What were your symptoms and what was your stage?

DallasCowboysFan

what were your symptoms and what was your stage? i was stage 3b, tumor size of almost 12 cm x 6 cm x 10 cm. took up over 70% of my breast. it ulcerated my skin and was leaking. however, i did not have any of the 12 lymph nodes infected, no vascular invasion. i also did not have an inverted nipple or discharge which he said is odd. radiologist said they felt it was more of a surface tumor, and didn't elaborate anymore. does that mean more of a skin cancer? because i most certainly felt the tumor inside. i am thinking this might of been more of a phyllodes tumor but just thinking.

ksusan

I had no symptoms or lumps. I had DCIS identified by mammogram in one breast and DCIS plus IDC identified by MRI in the other, plus a positive node. Stage IIA.

mustlovepoodles

No symptoms, stage 1, 1.9cm. Although my tumor was about the size of a cherry, it was hiding up in my armpit so it was missed by yearly mammograms AND direct palpation. Once we located it on US, THEN everyone could feel it. MRI found it easily.  

VL22

I had three tumors - 2 less than 1 cm and ER+HER2- and one TN tumor at 1 cm. None palpable. One intramammary node with micromets, so stage 1b.

About a year before diagnosis I got extremely dry skin at base of back, around eyes and elbows - never had dry skin in my life. Within days after surgery, completely gone.

sbelizabeth

My first and only sign was an area about 4" across that was reddened when I got out of the shower. When I looked closely I saw peau d'orange texture in the area. There was a prominent vein that had recently come to my attention as well, but I pretty much blew that off. Now I believe the vein had become enlarged to help with the tumor's blood supply.

Wonderland

Exhaustion. Severe insomnia. My hair was brittle and falling out. No palpable lump. Routine mammogram found suspicious calcifications. Biopsy. Mastectomy. Stage 2a.

juniper

I had no symptoms other than a slight thickening of the skin. I was diagnosed at stage iv.

Kimm992

My original lump (1.7cm) was incredibly painful. The pain was my first symptom and then when I felt around the area of the pain I felt the lump. The rest is history.

BellasMomToo

I had no symptoms. My BC was detected during my annual mammogram. My GYN gave me a breast exam (3 weeks before my mammogram) but didn't notice the lump because the lump was right behind the nipple. The MRI measured my tumor to be 2.5 cm, so I was stage 2a.

Mumzy3

Exhaustion. I found my own lump. Painful. Grew from 1.99-2.8 in a month.

bravepoint

I had no symptoms. I found the lump myself. It was 1.6 cm, stage IIA.

TaRenee

I found my lump myself due to it being painful. It was almost directly behind the nipple. Tumor size was right at 2 cm. Mammo didn’t see it but US did. (That was an incredibly scary sight to me).

MaryToU

Had no symptoms, found on mammogram. At least I think I had not symptoms, almost a year earlier, I was extremely itchy. on my arms and legs. I would use a ruler to scratch myself raw, it was that bad. But this went away. So I figured it wasn't much of anything.

illimae

Sudden appearance of a lump not noticed days before and not detected on my 1 and only previous mammo. Doc confirmed two days later, then all the tests. Diagnosed stage IV from the get go in less than two weeks. Mom and aunt both diagnosed in their 60's but negative genetic test results, not what I was expecting at 41 but I am making the best of it

edwards750

Didn’t feel a lump but did have adrastic drop in weight. I thought it was due to my giving up sugar. Looking back on it now it was a definite sign. Mammo found it. One breast larger than the other. I knew what the outcome would be. To be fair I wasn’t diligent about self exams.

Diane

Carrye

I had no symptoms and never could feel a lump. But the cancer was very visible on routine ultrasound and mammogram. Stage 1 node negative.

EastcoastTS

Only symptom I can say was fatigue the year or so before diagnosis. I felt a small lump. Which ILC does not usually present as. 1.8cm. Stage 1a. Not painful except for the US pressing against it, really.

(I had been having diagnostic mammo for years -- nothing seen even on one done with tumor sitting right there. US vaguely caught but MRI definite.)

dtad

Hi everyone. I was stage 1 with no symptoms at all. Hope that helps!

