Dents in breasts

[Livysmom13]

So I'm almost 40 and decided I better give my breasts a proper exam. Following the directions online I did that and found lumps everywhere. I believe they are all (or most) cysts. I also found dents/creases at the bottom sides of each breast, more pronounced on the left. They are most noticeable when my arms are squeezing down at my sides and then dissappear when I raise my arms.This is what really freaked me out. So yesterday I had my breast exam and the practitioner was very kind and reassuring. She felt my cysts and is referring me for ultrasound for those. She saw the creases and seemed to think they were normal and probably from aging/weight gain since they are more of a crease than a dent/dimple. The problem is when I got home i remembered seeing a dent/dimple above the crease this is only noticeable when I squeeze or push the tissue down and across. I ignored that since it was smaller than the creases but it popped into my head after my appointment becauseof what she said. I am waiting the ultrasound place to give me a call and can do nothing but panick in the mean time. Hoping someone might be going through something similar.

Hey 👋 I had a similar episode last year. Got the mammogram and it was normal tissue. I must admit I blew things out of proportion and really struggled with it. I wish I had been able to take the stats on board. Try to distract yourself and stay as calm as you can. Confide in someone. It made me take stock and change some things in life which is ongoing and that's been positive! Take care xx

I have really lumpy breast tissue, which I was terribly worried about for a while, but it turns out that's just how I'm made. I think the key thing is knowing what's normal for you.

Please don't worry - there is far more chance of it being nothing than anything sinister.

@VioletLemon thanks so much for your reply! It made me breathe a small sigh of relief. May I ask what your dent(s) looked like and in what position they were most noticeable? Also what did it feel like under the dent? When I poke where the dent is, it almost feels like a hole. Like an absence of tissue in that spot. Not sure if that's a good or bad sign.

@Crimesean thanks for your reply! I want to tell myself I'm overreacting but when you google (I know, such a bad idea) it tells you that most lumos are not cancer but seems quite the opposite for dents. Did you have lumos or could you see very specific dents?

I have a dent on one side - again, normal for me. It's just the gap between two lumpy bits of tissue!

@Crimesean. Thats what I feel this might be since I feel sort of a hole or lack of tissue where the dent is. Unfortunately I was never one to pay much attention to my breasts until recently so I'm not sure what's normal for me. I really appreciate your responses. I really have no one to talk to about this and your kindness is a huge relief for me.

Hi, glad you're feeling a bit more reassured. It was under the areola on 'under' breast. When I pulled the skin out a bit it did feel hollow with lumpier bits to each side. The Dr showed me a way to check by tapping your 2 fingers all around the area... Sounds weird but imagine thrumming fingers on a desk, it's like that. Helps feel the small changes. Those hollow bits just seem to be the less lumpy parts of breast. I've been in menopause for a year and notice much more breast changes.

@VioletLemon I wish I had paid more attention to my breasts earlier so I knew what was normal for me. I'm almost 40 and I recently gained some weight. I'm about 15 lbs overweight and have fairly large breasts so I was hoping to chalk it up to that. Also due to my age(near 40) I know fibrocystic changes can happen and I think are happening with me. But reading on Google that cysts don't cause dents put me into a tailspin of worry. I appreciate you retaking your time to respond to me more than you know. I really have no one to confide in about this so it helps immensely. You're a Godsend!

Hi there, I have large breasts and have some dents in the sides and underneath, more so when I flex my arms, many years ago I did get a referral for one of my large under dents, had an ultrasound and nothing was found..

@SuperStyle Hello and thanks so much for sharing! Everyone's responses have made me feel so much better. I went from thinking dents=cancer almost every time to thinking maybe they are a lot more common in benign cases than Google would have you think. I have gained some weight and went from a D cup to an E cup (uk sizing) within a year or so. So I'm hoping it could be due to this along with aging. Did they ever give you an idea of what could have caused your dents?

@Livysmom13 I work with horses and get knocked about a bit, they suggested that maybe I'd taken a bash there, but as I have a few more dented parts and some on my other breast now I think it may be down to getting older and the fact that they are so big 30J, a bit like cellulite maybe

@SuperStyle oh ok, I have heard that injury can cause dents as well. I haven't had any significant injury that i xan think of and my breasts are large, but not that large, so I don't know what to think. Hopefully weight gain. I also heard some mention of shrinking milk ducts as you age causing dents. Lovely. Lol. Thanks again for sharing your experience.

Just an update for anyone reading this thread looking for assurance. I had my mammogram yesterday. The technician was really kind. She looked at my dent and reassured me that it didn't look like a typical cancer dent. I'm trying to take it as comfort but won't feel much better until my results come (within a week). I am expecting to have to go back for an ultrasound due to feeling multiple cysts in both breasts. If anyone reads this and is kind enough to say a prayer for me, that would be much appreciated:) I'm trying to stay calm but still struggling. Will update again with mammogram result.

Mammogram results all clear. My breasts are non dense so the results should be pretty accurateI hope. A 2 on the density score which is scattered fibroglandular tissue. I'd still feel better after an ultrasound but breathing a sigh of relief now. Hopefully if anyone is reading this, worried like I was, it will give you some peace of mind and encourage you to get any imaging needed to have that reassurance.

