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General health

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Original poster

Lump in breast. Reassurances from people who've had ones that turned out to be cysts or boils or whatever, please.

36 replies

solidgoldbrass · 31/08/2012 22:16

Obviously I will take myself off to the GP next week, but we are just about to go on a short holiday and I'm not missing that. I've consulted Dr Google and it sounds very much like a cyst anyway. I think what I basically want to know is how much will the needle aspiration hurt?

OP posts:

SunAtLast · 31/08/2012 22:19

I had one for years. It was a " mouse" which is what they called a cyst in my part of the country.

I bottled out of getting it removed. It disappeared after my first pregnancy and never returned!

Musomathsci · 31/08/2012 22:20

It's pretty much the same as having a blood test or injection at the dentist. No biggie if they are simply aspirating a cyst.

Zhx3 · 31/08/2012 22:25

Mine was a fibroadenoma. I had it removed under GA, and it was fine, in and out in a day.

Good luck OP.

ShiftyFades · 31/08/2012 22:29

I recently had one. Was at breast clinic the next working day (but that was the Monday so had an awful weekend)
Apparently I had a few, just in one breast..

Mammogram was fine though and it turns out I have one "normal" breast and one lumpy one

MaryMotherOfCheeses · 31/08/2012 22:41

AFAIK, they might not want to aspirate it.

They decided my lump was a cyst, and to ignore it for a while. It went away all on its own (turned out to be hormonal)

yy to GP though.

Original poster

solidgoldbrass · 31/08/2012 22:46

Yes, will go to GP. I am menopausal/perimenopausal so it could be some sort of hormonal last tantrum or something. It's a little hard lump a bit like a baked bean.

OP posts:

mumblecrumble · 31/08/2012 22:54

Hi there, bare with me - this is good and reassuring.

My Grandma had breast cancer, 20 years ago and is a very fit and lovely 74 year old. She has also been to doctors around a dozen times with a breast lump - each time a cyst or spot or something totally fine.

Best of luck! Ibet the worry is worst than the outcome :)

cluelessnchaos · 31/08/2012 22:58

Fine needle aspiration didn't hurt and I just had a breast mouse. If I were you I'd go see the doc and try and get referred as soon as you get back

Original poster

solidgoldbrass · 01/09/2012 02:23

Well it's still there so it's not a trapped fart... I should probably stop poking at it.

OP posts:

NUFC69 · 01/09/2012 21:32

I discovered a lump in my breast when I was in my late 20s - mentioned it to my doctor and he said it was probably a cyst and to come back two weeks later if it hadn't gone. I did return (by which time I was pregnant - that was a huge shock; I took off my bra for him to examine me and he told me I was pregnant - was about two days' late, I think). Because of the pregnancy they wouldn't operate until I was 12 weeks. Was in hospital for three days. My mother had died of breast cancer so I was pretty scared at first. They did a fantastic job with the operation and you can hardly see the scar. All this was in the 70s, though, so not sure if it is relevant now - good luck, but do go to see our GP.

SirBoobAlot · 01/09/2012 21:34

My friend has just been for a breast scan, she's fine, they basically just told her she has lumpy norks

marriednotdead · 01/09/2012 21:45

I had a one about 10 years ago. They saw me within a fortnight in a one stop clinic. It was a lumpy bean like thing. The needle didn't hurt at all; it's so fine. It was benign but they took it out for my peace of mind, day surgery, no drama. No problems since.

JoyceDivision · 01/09/2012 21:48

I had a lump right in my armpit that felt like a frozen pea. Got scanned and wa stold I had 'enlarged lymph nodes'. I have 38FF boobs so the staff may have been euphemistically speaking

Thelobsterswife · 01/09/2012 21:49

I had a huge painful cyst which they aspirated there and then. Didn't hurt at all. They found a solid lump behind it which resulted in a lumpectomy and eventually the all clear. Good luck.

Whiteshoes · 01/09/2012 22:01

90 per cent of lumps are harmless. I didn't get my first really lumpy lump til in my thirties but wasn't surprised when they told me I had very lumpy breasts. (the sonographer called her chum over to have a look at my super lumpy lady lumps. Get me.) Mine are much lumpier pre period, so you may well be right about hormones. I wouldn't bother with aspiration unless it's hurting. They just fill up again, and repeated aspiration makes them more difficult to diagnose apparently.

ElectricSoftParade · 01/09/2012 22:11

SGB I think we may have been on a peri thread but now I am meno. I have never had lumpy breasts previously but since the peri/meno stage I keep discovering lumps. Have had one aspirated which did not hurt but was slightly uncomfortable. Apparently I now have lumpy tits . Happily, they all seem to have disappeared but am nervous each time as my sister had breast cancer. Am also taking HRT atm which my GP reassures me can give you "lumpy breasts" .

Enjoy your break and then off to the GPs. Best of luck.

Original poster

solidgoldbrass · 01/09/2012 22:43

I know that most lumps are harmless, if annoying. This one feels more like a boil or something, actually a bit tender and painful, which makes me even more convinced it's just some kind of cyst. I am refusing to be scared. I'll take it to the GP when we are back from holiday. Unfortunately one of my friends has recently been informed that she has cancer. In two separate places, and one inoperable. So I am a tiny bit twitchy...

OP posts:

Beamur · 01/09/2012 22:46

I had a sore lump checked out earlier this year - turned out to be hormonal tissue, am also a bit jumpy about these things as my Mum has had breast cancer. Try to stop poking it and have a nice holiday.

Whiteshoes · 02/09/2012 00:37

You are right to not be scared. You'll see the gp very soon anyway, and then they'll whizz you over to have a scan or whatever, as it's always good to get them checked over. But painful does sound very like a cyst. As Beamur says, stop poking it and do some packing!

Bellaciao · 02/09/2012 18:38

I had lumpy breasts (fibroadenosis) for years before becoming menopausal.
They used to get lumpy every month.
Also had a particular small hard painful lump in the corner of one breast that was scanned (ultrasound) but docs just said it was a harmless fibroadenoma. it used to get more painful at certain times of the month I'm on HRT and can't seem to find it any more.
I also had another lump when breast-feeding which turned out to be a galactocoele ie a milk lump and I reguarly had mastitis when breast-feeding.
Yes important to be checked over but most are harmless I agree.

Original poster

solidgoldbrass · 11/09/2012 12:21

OK, have been to the GP and referred to the hospital for further investigation. It wasn't my usual GP so am not sure if she was concerned or if she normally has a face of doom on even if it's just for an ingrown toenail.
She said there's definitely something there that needs a specialist to take a look and that I will get an appointment within a fortnight.

Are we still within the bounds of 'nothing to worry about'? Now feeling a bit frightened, particularly as she helpfully informed me that breast cancer is very curable...

OP posts:

KrispyCakehead · 11/09/2012 12:24

Yes.. mine's been there for 16 years to the best of my knowledge. Was 24 when I discovered it amid much panicking and stress.. it was prodding and scanned and deemed fine and nothing sinister and has remained there quite happily since.

And re your most recent post OP, yes you are still well within the bounds of "very likely to be fine" but lumps WILL get referred and rightly so. Hang on in there.

HumphreyCobbler · 11/09/2012 12:25

all of the above still applies! It really probably is harmless and you are having it checked out.

HumphreyCobbler · 11/09/2012 12:25

it was always going to be referred on, you knew that

smee · 11/09/2012 12:42

They have to refer you if you have a lump, but 9 out of 10 referrals still end up as benign, so odds still v.much on your side. Go have a great holiday.

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