Breast swelling and pain

[Strawberriesandcreammm]

Hiya I’m going absolutely crackers whilst waiting for a doctors appointment.

I have pain in my left outer quarter and just under my left breast the pain is like a shooting and burning pain radiating to the nipple. But when I also touch the rib cage below it feels swollen and so sore (I’ve not had any injury and I’m not breast feeding.) I can’t feel any lumps thankfully around it but I did feel small pea size lumps below the breast on the mammary line or bottom rib cage and it’s fairly swollen.

does anyone have any ideas I’m freaking out

Hi. I imagine you're worrying about breast cancer.

Swollen painful breasts are an indication of mastitis. Antibiotics should clear this up. There may also be an infected gland under your arm.

I don't think you need to panic about this.

The usual cause for the swelling and pain is a cyst or cysts.

Very worried about breast cancer as someone I know is battling it and we’re the same age so there is definitely anxiety there and also my mums mum had it.

I’ve not got any redness or heat to my breast though could this still be mastitis? Also the swelling is under my breast on my rib cage itself the last rib along with some hard small lumps

I’ve had a cyst before same breast in the middle that was investigated three years ago as put down as hormonal but these feel different

Could it be costochondritis or Tietze syndrome, both of which are painful, but neither of which is serious?

Try to remember that breast cancer only presents with pain in 1% of cases.

The pain is intermittent like I could feel the pain now and touch it and it’s tender but then go to touch it again and it’s not as sore? It’s confusing and worrying - I’ve not had pain like this before the doctors said I’ll be seen within a week and decide if I need a referral seems like ages to wait🥲

I think, because it's painful, they're sure it isn't cancer, so will see you in a week.
That's reasonable.

Still waiting to see them but I’ve just noticed a dent…

Where?
Your picture doesn't show a dent.

Pain is rarely indicative of anything sinister.

Also, your friend's health and age has ZERO bearing on you.

Instead of asking online, you need to call your GP practice today and make an appointment to see the doctor. Also, please, for your own sake, you need to try get your health anxiety under control.

I’ve had breast cancer OP. I was told at my 3 year post surgery checkup that pain under/in the breast is only indicative of cancer if it’s spread so far that it’s in your rib bones. So try not to worry.

How are you, OP?
Have you seen your doctor?

Hi all thanks for checking in saw a doctor he didn’t examine me or even check the lump told me that my age is on my side so I’ve had to escalate it to the breast clinic and they’ve had to send a email that they’d like me seen as said that doctors shouldn’t use age as an excuse so still waiting

He didn't even examine you? That's appalling.

Even though this is not at all likely to be cancer, he should have checked you over. I would complain to the Practice Manager.

Sorry you had to go through that.

Nope didn’t check me at all said he’d need to get a chaperone and there is no other staff member told me to leave it 3months then come back said that because I’m young I’m fine basically!

I’ve written a complaint and also rebooked an appointment to hopefully been seen and the breast clinic have also wrote a email stating I need to be seen!

Pain definitely can be symptom of breast cancer. I had breast cancer twice and pain was my only symptom. No lumps. I know several other people who also had pain as a symptom.

It's a myth that pain isn't present with breast cancer. I had pain, burning and sharp pain in my armpit, that's what took me to the Dr. Also had a friend who presented this way. The only way to know for sure is a referral to the breast clinic. The younger you are the more unlikely it is to be breast cancer.

I also have burning pain all under my breast and into my ribs it’s pretty constant and swollen :-(