Lumpy area in breast, feeling a bit scared.

[Tanfastic]

Good morning mumsnetters. I feel I need a bit of hand holding or a good talking to, not sure which.

I've always had what I would consider to be lumpy breasts but over the last few years they've become quite tender in areas, the right one more than the left. I've always put the tenderness down to hormones or maybe even ill fitting bra etc. My right Breast which is the biggest culprit is slightly bigger than my left (always has been, this isn't a new thing). I'm 42 by the way.

I regularly self exam, at least twice a month lying on my back in the correct way like they tell you to but never felt any peculiarities in the areas of tenderness so I've never been to the docs about it (stupid I know).

However, the area of my right Breast that seems to feel tender nearly all of the time has been bugging me lately. I can only describe a small area of about half an inch that kind of feels a little bit bruised when you press it or if ds gives me a cuddle I can feel a slight tenderness. Last night I did a breast exam standing up and I could definitely feel a grainy lumpy texture quite deep in that area about half an inch across. This is directly underneath the tender spot. The same area on the other side feels smooth and normal. It's tender when I press it. Dh had a feel last night and although it took him a while to pinpoint it he said he could feel something that wasn't on the other side butIt was very small.

Obviously I'm going to the docs to get it checked but just wanted a bit of hand holding. I'm obviously shitting a brick now and blowing it all out of context convincing myself it's cancer. Didn't sleep a wink last night .

You're doing the right thing in planning to get checked, don't be surprised if the doctor refers you to the breast clinic to check it out. Doesn't mean that there is something wrong but they won't be able to tell until you have a scan or mammogram. I know it's hard but try to stop poking around and definitely don't google! You're very welcome to come over to the tamoxifen thread on this board if you want some hand holding, we've all been there and understand how scary it is

Thanks, I do keep poking around, to be honest it's hard to feel, and def can't feel anything lying down.

Firstly, well done for going to the dr. absolutely the right thing to do.

It does sound to me like you are poking and prodding quite a bit. (understandable) This could well be the reason for the changes. Breast tissue is fairy sensitive.

try if you can to leave things alone in the meantime. The dr may well refer you straight away and the good news is you'll be seen within 2 weeks. or they may ask you to go back in a few weeks as Breast tissue can change according to where you are in your cycle.

Try not to worry and remember that 90% of breast lumps etc are benign.

I am in your shoes right now - I felt a lump last Tues or Weds, I'm going through a bit of tough time at the moment so was just going to leave it and put it down to cysts as I have a few in the other breast.
I was thinking sensibly by Thursday and booked an appt with the GP who referred me right there while I was getting dressed again.
She done it under the 14 day rapid access thing and my appt landed on the doormat Saturday morning - with the appt within the 14 days.

I know it's worrying but try not to panic, definitely stop poking around and yes to staying away from Dr Google. I keep telling myself that it doesn't matter how much I stress myself - I can't do anything until I've been to the clinic.

Thanks ladies, I am going on holiday in three weeks so was going to leave it till I get back but I'm not going to as I assume if I go to gp this week I'll have had a clinic appt by the time I go away (when hopefully they've put my mind at rest) .

Carbdiem, is your. Lump tender to touch? Mine isn't a lump exactly, it's more like a generalised lumpy area but it's pretty small and tender.

Tan I wouldn't say mine is a lump as in - pea or marble. The GP described it as a mass. It's quite large and irregular. It's not painful but feels uncomfortable.
On the other side, where I have diagnosed cysts - is sometimes very very painful just knocking the area with my arm or the pressure from my bra can hurt, appears to be reactive to my hormones and sometimes depending on where I am in my cycle can feel a bit bigger.

Yes you are 100% doing the right thing in seeing your GP before you go on holiday - if your GP thinks it necessary you will also be referred under the 14 day rapid access appointment.
Even if you don't have the results back by the time your hols come - at least you will have been checked, scanned, mammogramed, biopsied, whatevered :) already.

Yes that's what I thought. Get it out the way ASAP.

My boobs are quite dense even though I'm 42 so dreading the thought of a mammogram .

The sore spot has actually been there for a couple of years at least but because I couldn't feel anything (because I'd been checking my breasts lying down) I just assumed it was tight fitting bra, muscular etc.

I feel sick

Me too - it is scary. I keep telling myself that a huge % of lumps are NOT cancerous. I also am clinging on to the fact that life (my family's in particular) simply can not be so cruel - my dm has been recently diagnosed with brain cancer. It.Just.Can't.

I was given a mammogram when I was 19 as they needed to investigate a a pea sized lump that developed behind my nipple and obviously my breasts were very dense at that time - it bloody hurt :) At 36 they've since lost a lot of density so I'm hoping if I need one this time it'll be a bit more comfy.

I thought the cysts were due to my bra at first - I lived in Europe at the time and had private health care so after a few weeks of discomfort I took myself off for a ultrasound scan and they found the cysts then.

My mum is coming round in a bit, I'm going to ask her to cop a feel and see what she thinks. Will make a gp appt tomorrow though anyway.

