7 + weeks post LMX, pain and lump on contralateral breast

1toughmomma

Hi-This is my first post although reading this site got me through October, November and December I am 40 years old and was diagnosed at my first screening mammo. I had one stereo bx in October that was a very "straitforward" low grade DCIS--Small in size. As a precaution I had a MRI 10/31 which showed much more extensive calcs and new areas not apparent on my mammograms. The MRI bx had all sorts of changes from grade 2 DCIS, to ADH, to cancerization of the lobules. I had to have a mastectomy. 

I am not historically a worry-wart and I took everything as well as I could I think. I have NEVER had a breast cyst before, but I wonder if I do now. My right breast felt sore on Sunday (day 8 of my cycle), by  Monday it was markedly sore and I feel a fairly long "lump" in the sore area ( it's not just the lump that is sore). I am 40 and have "lumpy, fibrous, mildly glandular" breasts. I am very aware I am prime age for a breast cyst. IN December after talking with my MO doctor I opted to not take Tamoxifen-he is vey supportive of that, but he told me anything comes up on a mammo or physically he wants me to have an MRI. I JUST had an MRI 10/31 and the only thing that showed up on the right was a 3mm mass that was apparent on mammogram also that appeared to be a benign intramammary lymph node. I am establishing care with a GYN MD on Thursday to make sure I have a consistent doctor doing my annual breast exams. I am trying to decide if I should say anything to him prior to my exam or just see what he says. I had this scheduled before the pain started. I do NOT want to be constantly fearful, but this does seem a little odd that less than 2 months after my mastectomy I have my very first painful breast cyst. I am comforted by the "breast cancer doesn't hurt" saying, but I am well aware that is not always true? Thoughts from those who have been where I am?

J9W

For sure tell your doctor what you felt and the pain involved. Better to have the doc tackle it head on than to have him/her not really notice it and then you'll just go crazy with worry.  I too had DCIS and I don't take tamox either. I started it but 11 months in I quit because it was killing my joints and bones.

Beesie

KimberlyAnn, you are at the age where you are entering peri-menopause, and for someone who has fibrocystic breasts (as it sounds like you do, since you said that lumpy, fibrous breasts), you are exactly the age when cysts start to develop.  I didn't have any cysts till I hit peri-menopause but I've had so many cysts since then that I've lost count. And yes, they can be painful, depending on where they are in the breast and what nerves they might be pushing against.

The good thing about cysts, at least for me, is that they tend to pop up out of nowhere.  So with regular breast self-exams, I know that if something new shows up that wasn't there before, and particularly if it's a fairly noticeable lump, then it's almost certain to be a cyst. So I never worry, but I always get myself checked out, and if the cyst is large I get it aspirated (the tiny ones just stay in my breast - they are harmless).  So far, all my suddenly appearing lumps have turned out to be cysts.

Good luck.  Hopefully yours is a cyst too.

1toughmomma

Yes, I agree this is prime time for cysts for me, but what actually worries me the most is my new doctor's reaction. I just don't want a fuss made over nothing. I need time. I just had my mx 7 weeks ago and I get a needle in the new breast every week for my expansion. I was really hoping that this would be the optimal time for a baseline breast exam with my new doctor. I just can't believe my body picked NOW to give me a painful breast cyst...argh. So that's why I have been toying with not saying anything and just letting him do the breast exam. Just to see what he would say. Chances are unless it gets better in the next 2 days I will wince a bit in the sore area. I will have a mammogram in a few months prior to my exchange/matching surgery.