Am I overreacting or should I be concerned.

Cassieann10

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So to get to the point of my post I have to go back almost a year ago to September 2017. I noticed a few lumps in my left breast, different sizes, different areas no pain or other symptoms. I waited about 3 weeks before contacting my PCP. I was 25 at the time and knew that these were almost certainly not cancer but when they didn't go away I got a little nervous. I have an IUD with no menstrual cycle so I just wanted to have my PCP check it out and let me know what to do. I do have a family history of breast cancer both my paternal and maternal grandmothers were diagnosed with breast cancer; neither was tested for gene mutation. I later was told that this does not make me at a higher risk for breast cancer although at the time I did not know that.

I ended up finding lumps in my right breast as well. I had an ultrasound on both breasts which concluded that they believed they were fibro adenomas two on each side. I was still very anxious about this and I wanted to know 100% that it was not cancer so I had a core needle biopsy. As expected by everyone they were benign fibro adenomas.

Fast forward to 6 weeks ago, I started having this weird random pain in each of my armpits. Over time the pain got worse and so when I went for a regular PCP visit back on 7/30/18 I asked her to do a breast exam. I had also found new lumps throughout both breasts, not to mention my fibro adenomas are about 2x the size they were. I also had small lumps in each armpit. She did the exam and stated that she did not feel any lumps in my armpits; she also proceeded to tell me that she no longer recommends self-breast exams anymore because studies have shown they were not really saving many lives and more just making women very anxious. She also stated that she has had many patients who just have very tender breasts. She stated that with changes in my breast we could do an ultrasound every few months but that she didn't think there was a need to do that. She pretty much left it at if the pain doesn't go away or gets worse to call the cancer specialist I had seen last year.

Well here I am another almost two weeks later and I am in a considerable amount of pain. It's a constant hurt under my armpits and touching my breasts in certain areas is very painful as well. To the point where it is now waking me up at night when I roll from side to side. I have no nipple discharge or dimpling just a bunch of lumps and this crazy pain.

I called my PCP office today and asked them to send a note back to her that I was requesting a referral for a bilateral breast ultrasound at the hospital by where I work. The cancer specialist is an hour away from my home and in the opposite direction of my Job so I don't want to go down there unless I need to and I just feel like an ultrasound can give me some answers to the pain.

My reason for the post is I am looking for advice from other women who have been diagnosed or have/are going through similar situations. Am I overreacting? Should I just keep waiting and trying to deal with the pain or is it acceptable for me to request that they check this out? I know I am really young now 26 but I the pain is worse all the time and the lumps are getting bigger both in my breasts and in my armpit.

So should I be concerned or am I just over reacting?

MBA

Hi- just curious to see if you ever received a diagnosis. I am having some similar issues and just looking for others who might have some insight. Thanks and hope all is well

CasM

Hi MBA,

I also had those issues a few years ago. I was told to cut the caffeine and take evening primrose and Vit E. It is supposed to help with tenderness and fibrocystic breasts. I had a breast specialist tell me my breast were like swiss cheese with all the cysts I had. Anyways just thought I would let you know what I went through and it did help. Might be something you can do more research on for yourself.