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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

Really bad breast pain

33 replies

Periodconfusion · 02/04/2022 11:01

AIBU to be worried sick? I have had very bad breast pain on one side for a week now. GP said as there is no lump there is nothing to worry about - no family history of breast cancer, age not of a concern etc. I'm really anxious it's something sinister and not sure what to do. Should I get a private ultrasound for peace of mind? I've never had breast pain so bad, pain relief not helping, one side only, not related to period. Or could this be totally normal?! Thanks!

OP posts:

Belledan1 · 02/04/2022 11:17

I don't suppose you had a new bra have you? I had this and once adjusted strap on the side it hurt I was OK.

Original poster

Periodconfusion · 02/04/2022 11:36

Thank you. Not bra related or an injury.

OP posts:

Barrawarra · 02/04/2022 11:37

I’m assuming from your post you are not breastfeeding? Have you been any time in the recent past?

Original poster

Periodconfusion · 02/04/2022 11:42

Not breastfeeding or pregnant and years and years since I breastfed. Thanks

OP posts:

Lunificent · 02/04/2022 11:46

I would go back to go and ask for a referral for a breast exam/mammogram.
When I was examined by nurse at my gp surgery, they didn’t find my lump but they went ahead and booked me for a mammogram etc because my nipple had inverted. They were right to as I had cancer and did have a lump.
Try not to be scared though as in most cases there is nothing wrong, and if there is there are brilliant care pathways for each type of cancer.

reddevil2811 · 02/04/2022 11:52

I had/still have this occasionally and was diagnosed with costochondritis which is inflammation where the ribs meet the chest bone. Mine is on the right side and radiates into the breast.
I have no idea how I got it, no history of injury.
They say could it possibly could have been caused by a bout of coughing etc but there is quite often no definite cause.
It could possibly be something to consider.

TwoBigNoisyBoys · 02/04/2022 11:56

Echoing what @Lunificent has said. I went to the GP for years with boob pain related issues, and was reassured at the last check up in September it would be hormonal. On examining me, she did then discover a lump (I’ve never had any lumps in the past) and following mammograms and an ultrasound I discovered I do have stage one breast cancer, which obviously was a huge shock. However, the earlier these things are caught the better. I’m nearly at the end of chemo now, and have surgery and radiotherapy to go, but have been advised they’re confident I’ll be fully cured. I KNOW it’s so frightening, I really do…but I’m just so grateful I persevered with pestering the GP. Please do go back and ask for a further referral. As said above, most of the time there is nothing wrong, but if there is, there’s amazing treatment pathways.

Specter123 · 02/04/2022 11:57

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Lucywithout · 02/04/2022 11:57

I had this in 1980s and first doc put me on "water tablets". Later a mammogram found carcinoma which was removed with right breast. Demand a mammogram for your peace of mind. Probably not cancer but who knows?

Original poster

Periodconfusion · 02/04/2022 12:00

Thanks everyone, I will go back next week!

OP posts:

TwoBigNoisyBoys · 02/04/2022 12:04

@Specter123 yea, ordinarily I’d agree with you, as this is what I was relying on too…everyone, including my GP, said that the pain I was experiencing would indicate that it was not anything sinister, which reassured me temporarily however it turned out not be true in my case.

Blimecory · 02/04/2022 12:04

I would push for a referral. I had breast pain and even the hospital dismissed it. By the time I was eventually diagnosed with cancer, there were multiple tumours. Not all cancers display as a lump - mine didn’t. Not all cancers are seen in mammograms- mine weren’t. The mantra “breast pain is not a symptom of breast cancer” needs to be challenged. Doctors need to know that not all breast cancers are lumps.

TwoBigNoisyBoys · 02/04/2022 12:06

Sorry, posted too soon…

Meant to add, this normally the case though OP, so although easy for me to say, try not to worry in the meantime.

Garman · 02/04/2022 13:15

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Garman · 02/04/2022 13:16

Mastalgia? That was what I meant to post above but autocorrect changed it!

Princessdebthe1st · 02/04/2022 13:28

@Specter123

My understanding is that pain is usually something muscular/tissue related - my Dr actually used pain as a way to rule out anything serious like cancer.

