Getting worked up about breast/armpit pain

[Penny31]

Hi

I have health anxiety. I’m always worrying about something. I had a period every two weeks through lockdown and convinced myself I had womb cancer. My doctor ignored my concerns but eventually sent me for a scan and I had a fibroid. That’s since been removed and I was so relieved, felt normal again.

Prior to that, I’ve convinced myself of all sorts. I have been Anaemic for over two years and am on and off iron tablets so I get a lot of symptoms relating to that.

So lately (past 4 weeks) I have had a sore arm pit and the pain is going through my breast to my nipple. I can’t find any lumps and I’ve tried different bras but that hasn’t made a difference. I’ve left it 4 weeks to see if it could be related to my cycle. I am so nervous about going to the doctors, I’m there every month with something different and it’s getting embarrassing!

I’ve convinced myself I have breast cancer and I can’t focus on much else. I have 2 children and a partner who is getting the brunt of my emotions!

Should I wait it out a bit longer to see if it subsided? Would you be concerned about this. Please tell me your experience, if any, with breast or armpit pain.

Thank you

Get it all the time, sometimes cyclic sometimes not. Sometimes tension and stress xxx

When I had pain the GP told me breast cancer very rarely causes pain. It's more likely hormones or a nerve. I'd go to the GO if I were you though - you can't live with that anxiety

I wish I knew what type of pain was something to worry about and what wasn’t.

If it’s tension, I wouldn’t surprised because I’ve got myself I a right tizz. It’s a vicious circle!

Def get checked out. It,s probably nothing but maybe something. I have a lump, I got checked out so know its not cancer. Not sure what it is and it still hurts and it,s still ther but I know it,s not the worst case scenario.

@legalseagull I’ve read that. Trouble is ‘very rare’ doesn’t help convince me. My anxious mind tells me I could still be the unlucky one. The one where it was painful breast cancer. I hate it.

I’m also scared to go to the doctors in case they refer me. Even though it could give me peace of mind I will be a mess for the 2ww.

I have this a very swollen breast, pain from arm pit to my breast - and pain to my nipple - doctor has said that I need to get refereed on the 2ww I went Wednesday got the call Friday and I’m going Monday to the clinic so not always 2ww...

My GP did say it’s rare for breast cancer to cause pain but I have a few other things she wasn’t happy about (shape and discolouration)...

Please don’t worry and go and speak to your Gp I’m sure everything will be fine but you should go get it checked if you are not happy.

@hoplittlebunnyhop good luck with your appointment!

I’ll make an appointment with the GP on Monday. I just want one month where I feel like there isn’t anything health related in my mind. I’m really embarrassed at going back again. I’ve talked to the about my health anxiety and I’m sure they must think, here she is again, what now!

This kind of pain is often caused by long term use of underwired bras, and the recommended treatment is to switch to non-wired bras, but it can take a long time for the pain to go away so if you just switched bras for a few days and are still having the pain then don't rule that out as the cause.

@UsernameN0Tavailable that’s interesting. I have switched to non wired for 3 days and had to switch back to a wired one today so I could wash it! I think I’ll buy some more non wired. I could do with a couple of decent ones that give good support. The one I have does me no favours at all in the looks department!

@Penny31 Hi Penny, can you please give an update on this. Did you go to the GP?

I also suffer from health anxiety and have been getting armpit pain and am also thinking the worse. I have an appointment on Monday with the nurse but feels so long away

@mymoonshift I had a phone consultation with the gp. She referred me to the breast clinic which is freaking me out. She said I’d be see. In 3-4 weeks, I’m telling myself if she thought it was bad I’d be under the 2 week referral. I had an anxiety attack after I spoke to her but I’m calm now. The pain is still there but I’ve convinced myself it’s not as bad.
How long I’ve you had the pain?

Monday isn’t far away, I’m sure you’ll be ok. Do let me know how you get on

@hoplittlebunnyhop how did your appointment go?

@mymoonshift how was your appointment today?

My appointment at the breast clinic is in 10 days so not too long to wait. I’m trying to keep a lid on my anxiety, but I feel really drained and exhausted with the worry. Will try and keep myself busy until then.

I’ll post an update here too. I’ve researched this lots and find that people don’t often post updates after their appointment which I would have found useful. Hoping it helps someone else.

I had terrible pain all round the side of my breast, my ultrasound showed a fibroadenoma and some cysts, I've since had to go back again and have more cysts in the other breast.

My pain is still there, around two weeks before my period is due it is awful, I can't even touch one side at the moment it hurts so much.

They are lovely at the clinic, you'll have a good idea on the day of what you are dealing with, if anything. Good luck.

@Penny31 How did you get on? I keep getting pain from my armpits through my breasts - no obvious lumps and bumps but every so often I can convince myself that I can feel something. The ache is much like the heavy feeling when your milk comes in. I have a GP appt on Monday but am worried sick.

@DollysDart all worked out fine for me. I went to the breast clinic and they examined me. They said they couldn’t feel anything abnormal. Apparently breast pain is really common and they gave me a leaflet about it. I got referred for a mammogram, maybe because I’m 40 and that was also fine.
I got myself in such a state beforehand but I do have health anxiety.

I had the pain for months and then it just disappeared.

Good luck with the GP, I hope you get some reassurance, it’s likely to be nothing sinister at all.
Xx

@Penny31 thank you for replying on what I appreciate is an older thread. I'm mid 30s and my husband is in remission from cancer which I think is why I'm thinking the worst. Thank you for the reassurance.

@DollysDart I can completely understand your concerns, especially under the circumstances. I’m sure your GP will be thorough. Don’t panic if they refer you on the 2 week pathway. I think they are super cautious and know that if anything is found it’s so treatable if it’s caught early. The nurses at the breast clinic were so lovely and made me feel so much better.

Anxiety can also cause breast pain, it’s like a vicious circle!

I have fibrocystic breast disease, fancy name for lumpy boobs, caffeine gives me breast and armpit pain, when I get a new lump- I take a deep breath go get it checked out at breath clinic; ultrasound and mammogram and gratefully receive the benign diagnosis. Doctors put me on high dose evening primrose oil. Golf ball in right boob, table tennis ball in left boob increase/ decrease depending on menstrual cycle..

I have had breast pain for 16 months and would love some advice. I had a mammogram and ultrasound a year ago and all was clear. I have had another breast exam at my gp's 3 weeks ago and all felt normal. I have had numerous tablets, seen physio and oestopath all to no avail.
The whole thing has started to affect me mentally and is constantly there and on my mind.
I don't know what to do next. Any advice would be appreciated.
Many thanks x

I had a psinful armpit but by chance changed my deodorant which seams to have stopped the pain!

Thank you for taking time to reply but I really don't think it is due to deodorant. My pain all started when I twisted awkwardly and reached for something and I felt something pull or tear at the side of my nipple. I really thought it would have healed by now though. X