Anyone had/have breasts lumps?!

[supermama100]

Hello, I am new here and I know there have been posts on this subject. However I just need some support/advice please. I have had 4 lumps over the years 2 cysts 1fatty tissue (not sure of the name) 2 fibrodenomas. And currently being checked for number 5. But waiting results. 😔 every time I’m petrified, I am constantly stress/worried in tears, can’t function you name it I have felt it. Being a mother makes it 1000 times more stressful as every mother in this world wants to be healthy for their children bring them up and so on. I am so sorry for those who haven’t had innocent lumps and are fighting. I wish BC or any other C DIDN'T EXSIST!
my questions are, those who have had lumps how old did you get them how old are you now? I’m in my mid 30s and started having lumps 20s until now. I don’t know anyone who has lumps I feel alone in my circle of friends/family as no one understands how I feel or have experienced these.
can you have many lumps and they stay innocent?
does having lumps put us at risk of developing a bad lump for example?

im just so scared every time I go to check my breasts. I have anxiety doing it hoping I don’t feel a lump.
I’ve asked hospital if there is anything I can do as il prob keep coming back as lumps just keep appearing. They say that nothing I can do but just keep coming back. I’m just scared to keep having to go back and keep having to check and go through the wait then waiting again for results. (I even asked if they can just remove them so I don’t need to keep experiencing lumps being scared) Please share experience of lumps how you cope. Can we just be lumpy breasted woman and be totally fine? Or will it just be a day when oh ‘there’s a bad one now’

thank you if you have read this. Sorry it’s long.

I have had same issues since my 20s. I have no idea if it makes us more/less prone to anything serious. I agree it's very worrying at the time though. Good luck!

I first discovered my fibroadenoma in my 30’s while pregnant. The surgeon didn’t want to remove it as it would leave scar tissue which could feel like a lump.

I don't have lumps that I can feel externally but ever since my first mammogram at age 40 last year, they keep telling me to come to back every 6 months to check on "lesions", which are cysts and "probably benign". Ive had 3 mammograms (original normal one, a diagnostic to get a better look and then another diagnostic 6 months after that) and 2 ultrasounds now since last May and I'm constantly worrying about it. So I know the feeling! But I don't think it makes us more likely to have a bad lump/lesion/whatever in the future, unfortunately some women are just prone to stuff like this. A friend of mine has been having this since her 20s too and is now in her 40s and still fine. Hope everything is ok for you this time too

I'm nearly 70, and have had breast lumps appear (and disappear) since my twenties.
There's no reason whatsoever to think that many harmless lumps has any connection to breast cancer. That's just a different thing.

Every lump needs to be checked out.
I can't honestly say I have no anxiety at all when I go to Breast clinic, but it's a very small anxiety.
I know that I've been fine in the past, and it's very unlikely to be anything different.

It gets easier.

I’ve had multiple cysts since my mid 20s. I always have breast lumps - they drain the cysts with needle aspiration whenever I go in to the breast clinic (which is probably every year or so), but there are so many in my breast tissue that it’s impossible to get them all. They just drain the biggest ones. At my last appointment I asked if being prone to cysts increases my breast cancer risk in any way and they said no. I feel for you - it’s stressful to constantly have this, but at the same time it does mean that you will get more scans and mammograms than you’d get otherwise, and anything suspicious would be picked up very early.

I have 'lumpy boobs' - apparently some women do have breasts more prone to cysts etc, and I've had 3 referrals in the last 5 years. The turnaround has always been in the 2 week wait, and whilst it's a long session at the hospital fortunately I've had the all-clear each time (with some aspirations).

I'm quite the pragmatist and having had several family members diagnosed with different cancers, am of the opinion that no amount of worry will change the outcome. In the short term the breast clinic recommended evening primrose oil, but I've also streamlined my finances, checked my life insurance and critical illness policies are up to date in case of any worst case scenarios.

Nobody can take away the dread of waiting for news op, but you can take steps to minimize the impact that bad news might have on your family.

I can’t answer your questions but I’d just like to send you a massive hug, I had a recall 3 years ago turned out fine but the waiting on results is the worst so I feel your pain. I truly hope you get another good result ❤️

I hear you OP. I’ve had 6 lumps now I think? I’ve lost count. 3 were biopsied. The wait for all of it is horrendous and every month when I have to check I dread it.

i was told by the last doctor I saw that things like fibroadenomas do start to settle by your 30’s (although I now get cysts instead!). She called them ‘busy breasts’ and she was so sweet. She said she knows it’s awful but the good news about busy breasts is that you will find anything sinister quickly and get it sorted super fast. It doesnt feel good at the time when you’re under investigation but it is good you’re aware of your body changes and get them looked into quickly.

I had quite a lot of cysts in my late 30s and early 40s, looking back I think it was related to perimenopause. I’m late 40s now and haven’t had one in a while. Each time I was referred to the breast clinic so I completely understand your anxiety.

I have lumpy breasts.
I have mammograms every 6 months and usually end up with a few of the larger cysts get drained.

I’m used to it now and don’t really give it a second thought but I do remember my first mammogram following a referral for a lump being petrified as all the other woman were coming out of the screening, getting dressed and heading off where as I was asked to wait in my gown and called
back in for a deeper mammogram followed by a biopsy and cysts being drained.

