need reassurance about breast pain please

[mandmsmummy]

Hi
Basically i have seen my doc today as i get an achy pain in my right breast i had it after my daughter was born then again six months ago and then now. she is a year old and i still breast feed though not as much.
doc has examined me and said she is not worried but can feel a ridge rather than a lump. so she is sending me for an ultrasound to put my mind at rest. she has told me not to worry but of course i am.
can anyone give me advice please xx

You must be frantic, you poor thing. I have had a variety of breast issues over the years, including a benign lump. My surgeon said that pain is usually a good sign - malignancy usually doesn't come with pain. I didn't BF after DD was 7 weeks old, but I do remember breast pain on and off during that time and for a while after I stopped. I used to get the most awful breast pain, right in the core, during puberty when I was developing. The pain after I gave birth was very similar to that, so I assumed it was more hormonal "stuff" and wasn't worried.

You are quite right to get it checked and I'm glad your GP is sending you for an US - when is it? Do you have long to wait? It is terrifying though. When I had my benign lump, my surgeon said it was benign - US, mammogram, MRI and biopsy all showed that it was. But I was still convinced it was cancer until it was out. I think it's inevitable that we're going to be so scared. Have you got good support to help you through this? X

Poor you, try not to worry, though that's easy to say! Having the ultrasound is for the best. I had a very similar thing when DD1 was 2.5, so about 6 months after stopping BF (a pain and a ridge-y series of lumps. My doctor sent me for a mammograph and ultrasound and it turned out to be a cyst (it was in the same place where I'd had mastitis, and I then went on to have mastitis in the same place with DD2, not sure if it is related). They gave me some progesterone gel to smear on which cleared it up. My Dsis had the exact same thing too. Fingers crossed for you but I'm sure it's fine. It's normal to be panicky, I was lying awake every night poking the bad area...

Hi
Thanks to you both

I think deep down i know it will be alright but I just need to know now. I keep trying to feel for something but cant so trying to keep positive. doesnt help i suffered from health anxiety a few years ago so i dont cope with waiting very well.
x

its driving me crazy, its hurting all around the area. not really bad but cant get it out of my head because its there all the time. im so worried x

I know - the uncertainty is awful. How long will you have to wait for the scan and the follow up appointment? In the meantime would talking to someone help? Maybe:

www.breastcancercare.org.uk/breast-cancer-services/ask-us-your-questions/helpline

Not just for women with a diagnosis of breast cancer - it's also for women who have breast health concerns/are waiting for tests.

XX

Hi
I have my appointment through for next thurs at the hospital breast care clinic. i was told i will have an examination, then ultrasound, mammogram and biopsy on that day should the examination feel i need all of one of these procedures.
I have been really bad today, really upset about it all. I still cant feel anything, the gp said she can feel a ridge rather then a lump and that she doesnt think its anything to worry about. But when it hurts its really hard to convince myself that it will probably be ok.
Hopefully this time next week I will be wondering why I put myself through all this, fingers crossed.
xx

Glad you have the appointment soon - although I'm sure the next few days are going to feel like an eternity. And it's very good that they'll do all the tests on the same day, if you need them. I had to go back and that was just awful. Will be thinking of you - I know what this is like and it is horrid. Try and remember that the majority of breast lumps are benign. I know it's so hard though. Sending you lots of love and let us know how you get on. XXX

It is hard not to worry, I know, as I was also sent to the breast clinic with persistant pain. They were fantastic there and the specialist breast nurse who examined me was very emphatic that breast pain is virtually never an indicator of anything sinister. In my case it turned out to be a few very small benign cysts but they made the area very painful - I couldn't lie on that side or lift my arm without pain. It still hurts from time to time but not half as much as when I was worrying about it !
You are doing the right thing by getting it checked out but it is highly unlikely to be anything nasty.

thank u all so much for your replies it really helps to rationalise it. Yes it will be good to do it all it one day, its the waiting im no good at.
My husband is lovely and looks after me, my mum passed away 12 years ago and its times like this i really miss her.
hopefully next week will go quick and i will get a positive answer.
thanks again xx

if you'd like any hand holding from people who've been through this (the waiting/tests etc) then you are really welcome to join us on the tamoxifen thread here

Hi,
How did you get on? XX

Mandmsmummy

Honey-bun I really feel for you and know just how your feeling but you need to keep pressing forward on this.
I'd had a lump on my right breast, eventually went to Doc who sent me for an ultrasound at a certain hospital, had an Ultrasound and I was told , nothing to worry about. I had had pain for some time and was told if theres pain its not cancer. £%$^&%*& to that. But I wasn't happy and all I can say is that I had a voice in my head urging me to go back to the Doc.
After about 4/5 months I did so, but said I didn't want to go to 'that' hospital, so was sent to another Lovely hospital. Had mammogram and Needle biopsy. Next day I was called, could I go back as there was something they weren't quite sure of. Then had a cone biopsy results were back within 1/2 hour. Was told I had cancer by a breast care nurse and registrar who were kindness itself. It was malignant, I was not a happy bunny.

After that my feet scarcely touched the ground, I had a lumpectomy, then I was told I needed a mastectomy, this all went ahead and I've ended up with a new Booby-doo.
What I'm trying to say is if a doctor tells you theres no pain with breast cancer-there can be. But it only effects about 1% of women so its not in the official statistics I suppose. During all of the above I had virtually no real pain, a bit of discomfort yes but not real pain. I promise you. So even if your tests prove positive, the care that you get is wonderful, but I obviously hope you'll be clear. Try to Stay Positive though. I now help at the LGFB charity workshops which is run for women experiencing cancer, its a wonderful charity and lovely experience as your helping others who had/have cancer.

Sorry for the delay - had a week of it, my daughters mmr, sickness and teething so no time for mumsnet!

I went to the hospital, was examined by a clinician who thought everything felt fine. she said she could feel a nodule (not where the pain was) but nothing weird but she knew i was worried so said i could have an ultrasound for peace of mind. the ultrasound couldnt find anything and the consultant was happy there was nothing sinister and couldnt find a nodule.

i was told to keep an eye on it, go back if i was worried and to work out what was 'normal' for me after a i had given up breastfeeding.

I feel better now, do you all think this sounds ok?

Little dumpling - u sound like u had an ordeal. I know what u mean about the little voice but my problem is i had health anxiety bad a few years ago and i cant work out which the difference between gut feelings and anxiety anymore.

XX

Went to GP today who confirmed there is a lump. It is painful particularly during my cycle. She referred me to breast clinic. Was there 2.5 years ago after thought I felt something but was reassured there was nothing there. Anyway waiting on appt. GP thinks its a 1-2 cm cyst. Im a bit like you with anxiety and I know exactly what you mean about them merging. Worried!