To be worried

[Summeblaze]

About a year ago I discovered what I thought was a lump near my ribs. I then started to get a small bit of pain in the same area so went to the doctors.

I have since been for 2 X-rays on the area and a consultant has checked and can't see anything wrong. Because I still have the pain, although it is mild, the doctor mentioned a chest CT scan but also mentioned that because I had already had the X-rays that I may not want it because of the radiation and the increased risk of breast cancer and infertility.

It's got me all panicked now. I kind of got the impression he doesn't think there is much wrong. So do I have the possibly unnecessary scan with the risks or not.

I'm also hoping to ttc soon and with me being 37, I don't really want to lower my chances of becoming pg or get pg too soon after the scan and cause difficulties with the pregnancy or baby.

I am a natural worrier of all things health which doesn't help.

At the risk of sounding banal, does your bra fit properly? If you're wearing an ill-fitting underwired bra then that can rub against your ribs and cause a lump/pain.

It's the bottom of my ribs so a couple of inches below the bra.

A single CT scan is highly unlikely to have any noticeable or significant effect on your fertility. However it is a high dose of radiation which can be associated with cell damage & related problems in the future (cancers). Egg & sperm cells can be more susceptible to this damage & damage to these cells can result in fertility problems.

Your consultant will be weighing up the risks associated with a CT scan against the chances of this lump being anything to be concerned about. If the consultant was worried you would be scanned very quickly, so the fact that a scan may not be necessary at this stage should be reassuring (if frustrating) IFSWIM?

You could try asking if an ultrasound scan might show anything?