Worrying myself silly about inflammatory b c

[Worriedkat]

I have posted before about my right side breast pain. Recently it's been a bit worse (always seems a bit worse in hot weather or after a hot shower).

Just over 2 years ago I had a referral to the breast clinic for burning pain, sharp pains and slight increase in size in my right breast. Saw a great consultant who examined me very thoroughly and said not cancer. I know she's good, she treated my mum (who def did have cancer) and has seen millions of cases ( she's the top consultant in our area). U/s and mammo also picked nothing up.

2 years later I have another flare up, this time with a pale pink area one side of the nipple. It doesn't feel hard , and the nipple is normal. It's sore, but not painful to the touch. Breast still feels larger than the other side, but doesn't really look much larger to other people.

I am worried that it's something, you know? Could it be a load of pre cancerous symptoms that took years to develop? If so, would the consultant have known this. The pinkish area wasn't there when I saw the consultant. Actually the pinkish area is sometimes much more noticeable than other times, more so after a hot shower.

GP appr not until 23rd (wanted to wait and get the doc I feel is really knowledgeable). Am seriously anxious now. Phoned the breast cancer care help line but was interrupted so had to hang up :(

If it's not cancer, what on earth could it be?? Google only throws up cancer as a search result (don't worry I have now stepped away).

Please, any ideas welcome, I need to stop stressing about this until 23rd

Should add, no thickening, no orange peel skin, no discharge. I have been diagnosed with a very faint heart murmer (echo booked for 22nd) and am worried this is a symptom of cancer progressing (paranoia?)

could it possibly be mastitis? had a friend who had it even though she had never even been pregnant.

It's like constant low level mastitis, but it doesn't get worse quickly like an infection might. Sort of waxes and wanes (sure it's died down a bit now in the cool of the evening)

This morning I woke up with really bad arm pit pain, just to add to my woes. Can't feel any lumps. Could this all be connected?

I had this a few months ago. The anxiety made me hyperaware and I was making something of nothing tbh.

It is very very very unlikely you have this.

Do you suffer from anxiety in general?

You could have a low level infection in a milk duct? I really don't think your theory about pre-cancerous cells from the past could be true as the consultant would have seen something on the mammogram you mentioned. Also, were you not symptom-free for a while? I don't think breast cancer symptoms disappear and re-appear in the way your theory suggests they would. Also, I wonder whether the red area is not something more superficial, like an insect bite or a skin irritation? Believe me, I understand your worry, but I think you should be reassured that the consultant found nothing wrong before, despite your worrying symptoms. Is there no way you can see your GP any earlier?

I think the symptoms cause anxiety as I always focus on the worst case scenario. It's like if I can come to terms with the worst, then I am prepared for the worst. This way madness lies I am sure...

I didn't like to ask for an emergency gp appointment, and the alternative, especially as I want to see a specific gp, is a 3 week wait.

The affected arm pit also sweats more than the other side, not sure if that's relevant either.

I know exactly what you mean, I am the same, but do try to be realistic if you can. I don't know about the sweating, are you maybe more aware of it than the other armpit? Do remember that worry consumes a lot of energy you could better use in another way, but I totally understand your response.