have you ever had a lump in your breast?

[alexsCURSEDMUMMY]

was it obvious? what did it feel like?

alexscursedmummy - post tomorrow after the gps and let us know what she said

I've found lumps on 2 seperate occasions and got checked out pretty quickly both times. After much prodding and poking followed by mamograms I was given the all clear. Both occasions were classified a blocked ducts and both lumps were hard and slightly bigger than a pea. First time I was 24 second time I was 37. Hope all goes well at you appointment, you are doing the right thing.

Oh, the dr said mine was a 'breast mouse' That was almost 10 years ago and has never returned or caused any more problems. Let us know how you get on, alexsCURSEDMUMMY...

Mine are HH (aaarrrggghhh), but I 6ft and 20 stone, so they kind of fit in iykwim...

I have had 3 breast lumps. For all of them I was referred to hospital. The first two were fatty tissue and no further action was taken. The third one caused everyone a bit of worry and after a scan, a needle biopsy, another scan, and then surgery to remove and test it was also benight. (phew)

I was told never to press too hard when testing as you will feel the lumpy texture of the breast and confuse it with a 'new' lump. Just a flat hand and gentle pressure...

I know what you mean about feeling anxious, I check every time I am in the shower and am always terrified I will find yet another one...

Good luck at the docs cursedmummy.

back from the docs. She said she can't feel anything at all, no lumps or bumps which could be in any way suspicious, but as she can see how worried i am she is going to refer me for a mammogram and ultrasound etc. She said it would rule my breasts out of the equation and then they would know for certain that they were dealing with a back problem.Once that has been done, she is going to arrange more physio etc.
she said she wouldn't have referred me to the breast clinic if i wasn't so worried. so that's good news.
peegeeweegeewitch-you sound like me! i'm also 6ft and a big girl so i'm paranoid that i was missing something because of my size.
the doctor pressed much more gently than i did !!!

still feel very anxious but think that's all tied up with my friend and maybe i would feel like this anyway even without the breast pain.

Well I am really glad your gp seems so understanding - I'm sure its the sad situation with your friend that is making you so anxious - good news that the gp can't feel anything and is still happy to refer - I hope your mammogram/ultrasound will make you feel calmer. Any idea how long you will have to wait?

she said it wouldn't be an urgent referral so who knows?
still feel sick though. maybe i would feel that way anyway even if i didn't have the pain?

alescursedmummy, I am so with you on this and it was only last week I had the all clear on mine.

In 2000 I had a benign breast lump removed. But until I was 100% sure it was benign I wa in a black hole. At the time my children were very young and I just thought of the worst case scenario. - how would they manage without me.

Since then I checked my breasts almost daily. It became a totally irrational fear of mine. My boobs also became very sore and tender, like your, with pain etc. I've since realised they change with age, hormones etc and pain can actually be a good thing.

I was so bad that if i felt no main lumps, the world was fine, but if I had a feeling there was something there (around the time of a period for example when they became lumpy) I was on edge for a week until the lumpiness subsided.

I regulary went to the docs and their examination would put my mind at rest.

Anyway, 2 weeks ago I found a definite lump, something different from usual, which is what they tell you to look out for now.

The doc said she was sure it was an OK lump as it was 'mobile' but she could see how anxious I was and because I asked her, she referred me to the breast clinic.

That week I went into a black hole again, imagining the worse.

I had a phone call the next night telling me they would see me in 7 days.

I broke down in the clinic, through worry. I had a mammogram and ultrasound which clearly showed I had a cyst. I had lots of them actually but the one I could feel was nearer the surface.

I asked the consultant if he would remove both breasts as I couldn't stand the worry I go through. I felt that bad!

Now I'm back to my more rational self, when I return to the clinic next week to have the cyst drained I'm going to ask if I can have a yearly mammogram. I think the consultant could see this is a big problem for me so we'll see what he says.

Anyway, really just told you all this to let you know that someone understands what you are feeling and now I have my rational head back on, 9 out of 10 lumps are benign and worst case scenario, if caught early, this horrible disease is treatable.

Hang on in there to your appointment. Your gp would have indicated if she were worried. It's probably a cyst or one of those fibrodaema thingys. x

Bump for acm.

thanks for that emmatom.
i'm pretty certain i know what it is-i broke my back about two years ago and it causes nerve irritation in a band which includes my breast. i've had some physio and it did help. and i wasn't sure whether i could feel anything anyway.
feel calmer and more rational today.

i'm like you though- i imagine the worst possible scenario!