Breast cancer worries

[LoveYouMummy1]

For the last couple of days I have had a burning skin sensation on one of my breasts. There is no rash though. I have just remembered that this happened a few weeks ago too and then just disappeared.

I've been Googling and am now very worried about inflammatory breast cancer :(.

I saw nipple discharge was also a symptom and when I squeeze it I do get discharge. I'm not sure if this can be normal though? (I finished breastfeeding a year ago). It doesn't happen on the other side but I always struggled to express on that side. Do you get a discharge if you try to hand express even if you haven't had DC for a while or aren't pregnant?

I'll be calling the GP in the morning but meanwhile I'm petrified. Any ideas or reassurance?

Sounds like mastitis. Do you feel at all flu-ey? You can get mastitis years after bf.

Sending a hand hold! I saw the GP last week as I’ve had aching and burning in my breast. She found thickened tissue and I’ve got an appointment at the breast clinic next week. I stopped breastfeeding 6 months ago and can hand express colostrum from both sides still. I volunteer at a breastfeeding support group and it’s really common to still be able to hand express drops of milk for years after stopping breastfeeding.

The burning feeling could be hormonal if it comes and goes? IBC presents with swelling, tender to touch and a red rash that covers at least 1/3 of your breast so am sure it’s not that (for either of us) x

Please try not to worry 90% of breast issues referred by gps are not cancer… and if it is, treatment is excellent. Loads of wisdom on the long running threads if you need it. But try not to worry- and STAY AWAY from Google.!

@Mumblechum0 not fluey unfortunately as I wish it would be something like mastitis.

@NeonHalo sorry you're going through this, it's such a worry. Glad you'll have answers next week even though that probably seems an age when you are waiting.

Very good to know about the colostrum, that's reassuring. Also I'm sure the nipple discharge they refer to in breast cancer symptoms is spontaneous and not when squeezing the hell out of your breast like I did in a panic anyway😂but it's hard not to worry!

Thank you @thesandwich ,I definitely need to stay off google!

My mum passed away quite young from breast cancer so it's hard not to spiral. On the plus side, it means I usually get quick referrals. I was referred in both of my pregnancies with an armpit lump which turned out harmless. But this time there is absolutely no lump, just a weird aching burning sensation that I have never experienced anywhere else so its quite unsettling. My nipple is also inverting/a little caved in but again I thought it was just my new post breastfeeding look.

I have a job interview tomorrow and feeling totally unprepared as I've spent so much time googling and worrying 😔

@LoveYouMummy1

Hi,
is there any update? I’m currently going through something similar and I’m all over the place with worry…. X

@Jam291 sorry to hear you are going through similar. Unfortunately because of the Christmas season I couldn't get an appointment until 3rd Jan so no update yet.

The burning sensation has mostly eased but thats happened before and then come back. My nipple is also most definitely caved in.

I have been so busy with Christmas I have coped a little better with the wait than I expected but I just need it to hurry up now.

Fingers crossed everything is fine for all of us.

@NeonHalo how did your appointment go?

@LoveYouMummy1 so sorry you’re still waiting but at least it’s soon and hopefully you can then put it behind you.

I had my appointment last week. Everything is absolutely fine. I had an ultrasound as I’m under 40 (just) and because I can still hand express a tiny amount of colostrum so they prefer that to a mammogram. Saw an amazing consultant who said the lumpy area is just fibrous tissue from breastfeeding (and that given I’ve lost weight this year I’ve lost some fatty tissue so all the structures are more palpable.) She wasn’t remotely concerned about the burning pain - she said it’s incredibly common and more often than not they don’t ever find a cause. She said given there is nothing sinister on ultrasound the burning just needs to be treated with ibuprofen. Being one sided isn’t a concern either, She said that pain is so rarely a symptom of BC that it usually doesn’t even warrant a referral. I’m very relieved and I’m sure you will be too. IBC develops so rapidly you’d have other symptoms by now and the pain would be constant surely.

As an aside when you say caved in nipple do you mean that when you lie down the nipple sort of falls/drops into your breast? With sort of loose tissue around it? I have that on both sides (more so on one side) and has been since breastfeeding so assume fine too. She didn’t comment on it anyway!

@Jam291 Hope you’re okay and you get some reassurance too soon.

Thanks @NeonHalo such great news and reassuring for all of us so thank you for taking the time to respond.

Yes I imagine with IBC it would spread quickly and be quite obvious by now. I did actually think the consultant might think I am wasting her time and am feeling a little guilty, but best get it checked out.

The caving in is strange as it's only under it. Almost like an inversion but not on the nipple, just underneath it. It's the case even when standing up. It has been like this since BF DD so hopefully just due to her interesting BF technique!

@LoveYouMummy1 don’t feel bad, you absolutely deserve to have this looked at. My mum had breast cancer when she was in her late 40s and I think that’s the only reason I was really referred but that’s okay and good they are thorough.

Oh I think my caving in is the same. The nipple doesn’t sink inside my beast but rather stays the same shape/size but the skin under it drops. I think my ligaments behind my nipple have been stretched after a toddler pulling it in all directions for hours on end 🙂

Good luck again, please do let us all know how it goes x

Yes that sounds just like mine, I'm glad your consultant didn't think it was anything to worry about.
Sorry about your mum, mine had the same and it does mean they always take things seriously and refer me quickly which I am grateful for!

@LoveYouMummy1 I hope today has gone okay! 🤞🏻

It did ! Thanks for asking @NeonHalo . I had an ultrasound (also just under 40 so no mammogram) and nothing was found. She didn't make me feel like a nuisance either and said to absolutely come back if anything like this happens again. I did have slight unevenness and tissue thickening on that side so she thought totally justified to do an ultrasound.

The doctor doing the ultrasound seemed to think I might have had some inflammation/infection and it just settled down on its own.

Either way I'm very happy!

@LoveYouMummy1 thats such brilliant news! I’m delighted for you. Such a relief isn’t it. Enjoy your new year 🙂