When is your appointment at the Clinic Carbe?

It's on the 14th, exactly 2 weeks after my GP referral.
I've got to go to a Hospital that's not local but that's okay. My sister will come with me, I think.
My step dad did offer but I don't really want them there as they've enough on their own plates right now - mum can't be left alone so she'd end up coming too :)

It says on the letter (that I've just re-read to check the date) that I'll be there for up to 3 hours depending on what I need done - all investigations will be done that day and I will have the results too -which I was quite surprised about.

That's good getting results same day,that's what's hoping for, good luck anyway, please keep updating, I'd love to know how you get on.

I will do - updates from you too please when you've been to the GP.
Good luck to you too x

Got a gp appointment at 9.20 this morning. Not with a gp I'm that keen on but beggars can't be choosers.

Hope your appointment went well.

Hi Carbe, I saw a very nice doctor actually, not the one I thought I wasn't keen on .

He asked me lots of questions and then gave me a thorough breast exam firstly concentrating on my dodgy boob then checking the other. He said that what I'm feeling is normal breast tissue. He said the tender area was just one of those things that was probably normal for me and tenderness isn't normally associated with anything nasty (although after consulting Dr Google it appears that is a load of bollocks).

He must have see the look on my face because he kept saying please be reassured etc etc.

So he doesn't feel the need for referral. Said to keep an eye on it and come back if there are any changes.

I feel somewhat better but after hearing that in most cases people are referred it makes me wonder whether I should have insisted. I suppose in this day and age they would err on the side of caution.....wouldn't they?

Ahh! So it didn't go how you had hoped.
I have a lot to say about some Dr's erring on the side of caution and none of it good but this isn't the place nor the same medical condition - so I won't other than to say they are not always right.

In your shoes, if you are not happy I'd go back later and say it's worrying you and could you be please be referred to put your mind at rest.

Apparently breast pain is RARELY the first noticeable symptom associated with BC but I haven't read about real women's experiences and their symptoms (can't face it/don't want to know at the moment)

I think I'm just going to keep an eye on it. I've had this tenderness for quite some time and its got no worse and I can only feel it if I press it (like a small bruise). I did explain all this to him.

If I'm still anxious about it in a few weeks I will go back. From what I've heard about other people's experiences nearly all get referred so I am going to assume he must have been really certain there was nothing to worry about .

I am sure you will have a positive outcome Carbe, the waiting is the worst part isn't it.

I'm not dwelling on it to be honest. Of course it's there in my head but I've got so much going on at the moment I really don't have space in my brain to give it much thought.
I'm grateful I've been referred under the 'rapid access' though, I wouldn't like to wait too long.

Yes to seeing how you feel in a few weeks. The GP is the expert here, not me :) When there's a definite risk then I'm sure they would refer. I know my GP immediately felt the mass in my breast - that was enough along with the fact she could see for herself that whatever it is - is changing the natural shape of my breast, she stopped the examination, didn't compare my breasts by examining the other etc...

Update for OP as promised - I went to the breast clinic and after being prodded, poked, scanned and biopsied - I'm fine :)
The distortion and the mass in my breast are tissue changes - I have to keep an eye on it for further changes and will get a follow up in 3-6 months but all is well today.

Oh Carbe I am so pleased you've got that outcome, what a relief for you, thanks for updating, I did think
About you yesterday

A huge relief, thanks.

Hi there. Just wanted to say thanks for this thread. Last Wednesday night I rolled on to my chest in bed and thought something didn't feel right, had a feel and found a lump straight away - it's very round, almost like a cherry tomato and is quite tender to touch. Cue tears, little sleep and lots of Dr Googling - wrong I know.

Spurred on by this thread (and a poor friend who I was texting incessantly through the night) I phoned the doctors the following morning and they booked me an urgent appointment. I'm lucky enough to be in quite good health so never really go to the doctors and if I'm honest I thought 1. I would be wasting the doctor's time and 2. that he wouldn't find anything.

I had a bit of a cry when I was there but he was really lovely. He found the lump straight away and calmed me down. He says he's pretty sure it's a fibroadenoma (?) because of how it moves, its shape, my age etc.

I've got to go back in two weeks , if it's still the same he'll book me in for a quick referral. I'm reassured but still a little worried - all at a bad time too, in the midst of house move and horribly stressful work related woes.

So thank you for posting OP. Glad to read your update, please do go back if you're worried. Carbe, excellent news, a big relief I'm sure.

Thanks Mrs it is a relief.
Good luck with yours too and don't hesitate to go back to the GP if it stays.

Mrs black, it does sound like its nothing to worry about, but you did the right thing in going to the doctor. It's bloody terrifying isn't it. I'm glad this thread has helped ??.

I've noticed since I went that in actual fact the sore bit isn't there all the time, it was just before my period when I went to the docs so I'm wondering if it's hormonal. I'm gonna see if it gets worse again next time I'm due on. I haven't prodded and poked since though so maybe it's a combination.