How soon can you get breast cancer after a clear scan?

[Moonberri]

I had breast cancer a few years ago. Non-invasive but high grade DCIS which was successfully treated by a single mastectomy.

I have yearly mammograms and MRIs and had my most recent one 2 months ago. Last month I started to get really bad breast pain and a swollen area. This is the main symptom I had when I had BC the first time. I went to the breast clinic and had an ultrasound. They couldn't see anything, it all looked fine. They said it would be very unlikely to have developed anything in the 2 months since my last tests.

But I'm still worried about it as the symptoms are the same as last time. Surely its not possible to develop BC so quickly after these recent tests? I can't tell if I'm just being overly anxious due to the trauma of what happened before or if I'm right to be concerned. I can't get it out of my mind and I'm getting really stressed about it.

I had bc 11 years ago. I get periodic breast pain. It does scare me. Sometimes something as simple as changing what bra I’m wearing tends to cure it. I also have given myself a two week rule. If it’s persistent after two weeks then I may ring the gp.

Slightly embarrassed to say I don’t routinely check my breasts as I don’t want to find anything suspect. Even though mine was over ten years ago, it’s still there at the back of my mind, and sometimes I feel I’m just waiting for it to rear its ugly head again. I got away lightly before (small lump, lumpectomy, no chemo), and think that won’t happen again.

@RiverDulas I know exactly what you mean about not checking. I know that I will find something worrying if I check!

So, the consultant is going to give me a call next week to discuss whether further imagining would be helpful or not. She also confirmed that it is very unlikely that anything will have grown in 3 months, especially with the ultrasound showing no lumps. So I'm feeling reassured by that and will do my best to put it out of my mind for the next week.