Micmel

initially nothing, then a small lump, showed doc , lets follow, it's a cyst. The lump waxed and wained with hormonal cycle, not painful at first.complete exhaustion!! Then jumped in size almost within a few weeks and was extremely painful. Tight chest breathing right before diagnosis, while exercising. Would get sick with upper respiratory infections every 6 to 9 weeks, sometimes pneumonia all before the lump presented itself. Once the lump started to hurt, went into breast center. Mammo first...moved immediately to US same hour..... both breasts done.. cyst in one... the other not so much.... two doctors came in. Led me and DD to an office, within 20 mins he came in and knelt down to talk to me ...I knew at that moment. Next thing I knew less than an a half hour later that same day, I was laying on a surgical table in the breast center having an immediate biopsy, that's how concerned they were. It felt like I was being shot by a gun. Six times. Three into the arm pit and three into my chest, was like another persons life.Two days later the call came from the doctor. Instead of saying Hey great news!!! He started off with "How are you feeling?" I knew that second I had cancer. Saw the BS two days later, first assessed as stage 2. Then came all the body scans. Nope two weeks later, stage four, And had my left breast removed and a liver resection of a marble sized tumor as well months later the same day after 4 AC heavy chemo. The original tumor was 4cm and 13 positive out of 35 nodes Were cancer. Which were removed at time of surgery. I don't want to ever look back.

SummerAngel

I felt a lump on the left side, had no other symptoms. The cancer was inside a fibroadenoma (yes, this is very rare). The cancerous part of the lump was 2.2 cm.

The right-side cancer was not seen on mammogram and I felt no lump (it was below the nipple), but was found by breast MRI. It was 1.0 cm.

swg

No symptoms. Just a dimple that seemed to pop up out of nowhere, in July. I finally got to the dr a couple months later..went through mammogram and ultrasound to be told I had the primary tumor (an MRI revealed the 2nd one).

My blood test a week or so later was totally normal..looked healthy.

I'm having unilateral mastectomy Nov. 28. The primary tumor was stage 1 (1.2cm) after biopsy but my BS said i's 2.2cm, from the MRI.

Msjackiefan

Hi, I had discovered a lump on the left next to the nipple that no one else in the medical field could detect. They asked me later when I went for a 2nd opinion, Now how did you find this again? It was mildly sore, and I think that side, now that I look back was always the side that was sore during my periods. Very fibroidy. And for the year before the lump, I realized that side bothered me now and then-but the tumor was too small to be detected in my mammo 2 years before. So I was just scratching my boob one day and I felt it. I waited one month, even though I was post menopausal, and it had not changed. I had insisted on a diagnostic mammo, and one thing lead to another. There was slight inversion of nip on the x ray, it was evident to me. The radiologist wasn't sure it was C, but he was worried. But he also said, 'if this is Cancer its very small-we can take care of it.' I was Stage 1 A, low nuclear grade, and 96% estrogen positive. Since my oncoDX genetic test came back zero for mutations, I got to skip chemo;. I started with excision, but the margins were close and they discovered very high volume of in situ (stage 0) at margins. I also had lobular in situ, and what they called a 'hyperactive breast'. Lobular is more rare, but they said it statistically increased chance of cross occurrence. The other side was clear on the MRI. A ttiny adenoma was also present, which caused a second biopsy, because the other radiologist didn't bother to take it during the stereo biopsy. The 2nd biopsy was alot easier, though.

My doc was worried about the future chances, and was not sure how much would be left of that breast with more excisions. Thankfully, my lymph nodes (3) were clear. So I made the call to do a bilateral modified mastectomy with reconstruction. I'm ok with the results, they are not perfect, but under clothes, they look pretty good. At my age, that's enough. (I'm 60). Going on 5 years cancer free as of May 2018. Interestingly, the worst part has been the occasional soreness where the lymph nodes were removed. That tiny spot, and it's caused me the most annoyance. The fake boobies feel pretty natural now, but there is always a sense that something extra is there, they are not as soft as they once were. A small price to sleep pretty well at night.

HoneyBeaw

Inverted nipple and good sized lump, left side close to nipple, all of this missed on mama in Sept,-16 growing concern over inverted nipple and what I felt was a lump I went back to Dr in Nov and was told just plugged milk ducts, by two Dr. I demanded ultrasound and it was only after I directed then to the lump and 3 different tech looked did they finally find it . 2.69 cm, pretty big lump to be missed that many times. Looking back there were symptoms of extreme fatigue, I was horrible cranky, depression all of which I just though were part of my age and menopause. Again looking back I do remember a pain when sleeping on my stomach but figured that was due to just getting to dam fat .

Ended up having 1 positive node and have 4x TC chemo., Still have extreme anxiety but each day gets a little better

I did do self exams but now wonder how long that nipple was inverted before I really noticed it . . They did a lumpectomy and of course did not get good margins so was going to have to go in again, I decided on single mx, Im small busted so there was not going to be much left after going in a second time . I have not decided on reconstructions , its really just not on my radar. I just want to get healthy and get through this whole mess.

