Can you feel it growing?

Bobbisil

Hi, I'm new to all of this so please bear with me. I was told about a week ago that I have DCIS (I know, this isn't that topic but I'm getting to that). I went to a surgeon who looked at the path report and mentioned nothing more. I had had my report sent somewhere else where I intended to go for a second opinion and when I called Friday to schedule the appointment, imagine my surprise when she said, "Oh, you have two things going on here. You'll need to see the multidisciplinary team." She went on to explain that I also had IDC.

Yesterday, I was doing some stuff around the house and felt a pain in the area of the tumor. Knowing that it's invasive and in a duct I can't help but wonder if that is the tumor outgrowing the area it's in. Thinking back, I have felt that in the not-to-distant past. My breast has been painful off and on this morning as well. 

Has anyone else experienced this? Might I just be letting my imagination run away?

warrrior3

Bobbisil, Most professionals will tell you BC is not painful. Before my Dx I experienced pain around the side of my breast. Many women have felt pain before their BC Dx. I am sure others will be posting their experiences.

tightrope

I feel pain as well. I was just diagnosed too...and don't know yet if its invasive....but it is DCIS. The tumor is on my chest wall....but it also sticks out the side, like almost in my armpit (tumor is 6.5 cm) so it seems like I am always rubbing it with my arm. Its also the side i tend to sleep on the most and I will wake up in pain from it. Maybe most bc doesn't hurt...but mine does on occassion. I don't think we are making this up...I felt it before I knew it was cancer. (even way back when it was benign) I guess I should add that I am very big chested and that might make a difference. Bra size is 46GG!!

Beesie

Bobbisil, you had a biopsy, right?  That could easily be why you felt some pain.  

Some women do feel pain prior to a BC diagnosis, but most women do not. I didn't. However, once you've been diagnosed, your mind can start to play all sorts of tricks on you.  If I listed off all the pains that I had between my date of diagnosis and my surgery, you'd think that my breast was full of invasive cancer and I had fully developed mets throughout my body. But my final diagnosis was Stage I DCIS-Mi and I've had no problems in the 7 years since my surgery.

Yes, it is possible that the pain you are feeling in your breast is a sign of the BC. But even if it is, it doesn't mean that the BC is growing and advancing and becoming more concerning as you are waiting for your surgery.  Most BC is slow growing and takes years to develop. And from what I've seen, having been on this board for 6 1/2 years, usually when a doctor diagnoses a case of BC that he's concerned might be unusually aggressive, the patient is whisked into surgery pretty quickly.  So don't worry about the pains.  They may be real or they may be imaginary, but they aren't something that you should worry about, not with your surgery planned for just a few days away.  

Good luck with the surgery. 

1Athena1

Bobbisil,

Whatever it is there is very little likelihood that the cancer is actually growing so as to cause you pain all of a sudden, although I understand your concern.

Did you have a needle biopsy? Also, do you have a date for surgery yet?

alcb70

Hi all! I also have pain. I didn't prior to my diagnosis, but I had an aggressive biopsy, so I had pain and aching after that.  I think it depends on where your tumor is and how large it is.  It could be resting on or near a nerve, and with general movement (lord knows how much we use our arms and our chest muscles daily), and bras poking at you (mine is ~ 4 cm and in that 10:00 pinching zone), it could cause the pain. I get anything from aching to zinger type pain.  I noticed pain after my recent Herceptin....I kinda like to think that it was beating Fred up a little! (I named my tumor Fred.....Drop Dead Fred) hahaha

Bobbisil

Wow, thanks for all of the responses! I had to step away and gather my thoughts for a couple of days so what a surprise I had when I came back!

Yes, I was experiencing the pain prior to dx but the tumor is sort of near the nipple and about 2cm so it definitely could be pressing on the nerve, or as someone said, biopsy pain. 

 I've met with one surgeon that I wasn't overly impressed with and I now have an appointment at the University of Michigan on Monday. Hopefully we'll have a plan of action shortly afterward and we can get on with treatment already, then I won't know what is causing the pain! LOL 

alcb - funny naming your tumor Fred! LOL 

Best of luck to eveyone!

maltomlin

Yes, I felt it. I had 'knife-like' feelings in my breast before I was dx. That was what prompted me to go to the doctors.

Over 4 years out now and enjoying life again after surgery, chemo and rads. 

msphil

hello sweetie, I didn,t have any pain, one day as I showered I lifted my arm and it was sore had been hurtin for awhile, when went to doc and durin treatment I was told it can be growin for yrs and no pain but I went right away , thank God, I was working in the medical field for many yrs, first in the O R, then in Peds and I knew to get to doc right away, so all of us are different,and have different symptoms, continue to come here and we will be here for you,God Bless from a 18 yr Survivor(Praise the Lord).msphil