What is this in my muscle - General Health Message Board

henpen · 03-08-2007, 10:16 PM

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I have this lump on the muscle in front of my left deltoid, but I cannot figure out what it is (I have an appointment to see a surgon, but I would love to hear someone who might help me figure this out). It feels just like muscle tissue that is knotted, in fact, I can feel it contract and relax when I raise my arms. It is not particularly hard and does not hurt. My physician is telling me that he is certain that it has not grown in the past week and, maybe, the past 1 1/2 months.

Here is the story about the lump in my side that scared me (and is still, a bit) so much in a previous post.

About 3 months, I was bike riding in the woods and came upon a very difficult section. I decided that the course was too difficult so I grabbed a tree with my left arm to stop my momentum. I stopped myself, but scratched my forhead. I felt a pull in my side, but it was not painful.

Later that night, I noticed this lump in front of my left deltoid muscle. It was very tight, but not painful. About 1 1/2 months later, the lump was still pressent so I checked with my doctor. The doctor sent me to an ultra sound unit who thought that the lump looked like a deep muscle bruse.

Well, i have been watching this lump for the past 1 1/2 months and it does not seem to be getting any smaller. It does seem to be spreading out a bit. This is why I did a serch on the internet and found so many references to muscle cancer. It really freeked me out!! Now I hear that if it were a cancerous growth, I would feel a hard mass, not one that gets soft.

Does anyone have any idea what this could be?

!!!THANKS!!! My daughers are very young and I want to spend many more years with them.

reachout · 03-09-2007, 07:50 AM

Hi Henpen

I know you are fearful about this. It does, however, from the account you gave about the bike accident and all, make sense that it could be merely a result from that and the muscle "spreading" is just a result of it healing and going back into its original configuration.

One suggestion is that when you visit the surgeon, and I hope that is soon...smiles) that you tell him exactly what you fer and ask that he have a biopsy done to help you regain a safety zone about the cancer issue for you.

A cancer mass does not have to feel hard... it can be jelly-like, but is usually fairly definable. So is a muscle bruise!

My best suggestion? Try to distract yourself by staying busy. The worry can consume you and is not going to change one darn thing. I think knowledge is necessary and good, but there are times we need to back off searching for answers for a bit and cross bridges as they come up. Focus on the fact that you are going to see the surgeon and try hard not to anticipate beyond that. Okay? Can you try?

Deep breathing!

All good wishes
reachout

henpen · 03-09-2007, 09:51 PM

Thanks for the advice. I have reoccuring back pain and remember going to the PT just one week before I noticed the lump. Also, I had been to the orthopedic two weeks before hand. Surely, will all the pain that i was feeling on that side of my body, I would have noticed the lump. If not I, then one of these professionals would have.

I went back to the my GP for a blood test to ease my stress while I wait for the Surgon appointment. He said that he'd call only if he had bad news...No call, so, unless he forgot to call the lab to get the results, that was good news.

I am still planning on seeing the surgon, though.