I check myself everyday now , with my eyes wide open while looking in the mirror. I write down every lump , dimple or pain just so I can watch it and be sure of what my body is doing ............

swg

So happy for you that you're doing so well!

I can relate to what you said about the biopsy where you didn't have cancer, not hurting.

Same with me. My 2 biopsies that ended up being positive for cancer were EXCRUCIATINGLY painful.

On the left, I just had a fibroadenoma. And that biopsy was a breeze.

The radiologist told me that positive areas tend to be more painful. Maybe because the tumor has extra vascular activity..

swg

You're making me realize...my nipple was inverted as well. And for a long time. I didn't think anything of it.

I, too, had fatigue for a few months leading up to noticing the dimple.

Yeah, I guess I DID have a couple of symptoms.

Tresjoli2

no symptoms here at all. I had just returned from Las Vegas for my 40th birthday party and went for my annual physical. My GP said she preferred mammo at 40 for a good baseline so she sent me. First mammo ever. Bam! Cancer. My GP saved my life. I truly believe that...

DanceSmartly

Just diagnosed today, so thought I would share my story.

I'm 42. Typically screening mammograms in Alberta do not start until age 50. However, I have PCOS and hence quite lumpy breasts, so my PCP decided to refer me for mammograms at age 40. He may have saved my life. First mammogram in October 2016 was clear. Second mammogram was 2 weeks ago. Got called back in immediately for a diagnostic mammogram, then had a ultrasound immediately thereafter. Tumour showed up on mammogram, and was very clear asymmetrical on US.

I was completely stunned as I do not feel sick at all. Would have said I had no symptoms at all. However, looking back at the last few months, there were a few changes:

1. Lost 10 lbs in last 2 months without trying. Believe me, this NEVER happens to me, being both hypothyroid and insulin resistant thanks to PCOS. Thought it might have been because I was back at the gym after a summer off and exercise was FINALLY working for me. Maybe not?

2. My hair got dryer. One of the lovely side effects of PCOS is greasy hair. Since puberty, I have never been able to go more than 24 hours without washing my hair; last month or so I can.

3. Night sweats and inability to fall back asleep. I have always been fortunate in that I am a good sleeper. Since the kids were born, would often wake in the night but could usually go back to sleep immediately. Not in the last 3-4 months. Now when I wake up, I am often sweaty and I cannot seem to go back to sleep.

4. Sour sweat smell under my breasts (I know, gross). Armpit odour seems normal, but really noticed the sweat smell from my breasts after exercising or spending time in my work coveralls in a hot building.

Don't know if the above are truly symptoms or not, but they are the signals my body gave me! Hope this helps!

Edited to add: Now that I know where my tumour is, I can quite clearly feel it. It does not hurt at all, no matter how hard I press on it. Zero pain.

HoneyBeaw

Dance smart

My surgeon told me he felt the cancer had been there about 2 yrs and as I think back over those 2 years there were lots of changes and symptoms I totally dismissed

About that time I developed horrible depression, could not sleep due to night sweats, quit working out which I did everyday., so I actually gained weight

Dog ass tired all the time, extreme fatigue, loud noises all of a sudden really bothered me , and my shoulder would hurt, though my purse was to heavy

. As you mentioned I also noticed a smell on that side weird sweat smell , even went to the Dr over it . In the end it was all credited to menopause , I was 54 at the time so it made since . It was not until I noticed the inverted nipple that I knew something scary was going on .

Only if we could turn back time

stephaniebc

my symptom was a lump, which i found myself, totally by chance, 4 months after a clear mammogram. it was already pretty big -- 2.5 cm -- but there was no apparent node involvement, so: stage 2.

DanceSmartly

Hi HoneyBeaw,

When I was trying to come up with symptoms that I might have missed and realized that CANCER might be why I was apparently losing weight without totally busting my backside and not having greasy hair for the first time in 30 years, my first thought was "You have got to be freakin' kidding me! Good things finally seem to be happening in my body and they're due to something that's gonna kill me? How twisted is this disease!". Ugh.

Am so glad I went from my regular screening mammogram, as have no idea how long it otherwise might have been before I found / recognized the lump as being abnormal. Had no clue it was there. Sure wouldn't have twigged to breast cancer on the symptoms / changes I did notice in my body!

Dance

GreenEyes81

Stage 1, 3 tumors, clear nodes. ZERO symptoms. Nothing was big enough to even feel it. My surgen wasn't able to even feel 2 of the lumps durning surgery.