Referral to Breast clinic, anyone been through this?

[Hortuslover]

This is quite a sensitive topic regarding referral to breast clinic/cancer symptoms/diagnosis.

Last week I went to the GP with new right sided breast pain of about 6 weeks. The pain is pretty constant, not excruciating but there most of the time. GP examined me and couldn’t feel anything in the right but did feel two cysts in the left. GP thinks the pain is due to one of my ribs being out, which I don’t think is the case. Going off my symptoms alone (right sided breast pain) I don’t think she would have referred me to the breast clinic, but to put my mind at rest she offered to do so which I accepted.

My reason for starting the thread was to ask a sensitive question to those that have gone through similar. Breast pain isn’t particularly a symptom of breast cancer but I wondered if anyone has had a diagnosis just of breast pain alone.

Thanks in advance.

I can tell you my experience of breast pain:
I had breast cancer 3 years ago (lump that was tested). This summer I had the same as you. At my annual check up the consultant said any pain in your breast is only cancer if it’s because the cancer has spread to your bones and it’s so bad it’s keeping you awake at night. Then he muttered something about hormones.

So obviously get it checked, but from what I can gather breast pain is not normally a sign of cancer.

Thank you so much, it really helps.
I’m sorry you’ve been through this and had an outcome of a diagnosis, I hope you are well.

The pain isn’t severe at all, doesn’t keep me awake at night and not needing to take any pain killers. Clinic got in touch today and I’m being seen in 2 weeks.

I had breast pain (left side) and went to gp a couple of times. The first time they said probably costochondritis (rib pain) and prescribed anti-inflammatories but they did nothing so I went back again for a breast exam. GP said she thought the pain was in my breast tissue and referred me to the clinic. She said usually they don't because pain alone is so unlikely to be cancer and the clinics don't like it, but she did anyway to put my mind at ease. She said the same as pp, that by the time you felt pain as a result of cancer you'd have other symptoms like a lump too.

At the clinic I had a physical exam and then an ultrasound. During the physical exam the consultant said it was difficult to know whether it was in the chest wall or the breast but that chest wall pain is often mistaken for breast pain and could come and go. Ultrasound showed no lumps but they did find a cyst (not in the area of pain) and drained it while they were there (apparently normally they just leave them).

Definitely right to get it checked, it can be really distressing, but try not to go out of your mind with worry, it's highly likely to be not cancer. It's much more likely to be either: cycle related, non-cycle related (really annoying because basically they don't have much advice about how to get rid of it!) or chest wall pain. I still get the pain sometimes but I have ways of dealing with it and now I know it's not cancer I can handle it.

Good luck, the clinic should put your mind at ease x

At my annual check up the consultant said any pain in your breast is only cancer if it’s because the cancer has spread to your bones and it’s so bad it’s keeping you awake at night. Then he muttered something about hormones

I have annual mammograms because of a family risk and I’ve been told something very similar.

Thanks @Hortuslover. I’m fine now, just on precautionary stuff.

I’m glad to have helped.

Thank you all, you’ve all been a huge help.
I keep getting waves of anxiety about it.
I don’t think the GP would have referred me if she hadn’t have felt the cysts in the left side, and I think she could tell I was worried, naturally, so I’m thankful that she did.
I don’t have family history for breast cancer but I do for other primaries.