Swollen Boob/Armpit and shoulder pain

[Ineedaholiday1]

Around 3 weeks ago I started with some tenderness in left armpit and boob. More uncomfortable than painful. I couldn't feel a lump but the area near my armpit side of boob looked/felt very slightly swollen compared to other side. Since Wednesday I've had a lot of tension, shoulder pain especially in the shoulder blade region. Went to doctors Friday and she couldn't feel a lump but said she thought she could maybe feel some swelling/thickening at side and agreed it looked slightly more swollen than other side. I forgot to mention the shoulder pain to her as was all worked up. Anyway she has referred me under 2 week pathway to breast clinic. Anyway I have been super anxious, teary, cannot concentrate since then. Currently working from home (not much work getting done as can't concentrate but need a distraction). But I am more and more aware of the shoulder pain which now is effecting my sleep. Anyway not sure what the aim of the post is other than from reassurance that the shoulder pain isn't anything sinister as I now cannot stop googling my symptoms (no matter how much I try not to) and a handhold whilst I wait for my breast clinic appointment which I am terrified about. Also the armpit/boob pain now seems reduced but not sure if this is now because of the shoulder pain. Anyway I'll stop waffling.

Have you had your consultant appointment yet?

Just randomly came upon this and noticed you hadn’t had a response and wanted to say I had the same sort of symptoms a few years ago and was also referred in the same pathway. The clinic were really thorough. I’m younger and they didn’t do a mammogram due to breast density but did do another scan and found that I had excess breast tissue going up towards my armpit and it was likely that swelling up due to hormone fluctuations. It still comes and goes but is soft and no lumps etc. It does few like I’m carrying a newspaper under my arm sometimes and can get sore. I was prescribed evening primrose oil in quite a high dose to see if that helped for a few months but to be honest I didn’t carry on with that as the relief of not having cancer was enough for me.

Also- my symptoms only came about a year or two after pregnancy

Thank you so much for your reply. This is very reassuring. My appointment is tomorrow. The shoulder pain has reduced to bareable achey pain since seeing a physio. But the armpit thing seems very similar in feeling to what I am getting. Also coincidentally my daughter will be 2 next month. How old were you when you had this if you don't mind me asking?

I don’t mind at all- I was 37 (36 when DS was born)

I'm 34 so not to much difference in age. Thank you.