GP found breast lump -referred for ultrasound. Terrified! Help!

[BBLucy1891]

I'm 24 weeks pregnant and had a large, hard area of skin underneath my breast for weeks but I assumed it was related to all the changes in my body. However during a breast exam my GP said it was abnormal, but that it was probably nothing to worry about, and is referring me for ultrasound just to be on the safe side. The skin on that area of my breast is dimpled, like orange-peel, and the tissue underneath is tough. Looking at a breast cancer awareness site I noticed that orange-peel skin is a sign of cancer, and now I'm totally freaked out. My grandmother died young (early 50's) from breast cancer, so it is in my family. At the same time, there are so many changes going on with my breasts surely it would be unlikely to be cancer? For example they've grown from a 34B to a 34E...I just assumed that the lump was part of that...I'm 33 and in good health but have been feeling exhausted throughout the whole pregnancy. Its my first child.

[EmberElftree]

Hi I found a lump and had a strange red mark on my left breast last year. The gp gave me antibiotics to see if the mark would go away (it didn't) and sent me for a mammogram and ultrasound. Results came back with a birad 3 rating in both breasts and 10 cysts in my breasts (lumpy). They wanted to have a follow up in 6 months just ultrasound which I went for in June when I was 6 months pregnant. Cysts are still there but have shrunk a bit since I've been pregnant. It's scary but you are already doing the best thing and getting checked out. Wish you all the best.

[tattyteddy]

Wishing you all the best OP, and will keep my fingers crossed that it's nothing sinister x

[zippyswife]

I found a lump in my Breast at 15 weeks pregnant (last month) I am moderate/high risk for breast cancer and the lump scared the shit out of me. So I got referred by the gp and had a clinical examination and an ultrasound- the lump was found to be normal Breast tissue and a result of pregnancy. Was such a relief.

I'm hoping you get the same result. There are a lovely group of women on the general health board tamoxigang. They were really supportive while I waited. I'm happy to listen to your worries. The whole thing stressed me out so much but all turned out to be fine!

Good luck x

[Chrysanthemum5]

Hi
Ive had this twice, both times it turned out cysts (I'm lumpy apparently). I had mammograms and ultrasounds, they were not the most pleasant experience, but not painful. I hope you will have a similar results.

Best wishes

[docmcstuffins1]

It is likely to be be benign - fibroadenoma or cyst, but your GP was right to refer you. With your family history you need to have it checked as the high hormone levels in pregnancy can increase the growth of some breast cancers. Hope everything is ok, good luck.xx

[Rose58]

You are in my thoughts OP and I hope the lump is simply a prego related cyst.

[BBLucy1891]

Just wanted to let people know that I had an ultrasound and everything is ok - it's just thick breast tissue resulting from rapid growth. I'm to keep an eye on it in the long term, and if its still there a few months after I finish breast feeding I should get it checked again but for now there is nothing dangerous going on, just random lumpiness! The "orange peel" look of the skin is also just a pregnancy symptom apparently, and the consultant said that it is confusing because there is so much out there on the internet about "peu d'orange" being a sign of breast cancer. Obviously one can never be too careful, but I thought I'd put that out there. Thanks for the replies

[WhoAteMyToast]

Good news!

[Nicky333]

Great news!

Not to worry you AT ALL but please do keep an eye on it. I felt something when I was 31, mammagram showed nothing, ultrasound showed nothing, needle biopsy showed maybe, ultrasound again showed nothing, surgical biopsy showed definitely. Two weeks later I was down two natural breasts and up two fake ones. I'm a very unusual case, but it always pays to be careful.