Hi,

wonder if anyone can help before I call the GP on Monday, I have a small indent under my breast more so towards the top of my stomach rather than on any breast tissue, has anyone ever had this before? I don’t wear bras with wires so don’t think it can’t be this? Thanks in advance.

Hello. It's a little difficult to picture what you're talking about. But might it be the space between your ribs? How long has it been there?

Thank you for replying, I would say it’s in between my breast bone and and top of ribs.

I only noticed this a week ago, I regularly check by breasts/body in the mirror before getting a shower and never really noticed it.

I have noticed it’s more visible when I’ve been sitting down for a while or lying on my side, but if I’ve been laying on my back it’s not as visible, there is no lumps of what I can feel.

Now I am looking in the mirror at myself to see if I can get an idea of to where you are referring lol... Is it exactly in the center center of your body? A lot I think may depend on your size. If you are very thin maybe it could just be a normal indent between bones/cartilage in the chest area. Take a look at a picture of the skeletal system and see if it lines up with any bones....If you are heavier, perhaps it could be a crease in between fat. I believe that's what my dent ended up being. Just sort if a void of fat and tissue in a particular spot. Also how large is the dent and what is the shape? Is it more like a crease or a poke? And does it line up with any of your bones/ribs. My instict is to say that if you are certain it is not in your breast tissue it's probably a normal part if your body. I've come to find so many bumps and dents in my body that I never noticed before but I can guess they've been there nearly forever. Sometimes we just happen to look at something that we never noticed before for whatever reason. For me it was heightened anxiety over cancer....but if there's any doubt in your mind, let me tell you there is nothing that can provide the reassurance that a doctor can provide. He/she should instantly be able to tell you if the indent was part of your breast tissue or not and should be able to refer you for the appropriate test (ie mammogram or perhaps chest xray). I feel such a weight off my shoulders since getting the clear on a mammogram and ultrasound.

I have really bad health anxiety myself at the moment 😞

I would say it’s just off centre to the right, I will try and upload a picture though it may not be the best. (Excuse my tight leggings also)

As you say I may have had it for a while and not even noticed it before but for some reason I have now 🤷🏻‍♀️

I will definitely call up the GP on Monday, they’re going to be fed up with me I’m their number one customer at the moment 😂

First of all I'm sorry to hear that you're struggling with health anxiety. I know it can be truly crippling. Don't worry about the doctor being fed up. It's their job to listen to your concerns nomatter how many you have. I have that same feeling sometimes myself and I remind myself that they are getting paid a pretty penny for all my irrational worry lol. Second of all l, I live in leggings so no worries there lol. Ok so, I think I see what you are referring to. The picture is a bit far off for me to tell but it doesn't look alarming to me at all. Especially since you say it's more noticeable after lying on your side or sitting, my guess is this is just where your breast creases/hangs (for lack of better terms lol). I do not wear under wire bras either, I wear bralettes and even just the elastic band leaves an indent/ mark in my skin. I actually just checked in the mirror and I have a line where the band of my bra has been as well as lines where my breast get sort of pushed together or hang and the skin has creased. The line is also a bit different on each side as my breasts, like most women, are not exactly the same shape or size. I definitely wouldn't worry. The doctor will clear it up quickly. First thing to ask is if the indent is even in the breast tissue. As I've learned, creases and dents in breasts are far more common than you'd think and far less likely to be cancer than Google would have you believe. But it sure can't hurt to rule it out to put your mind at ease. There is no price too steep for peace of mind

Thank you so much for your replies. I’ve taken a better picture you can see it a lot more clearly, I’m
just baffled by it, there’s no swelling or lumps anywhere 🤷🏻‍♀️ The body is a strange thing!

Oh yes I can see it much more clearly now. Honestly I can't imagine a doctor saying that is part of your breast tissue. I don't even think a mammogram would be able to get it in view. It looks like a scar but I'm assuming you never injured yourself there? Maybe it's just where your ribs end or the area between two ribs. If you press on the indent and move your fingers back and forth can you feel your ribs?

No the only scar I have is the purple line underneath it which is from my VP shunt revision I had in early March, I can definitely feel my ribs when I press on it. I was thinking maybe it’s from the shunt tube but god knows. I have an ultrasound booked on Monday for something completely different so will ask for an opinion from then and see what they suggest! X

Ok so I googled VP shunts as I had never heard of them. I looked at an image of where the shunt goes and if I am not mistaken it goes from the brain and travels down the front of your body to your stomach. If that's the case I would just about bet there could be scar tissue all along that part of your body. I think its very likely that's what the indent is from. Since you are getting an ultrasound anyways, you could ask if it would be reasonable for them to pass the ultrasound over the dent to see if anything is there. But my guess is they will tell you it's from the shunt. I hope your appointment goes well!

Hi OP, I came across this thread as I have a similar dent under my left breast. I was really pleased to read yours ended up being normal, that has really reassured me as the stuff on google has really worried me.

I was also wondering how EAEL92 is getting on and whether she had an appointment with the GP? X