Update on Maya’s foot - I’m freaking out!

Maya had what was supposed to be her last follow up appointment for her foot this morning, and I was expecting the doctor to say that the scar had healed nicely, and to go away.

Instead, he told us that the histology (test) results on the lump they removed indicate that it wasn't a foreign body like we thought - it was a tumour I was sooooo floored, I didn't know what to say or ask. It's not cancerous, apparently it can't become cancerous, but it is a medical condition called Infantile Fibromatosis.

That means that the tumour might grow back, or she might grow new ones. Then he told me not to look it up on the internet as it would just freak me out (like I wasn't freaking out already!!)

I was so stunned I didn't even know what questions to ask, and he said he will check her every three months for the next two years to see if they grow back.

Well I came home and had a good cry, then I rang my GP who is awesome, and she looked it up on the internet and gave me some more info. She's 100% certain it won't become cancerous, the only concern is if she develops more it's possible she can get them on her internal organs which will cause problems. But she thinks there's nothing major to worry about.

I'm still freaking out tho. It's such a horrible feeling knowing that I have no control over this, and that she went thru surgery for nothing (they don't normally surgically remove these tumours apparently but I am glad that it's out).

Hey Emma sorry to hear about Maya's foot. I can so imagine how you are feeling. Even though you know it's not bad like cancer, it's still hard to know your baby's going thru this. Hope she doens't get anymore of them

Emma, I had a lump called a fibromayielga (sp?) removed from my breast in 2000. From what you said, I have the feeling it was probably the adult equivilent of what Maya has.

My lump when it was removed was 42mm long and 24mm wide. As I was normally a B cup, you can imagine that a lump this big made my breast substantially bigger than the other one! The doctors told me that they don't normally remove non-cancerous lumps like mine, but as mine was growing at such an extreme rate they thought it would be better to (I first discovered it in mid-1999, when it was the size of a pea).

I understand a bit of how you feel! I know how hard it was for me to go through it, I imagine it would be ten times worse if it was my child.

I know, I'm kind of spewing that they didn't know before surgery, although the ultrasound was very clear and showed what looked like lumps of shell or sand, so I guess thats what fooled the doctor.

Becca, thanks Nice to know that others know what it's like. And thanks everyone else for your support

I read up in my friends nursing dictionary and a 'fibroma' is basically a tumor which can be either benign or cancerous but my doctor swears that this fibromatosis that Maya has is benign. And it says very clearly on the lab report that it doesn't appear to be a "fibrosarcoma" which I am figuring is a cancer as sarcoma is cancer.

god that must have been awful for u emma! u poor thing...no mum wants to hear that...

I hope it was just the one off and there wont be anymore lumps

Im sending a big hug ur way hope ur feeling a bit better

and what was with the doc telling u not to look it up?yes it mite upset u but how are u supposed to know what ur up against if u dont know what ur dealing with?!

Hey there - sorry to hear about miss Maya, what a huge shock, it's terrible. here's hoping she gets no more. i hope you are taking care of yourself in all this too.. and that you have people supporting you.

hugs and bunnies to you both

Aw Emma!
Hope Maya is well and no more lumps grow.

Keep being brave