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Original poster

How worried should I be about my poor boob?

18 replies

AcronymsForAll · 25/12/2017 23:27

I'm absolutely shitting myself, but I have diagnosed anxiety issues, so I'm honestly not sure how much of my worry is really warranted...

I've had this little red patch on my left breast for a while. No idea how long, as stupidly I haven't really been paying attention. It's sort of on the underside, so not somewhere I readily see, and when I've occasionally glimpsed it, I've thought it's a blemish, or that my bra wire has pressed on it, or something. I only realised the other day that hey, it's STILL there, and I think it's grown bigger! It looks a bit like a red bruise and feels very warm to the touch. It's now noticably bigger than a £2 coin. There's no soreness or any lumps anywhere that I can feel. The skin isn't particularly dimpled. I'm not breastfeeding, so don't think it would be mastitis?

During a sleepless night I did some googling, and all the results I seemed to get were about inflammatory breast cancer! I've booked the earliest GP appointment I could get (2nd of January) and am beside myself with worry - planning my own funeral and everything... I really really hope I'm overreacting, but no idea if I am!

Not quite sure why I've felt the need to NC, but there it is.

OP posts:
Gammeldragz · 25/12/2017 23:40

You have done absolutely the right thing by making an appointment, it is good that you will be able to get this looked at. It will likely be referred under the two week wait time limit (in England) so you hopefully won't have to wait too long to find out what is going on. Unfortunately nothing you can do in the meantime but take care of yourself. Eat well, sleep, walk, anything else that relieves the anxiety and if you can tell someone in real life that could support you.

Gammeldragz · 25/12/2017 23:41

Posted too soon...
Flowers and hope all turns out okay for you.

Original poster
AcronymsForAll · 25/12/2017 23:49

Thanks for taking the time to answer Gammel. I've told DH and shown it to him, and he was the one who encouraged me to book the GP asap. I've also told my closest friend and my therapist, who are my go to support for anything.

I'm telling myself that since it's been there for who knows how long now, it won't matter that I need to wait a week to see a GP. I have no idea what they'll do, but I'm in England, so hopefully the two week referral will apply.

Off to try to sleep. We have the days before New Years off, so will need to keep myself occupied and distracted the best I can.

OP posts:
Fettuccinecarbonara · 25/12/2017 23:59

Oh I'm sorry you're worried.

Step away from google though!

Google will kill you off for having a splinter, or a toothache.

The redness could be absolutely anything. More than likely, it's a dermatological issue. Any area will feel warm if you pull it and mess with it.

Try and take your mind off it.

MrsEricBana · 26/12/2017 00:02

I'm sorry you are worried. Honestly it'll be nothing but definitely go to the GP to put your mind at rest.

Debdoo · 26/12/2017 00:08

Hi acronymsforall, I went to docs a couple of months back in a similar position. I’d had a large spot just under my areole which hadn’t showed any sign of healing after 8 weeks and like you I was worried sick about ibc, he basically told me if 8 had ibc I’d of known about it after 8 weeks as other symptoms would of appeared as it’s very aggressive and develops very quickly. Im now in a position where my Breasts are aching, like when due on your period but have been like this for 2 weeks now on and off and only my left breast, very occasionally my right aswell but always my left and my underarm feels extremely swollen and sore, just like when I’m due on my period and uncomfy to put arm by my side. It isn’t like it 24/7 but various times throughout the day, but it’s everyday for past 2 weeks. About 3 weeks ago I went to docs to speak to her About it and she gave me a breast exam and told me she couldn’t feel any lumps and was confident it was cyclical pain and nothing at all to worry about, however I’m not convinced, on 16th Dec, I noticed a red blotch on the top of my breast about an inch from my areoles, it felt tender to touch, the following day I could feel a lump under it, naturally i felt scared to death and booked an apt, which is on 27th am, the following day on 18th my period started and by that afternoon the l7mp disappeared but the red blotch was still there, by the time day 3 arrived of my period the blotch has pretty much vanished, however the ache and fullness and tenderness in my entire breast and armpit is still here after finishing my period and I’m worrying myself sick about it as I’ve 3 kids (7,9 and 12) and although I’m normally a positive glass half full person, the thought of dying and leaving them without a mother scares me to death and I’m getting myself in a right state inside over it, whilst not showing others how I’m feeling. I’ve had a good feel of them and the one in questions feels fuller than the other , although it is naturally my larger breast and always have been, but I can’t feel any lumps now. I keep telling myself it’ll just be a cyst and that’s prob why I’ve got the tenderness etc, but it’s in the back of my mind that it could be something sinister aswell. Any advise is greatly appreciated from anyone. Everywhere I look it says pain can be a sign, but it doesn’t describe what the pain feels like and whether it’s the same as cyclical pain or different to cyclical pain! Can anyone advise? X

Original poster
AcronymsForAll · 26/12/2017 19:58

Thanks everyone. I've had the in-laws over today, so plenty of distraction there, and haven't been able to focus on worrying, luckily. I've banned myself from googling anything about it, and will try not to think about until i see the GP.