Please try not to worry

Dear OP, I know the advice above is well-meaning but please do take this pain seriously and insist on a referral via the two week pathway. Pain that is not menstrual cycle relates and is specifically on one side/location is NOT a reassuring feature.

I had pain in one area on one breast that came and went over a couple of months. It was my only symptom. I called the GP for an appointment, told the receptionist there was no hurry and it was probably nothing to worry about. She ignored me and gave me an appointment the next day. The GP examined me thoroughly and wasn't sure whether or not there was anything there but referred me via the two week pathway. I was diagnosed with stage 2, grade 3 cancer three weeks later. That referral almost certainly saved my life as my cancer was a particularly nasty and aggressive one. I have been in remission now for nearly 3 years.

The liklihood of your problem being breast cancer is relatively small but certainly not impossible. It is most likely a cyst or something similar but don't take the chance. X

2DemisSVP · 02/04/2022 13:38

Also diagnosed due to pain, got dismissed by GP twice, had to be really argumentative at third appointment. (GP literally put her hands on hips, sighed at me, and said “what do you want me to do, refer you?” - in her most exasperated voice, to which I had to say yes, whilst worrying I was wasting everyone’s time). I could also feel a tiny something that felt like a grain of sand. Anyone, long story short, radiographer at hospital was amazing - ultrasound showed nothing but because I was 36 she offered me a mammogram. And that showed DCIS everywhere. So, I was bloody lucky as so early. Sometimes you have to fight your ground….

redchicken · 02/04/2022 19:42

Have you had covid recently? I've heard of a few cases of costochondritis after covid?

redchicken · 02/04/2022 19:44

Sorry - but follow advice of more informed PPs and insist on referral.

cobblers123 · 02/04/2022 19:53

About 4 weeks ago I started getting a burning pain in my right breast especially when turning over in bed or if I got out of bed or out of a chair. It was so painful it actually woke me up several times, it felt like my breast was being pulled really hard.

I looked online and mastalgia came up along with a couple of other possible reasons for it but cancer was not really highlighted.

This past week, the pain has gone so I'm not really sure whether to try and flag it up with the GP, no idea how difficult an appointment would be though, or just leave it and hope it doesn't come back.

Original poster

Periodconfusion · 02/04/2022 19:55

Thanks again for all the advice, I will definitely go back to gp next week. Interestingly I have just had covid...! I feel bad going back to gp as he said to come back in 3 - 4 months if the pain hasn't gone... which is why I was thinking of getting a private screening / ultrasound for peace of mind. Thanks again

OP posts:

jackstini · 02/04/2022 19:59

Glad you are going

I had a lump that then went away after referral and I felt a bit silly going for the appointment but did anyway

Breast examination showed nothing and neither did mammogram, but ultrasound showed up a small mass

Had biopsy and turned out to be a pre-cancerous papilloma that they removed

Mysteryuser · 02/04/2022 20:07

Of course you should go back. But just an alternative thought- I had exactly this last week, which then developed into a rash and I've been diagnosed with shingles.
A colleague of mine also had an infection in her breast a couple of years ago, which needed antibiotics, so maybe consider that too, and keep a close eye on things.

Skydreams · 02/04/2022 20:30

@reddevil2811

I had/still have this occasionally and was diagnosed with costochondritis which is inflammation where the ribs meet the chest bone. Mine is on the right side and radiates into the breast. I have no idea how I got it, no history of injury. They say could it possibly could have been caused by a bout of coughing etc but there is quite often no definite cause. It could possibly be something to consider.

I have also just been diagnosed a few days ago with Costochrondritis, which caused me severe pain on the left side - breast and chest. It’s eased a lot now and the GP said it is rare for breast cancer to present itself as pain, however to be certain you should insist on further investigation.

Also just had Covid at the same time, strangely, as a pp suggested a connection.

Also, about four years ago I had shooting breast pain on the right side and I was referred for a mammogram. It was normal except for a few cysts and it was diagnosed as referred nerve pain from my back (I do have issues with this anyway but this was the first time it referred to this area).

ButtockUp · 02/04/2022 20:31

Just a thought, have you tried going without a bra for any length of time?
Maybe try it pending your appointment.

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