently went to a general surgeon to have a lump looked at on my lower back. The lump is hard and feels about the size of an earaser head on the end of a pencil. I was refered to him by my gp, who thought the lump was a lipoma. The surgeon didn't agree with that and ordered an MRI.  He said the results were clear and there were no masses anywhere, but he couldn't even see the lump in question. It is definitely there and is, for the most part, painless and non-moveable and seems to be very close to, or attached to the muscle.  He wants to wait a year or so to see if it changes or grows. I'm not comfortable with that now that I have researched sarcoma. I asked him if he could do a biopsy and he said he was uncomfortable doing that without having seen in on the MRI, but  he wants me to come back in a month so he can look at it again. SHOULD I INSIST ON A BIOPSY??  or ask to be refered to an oncologist since he can't confirm sarcoma, nor rule it out?? I certainly don't want to wait to see if it gets bigger!!! Suggestions please!

 T.M.

 

Do not wait. 

My husband was told the swelling behind his knee was a baker's cyst from walking/running.  Even after he went back 18 mo.later with numbness in his leg and much growth behind the knee they were not too concerned.  After the MRI they were VERY concerned as it showed a 15 cm high grade myxoid tumor. 

He has had surgery and is now recovering.  They better hope this turns out okay.  Can you say lawsuit anyone?