It is scary and you run the odds around in your head, thinking is today the day I fall the wrong side of stats. But I try not to let it overwhelm me and remind myself that with regular screening anything will be picked up early.

My sister, 2 Sils and 2 friends have all had partial / full mastectomys so I console myself that treatment for breast cancer has come a long way and detected early is very
treatable.

if it’s making you very anxious could you try some meditation, it does help ease the mind.

Meant to add, lipomas, cysts or
any other benign lump are not indicative of cancer later on.

Honestly op. I know it's terrifying but having lumpy breasts mean you get very regular mammograms every time you go in which means in the unlikely event something did turn up it would be spotted very quickly . I'd try and focus on that part of it.

My DD had a lump removed last year aged 15. It was the size of a plum and they found another the size of a walnut behind it. She's a lumpy child anyway (had a lump in her thigh removed a few years ago and has a couple of other smaller ones that aren't too much of an issue). I asked the surgeon (usually operated on adults) and he said she is no more likely to have significant or malignant lumps because she prone to the benign.

In exactly the same position OP. Have my fourth or fifth breast clinic appointment on Monday. All been cysts or Fibroadenomas and I’m obviously hoping I’m just as lucky this time. It feels the same to me, firm but mobile and smooth. I’m not thinking about it much as I don’t want it to be all consuming. I’m nearly 50 with teenager children.

Yes, me! I am only supposed to get checked out now during my follicular phase as my breasts get so lumpy/fibrocystic immediately following ovulation. I've got a lovely seam right now in one side, and it's quite painful. Comes back every month without fail.

The good news is you're getting your breasts checked regularly and knowing what is 'normal' for you.

Thank you all for replying. It’s so strange that we are all strangers but find so much comfort in each others words. Because we understand and we have been through it. I am the only person in my circle that get lumps. And I’m scared of course making me feel like I have a life long condition of just having lumps and keep going back in. I don’t think I will ever get used to being checked because I’m so scared each time. It’s like a feeling of thinking will this time be fibrodenoma/cyst/fatty tissue or will it be something bad. It’s a weird feeling.
im glad to know as some have mentioned it don’t mean we are at risk getting a bad lump. And I hope I can be 70 and say to other woman I’ve had them since my 20s and all lumps been fine. 🙏
the consultant even made a joke to me saying ‘you love coming here don’t you’ because of going there 5 times. I said no I actually hate coming here lol I don’t ever want to come here again! But I know I will be because clearly I get lumps! I’m hoping if it’s case with others? Once no longer have a period we don’t get any more lumps. If lumps in breast was not a sign of BC then of course I wouldn’t care if I had 100 lumps! But because it’s usually a sign of it that will always be scary finding a lump.

im still waiting for results hopefully it’s fine but same time I’m thinking once I get through these results. When will the next lump come 😔 I had a lump one year and the following year another lump new one. I have anxiety now especially as I’m growing.
thank you for replying. It helps to jsut write how I feel and hope it helps others.
just been thinking why we get them are we at risk. Can we have harmless lumps until the age of 100 for example can lumps just be fine?
and yes at least we are checking and getting tested.

I heard that iodine was useful for benign breast conditions and that we don't get as much as fish meal and seaweed are no long used as fertilisers on the land. Apparently there is a high intake in Japan where they have fewer problems.

Anyway, I gave it a go and took some seaweed supplements (white fish and kelp and seaweed are reasonably high but you need a bit more) for about 3 months. My little experiment was confounded by having to change my HRT, but it seems to have helped. I also take vitD.

I found my first fibrodenoma during puberty (age 14 or 15 I think). I have two that I know of, both in the same breast. Dh found the second one when I was mid 20s (mid 40s now). The consultant I saw after referral with my 2nd wasn't worried at all.

@supermama100 Have you had your results yet? Mine is all clear, another simple cyst that I had aspirated painlessly.

That’s great news! I hope I can join you with this. I have not had my results yet I am still waiting. Hoping all be ok. Thank you for asking!
was thinking after I get these results. I will just be scared thinking when not if but when I find the next lump I got to do it all again. It feels like dodging bullets. I can’t explain 😕
I hope more people post on this page that are older then they were when had lumps. Give us hope 100 lumps can be fine not mean we at risk or whatever x

@supermama100 if it helps, the consultant confirmed again today, that a women with ‘lumpy breast’ is no more likely to have a cancer diagnosis than anyone else. It is not a risk factor. My mum, in her 70’s, had several lumps removed surgically in her 40s and has never had a diagnosis.
Keep us updated, sending you best wishes.

Thank you that does help.
yes I will definitely update my results. As I know these do help many others. This will be lump no.5 hopefully be same as the others!

Hi all. How did you find out your results? I’m actually quiet worried because was sent a letter that they going to call me on a particular time and date. I didn’t have that last times? I’m actually freaking out

I got my results. I have another fibrodenoma
BUT one of my fibrodenoma has got bigger and they want me to go in for another scan and biopsy for the one I had last year. Because it’s grown. 😢 what does that mean? Why I have to do it all over again. Has anyone had this before? Please I really need some positive news x

They biopsied DD's fibroadenoma when it grew. They wanted to make sure 100% that there was nothing else going on (there wasn't). They decided to remove it (and the one hiding behind it) due to its size.

I know how terribly worried you must be, but they're taking good care of you by making absolutely sure.