A Lump Has Been Found

[NewGuy]

My gf found a lump under the right armpit, close to the breast today. She had something removed from a breast four years ago, but I cannot understand the details. We'll be going to Pattaya Memorial Hospital for a 6 p.m. appointment.

What recommendations can be made for an excellent diagnostian specializing in these matters, here in Pattaya or in Bangkok?

[Goldenbead]

I have no idea about doctors in Pattaya or BKK but I would like to offer you support and encouragement. Good luck!

[londonthai]

to diagnose is not a problem - scan and if needed a laboratory testing will show fast results. The issue is to find an experienced surgeon. However, there are around some new, still experimental methods dealing with cancer, like hormonal pathes, which don't have that much side effects as radiography. The scalpel should be the last resort.

[NewGuy]

Thank you londonthai and Goldenbead. The Pattaya Memorial doctor said she needed a mammogram and aspiration from a "thin needle" followed by biopsy (I have his written diagnosis in Thai). He suggested we go to Bangkok Pattaya Hospital but I am afraid of that place, having read (right here on ThaiVisa) about unnecessary or off point operations. He also said there was no immediate urgency. We will go to Bangkok next week, planning to be there two or three days before the weekend. I can also get my new retirement visa letter. If all goes well its off to Saxaphone Club and Yok Yor for great food and music ... and lots more.

[Tammi]

Go to www.queensirikitcentreforbreastcancer.com

[Beardog]

The link that Tammi gave you is the one. they are in Chonburi & cheap. I took my girl in for a lump & they knew it was a cyst

& didn't preform the mammogram because the Dr. that looked at her had the same. They ran a cervical exam also .The Total cost was 250 baht- compared to 19,000 + at Pattaya Bangkok Ripoff center(so you do not have to pay for their new wing in the hospital & all those lovely umbrella's with their name littering the Pattaya beach.

Good luck- I hope it is only a cyst.

The Telephone # is038 784001 002 003 or 004 or alternate # 038783995

Beardog

Edited October 11, 2007 by Beardog

[NewGuy]

Tammi and Beardog - thanks for the link and phone numbers.

The link points to the Queen Sirikit Centre for Breast Cancer in the King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital on Rama IV. I'm really impressed by their commitment, equipment, staff and approach - I will definately call them before we go to Bangkok.

The "038" number is for the Queen Sirikit Hospital, south of Satahip, I think (but I haven't called it yet). If so, I know it well from previous unrelated visits. I've recommended it for the quality of care and excellent staff.

[taxexile]

I took my girl in for a lump & they knew it was a cyst

& didn't preform the mammogram because the Dr. that looked at her had the same.

that seems like poor medical practice to me.

my mother in law is having chemo for breast cancer ( after a mastectomy a couple of months ago) and she is being treated at the cancer centre at chula hospital in bangkok. it is a government hospital , so be prepared for harrassed staff and long queues , (but the chemo treatment is a quarter of the cost for the same treatment at bumrungrad where she went for the mammograms , biopsies , other tests , diagnosis and surgery.)

good luck.

[NewGuy]

I should have posted that we were planning to go to Bumrungrad.

[Sheryl]

Thank you londonthai and Goldenbead. The Pattaya Memorial doctor said she needed a mammogram and aspiration from a "thin needle" followed by biopsy (I have his written diagnosis in Thai). He suggested we go to Bangkok Pattaya Hospital but I am afraid of that place, having read (right here on ThaiVisa) about unnecessary or off point operations. He also said there was no immediate urgency. We will go to Bangkok next week, planning to be there two or three days before the weekend. I can also get my new retirement visa letter. If all goes well its off to Saxaphone Club and Yok Yor for great food and music ... and lots more.

The following is a female doctor specializing in breast surgery. I took a friend of mine to her about a year back for a needle biopsy and was favorably impressed. She is definitely not scalpel-happy (despite being a surgeon) and to my mind had just the right combination of caution (in ensuring no cancer) and conservatism (in avoiding unnecessary tests).

Dr. Youwanush Kongdan

Day Time Location

Tue 17:00 PM - 20:00 PM Med/Surg NS 2

Thu 17:00 PM - 20:00 PM Med-Surg NS 2

Sun 09:00 AM - 16:00 PM Med/Surg NS 2

BTW I don't really agree with the doc who said no hurry...for your GF's health and peace of mind, I would say don't delay. But the fact that he said that is a good sign and indicates that he didn't think, based on physical exam, that the was a high probability of cancer. Nonetheless, only a biopsy can tell for sure.

Good luck!

[gregb]

My wife and I went here when she found a lump in her breast. They were very professional , very quick and luckily no cancer was detected.

http://www.bangkokhospital.com/eng/Bkk_Breast.aspx

Easy to get to. Take the motorway from Pattaya all the way to Bangkok. Just keep going straight. The hospital is right off of Rama 9 between Ekamai and Asoke.

Definitely not cheap, but I wasn't really concerned about price when I was in your position.

Best of luck. Hope it works out for you.

[NewGuy]

Thanks to all. We have an appointment with Dr. Youwanush Kongdan, Bumrungrad Hospital, Tuesday at 6 p.m. NewGuy

[NewGuy]

I cannot believe that I did not reply. Sorry.

13 months ago we saw Dr. Youwanuch or Youwanush Kongdan, aspiration was done. The doctor told us there was not a problem. Felt great.