Sorry you're also having worries Debdoo Flowers - sadly I don't really have any advice to give myself.

OP posts:
Tedster77 · 26/12/2017 20:05

Just want to wish you luck and honestly I’ve had 2 friends who’ve had mastitis without even having children! It can happen.

I also had a huge awful red:purple bruise come on a breast with a lump and no previous known trauma. Went to see practice nurse absolutely shitting myself. She was like it’s a bruise....errr a bruise. Nothing else. I didn’t believe her but it faded and went and never came back so guess it was!

Tanfastic · 27/12/2017 15:30

Op try not to worry. I've had a similar thing recently where I totally convinced myself I had IBC. You google breast rash and it just takes you to www.gloomanddoom.com.

Your breast rash would have developed much more quickly by now if it was IBC. From what I've been told by the go it usually covers more than a third of the breast and develops other symptoms very quickly like thickened skin, dimpling, peu de orange skin, enlarged nodes etc. It's also a rash that comes from within the breast rather than on the surface if that makes sense. Like mastitis.

Mine was there for four months and I never did get to the bottom of what it was but it's gone now with a bit of steroid cream.

Google intertrigo. Sounds plausible.

WindyWednesday · 27/12/2017 15:34

I had this, it was cellulitis. Skin infection. Antibiotics cleared it up. I was shitting myself and losing sleep. My friend whisked me off to ooh when she heard. Was diagnosed and out in less than 15 mins.

Original poster
AcronymsForAll · 02/01/2018 09:28

Thanks for the comments everyone Flowers

I saw the GP this morning, and she doesn't know what it is, either. So I'm being referred to the breast clinic with the two week referral, just in case.

OP posts:
Original poster
AcronymsForAll · 04/01/2018 21:01

Very impressed by the NHS. I got the appointment yesterday already, and it's for Tuesday the 9th.

OP posts:
Debdoo · 04/01/2018 21:31

Wonderful hoping it’s good news for you! I managed to get referred yesterday so just waiting for my apt but she said would be within 2 weeks as that’s the standard for Brest clinic. Prepare to be hours she told me as they do loads of tests and take hours apparently. Good luck and let us now how you get on! I’ll jeep everything crossed for you that’s it’s nothing serious! Stay positive x

Original poster
AcronymsForAll · 04/01/2018 22:05

That Debdoo, good that you've been referred too - I hope you hear from them soon. I had a quick google on what exactly it is they do, and it sounds like it could well take a long time. DH is going to come with me, and I'll take something to read, in case there's lots of waiting around. Apparently the vast majority seen at the breast clinic are not diagnosed with cancer, so staying optimistic. Good luck and fingers crossed for you too.

OP posts:
Original poster
AcronymsForAll · 09/01/2018 14:41

It's indeed not breast cancer. I've been seen at the breast clinic, and although no one can say what exactly the mark is, scans etc show no sign of anything suspicious going on underneath the surface. So I'm told there's no need to worry. Smile

Hope you get good news, too @Debdoo

OP posts:
Debdoo · 09/01/2018 15:41

Absolutely fantastic news love! I’ve got mine at half 9 on Thursday morning! I’m absolutely chuffed to bits for you my love! Hopefully I’ll have good news aswell! Xxxx Smile

Original poster
AcronymsForAll · 09/01/2018 15:48

Thanks. Fingers crossed for you Flowers

OP posts:
Debdoo · 11/01/2018 17:32

Hi good news here too! They wouldn’t s I can feel is the ridges in my breast glands and tissue which are all normal texture apparently! Consultant just said everything appears normal and sometimes Breast pain comes and they can’t find a reason for it other than hormonal and it should settle
Down by itself win time! Feeling relieved that it’s over with! Feel abit like I’m on a come down atm as I’ve got myself that worked up over it last few weeks! Lol but very thankful!

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