Sometime afterward my girlfriend received a phone call from (someone) saying she did not need to come for a planned annual check up and that the doctor was leaving Bumrungrad and was going to Burma to help with the aftermath of the typhoon.

Tonight my girlfriend told me she was worried about another breast mass. Why she holds back I don't know. It came out because I have an appointment at Bumrungrad on Sunday for a heart check up.

Anyway, I cannot find Dr. Y. Kongdan anywhere except at a hospital associated with Mahidol University; the site is in Thai and is unfathomable to me.

Bumrungrad lists two doctors specializing in breast surgery: Dr. Mawin Vongsaisuwon and Dr. Mawin Vongsaisuwon. Does anyone have a recommendation?

Thanks muchly,

NewGuy

[Sheryl]

I cannot believe that I did not reply. Sorry.

13 months ago we saw Dr. Youwanuch or Youwanush Kongdan, aspiration was done. The doctor told us there was not a problem. Felt great.

Sometime afterward my girlfriend received a phone call from (someone) saying she did not need to come for a planned annual check up and that the doctor was leaving Bumrungrad and was going to Burma to help with the aftermath of the typhoon.

Tonight my girlfriend told me she was worried about another breast mass. Why she holds back I don't know. It came out because I have an appointment at Bumrungrad on Sunday for a heart check up.

Anyway, I cannot find Dr. Y. Kongdan anywhere except at a hospital associated with Mahidol University; the site is in Thai and is unfathomable to me.

Bumrungrad lists two doctors specializing in breast surgery: Dr. Mawin Vongsaisuwon and Dr. Mawin Vongsaisuwon. Does anyone have a recommendation?

Thanks muchly,

NewGuy

I think you meant to say Dr. Mawin and Dr. Pongnares

I have no personal experience with either; on paper they both seem well qualified. They are also both male, don't know if this will bother your gf or not.

Basically you have 2 choices: you can see one of these 2, or else try to hunt down Dr. Y as surely by now she is back from Burma and while she may have left Bumrungrad is unlikely to no longer have private practice somewhere. (It also sometimes happens that doctors still there mysteriously vanish from their database). Simplest way to do that would be to call the Med/Surg OPD Nurses Station 2, ask for the nurse in charge, and then ask 1) if she is still there and 2) if not, if they know where she is now working. If that doesn't yield anything, you can try a search of the other hospitaks but this will be time-consuming and worthwhile only if your gf strongly prefers to see her again.

BTW, it sounds like the first lump was a cyst. It is not uncommon for these to recur or for women prone to them to have multiple cysts. Women with fibroicystic breasts will commonly feel lumps at certain points in the menstrual cyckle and should always do the self0examination immediatekly after a period. All that said, she should certainly still have it checked out and also get periodic mammograms. (How often depends on her age).

[NewGuy]

Oops about the copy and paste mix up on the doctor's names. You are right, Sheryl. Dr. Kongdan is at Ramathibodi Hospital, Mahidol University; unfortunately I can't navigate the web site to make an appointment. My girlfriend says she doesn't mind that Bumrungrad's heart doctors are male (and I thinks she means it) so I will make the appointment there. Too bad about Dr. Kongdan because she is very sharp and an excellent communicator.

[NewGuy]

Back in November we went to see Dr. Pongnares Purasiri (had tried for Dr. Mawin but his limited office hours schedule was not a good fit). The appointment was extremely positive. Following a palpitation examination he explained that the "mass" was menstrual-related and would shortly go away - and it did so within the next week. When I asked about additional testing (scanning) he said that it was unnecessary and expensive but he would schedule one if we desired. We thought not and left with smiles on our faces. His calm manner and excellent English were impressive.

[mijan24]

Thank you londonthai and Goldenbead. The Pattaya Memorial doctor said she needed a mammogram and aspiration from a "thin needle" followed by biopsy (I have his written diagnosis in Thai). He suggested we go to Bangkok Pattaya Hospital but I am afraid of that place, having read (right here on ThaiVisa) about unnecessary or off point operations. He also said there was no immediate urgency. We will go to Bangkok next week, planning to be there two or three days before the weekend. I can also get my new retirement visa letter. If all goes well its off to Saxaphone Club and Yok Yor for great food and music ... and lots more.

FNA (fine needle aspiration) is a standard procedure in Australia.(It often saves surgery as a sample for biopsy can done immediately without the need for booking operating rooms etc)

Over the 6 months ago I had a lump removed from underside of my left jaw. (biopsy proved it to be malignant).

On consulting with my Thai Dr here in KK off to Oz I went where they scheduled me for all sorts of tests but one in particular was a FNA to confirm that a small lump on my left neck was of the same persuasion as the one removed (left jaw) previously MCL too was the verdict.

After exhaustive further testing (I had cameras placed where no human had ventured before) to establish if it was localised or possibly throughout the body -Localised was the answer.

3 weeks radiation therapy followed now 3 months later a PET Scan has confirmed that the "R" treatment worked a treat -- alas it also showed up one 1 small lump(3cm) in the lh armpit & 2 small lumps (1cm ea) in the rh armpit, now the interesting thing is they have ordered another FNA on the lh 3cm lump to ascertain if it is MCL or a carryover from a malignant melanoma I had removed from my right forearm some 6 odd years ago.

Don't mean to bore you just to highlight that FNA is a standard way of obtaining samples for biopsy without surgery.