Long cord feeling lump upper outer quadrant

Tg129

Hi! So I think I posted in the wrong thing last time...I'm 25 & new to this forum. Just wondering if anyone has had a cord like lump in their breast? I found the lump in the beginning of April and went to my OB. She had me laying on my back so I am almost certain she didn't even feel the lump I'm talking about because my breast tissue was pushed to that side. She said I have Fibrocystic breast and she sent me for an ultrasound to be sure. While I was getting the ultrasound, the tech told me she couldn't find the lump. I told her where it was and said it felt deeper into the tissue and it is the width of what I would say is a coffee stirrer. I got a call from my OB saying nothing was found and I just had dense breast. I don't feel anything else on either breast that feels like this palpable cord thing. I feel like my OB isn't really giving me the time of day and doesn't really answer my questions because I'm young. Am I being crazy? I feel like I want a second opinion. It doesn't sit right with me that they said they couldn't see it on the ultrasound. I read online that sometimes lumps aren't seen on ultrasound and that scares me. None of my friends say they have this kind of lump in their breast. Has anyone else had a corded lump in their breast and gotten a diagnosis? I can't stop thinking about it. I have to press on my breast to feel it. It's nothing that can be seen. Thanks so much in advance.

MammoRad

Hello. I'm glad that your ultrasound came back ok. Palpable areas that are cancerous are usually pretty easy to see on sonography. So in regard to your "cord" that you feel in your breast. Obviously, I can't know what this is for certain, but cancers seldom present in this manner. Sometimes a small vein can become clotted in the breast. This can produce symptoms as you describe. The clotted vein can be somewhat tender. This is called Mondor's disease (but it really isn't a disease at all...). A clotted vein can be very difficult to see on a sonogram, and the fact that the sono tech didn't see it doesn't entirely rule it out. If it is Mondor's disease, it is a benign self limited process that should resolve after a few weeks or even months. The most important thing is to continue examining the area. If it increases in size, you should consult your doctor. Have a discussion with your doctor regarding your concerns. Open communication with your doctor is extremely important. Good luck on this, and let us know if there are any further changes.

Tg129

thank you so much for your reply! I have read about Mondors. A lot of the stuff online (which I have come to realize is not always accurate) kept showing pictures of women where the vein is showing through their skin. So I am hoping you are right about the modors and maybe mine isn’t just presenting a little differently. Again, thank you so much for replying. I will continue to keep an eye on it to make sure it isn’t growing and try to stop stressing so hard

TB90

Is it very painful? If it is mondors, it would be very painful. Rope like tissue, especially in outer, upper quadrants of the breast is very common. I worried about mine years ago and my breast specialist felt them and immediately dismissed my fears. My subsequent dx is totally unrelated to this. Glad you had it checked. Monitor it for changes, otherwise try to stop worrying. I had mondors post mx also. Very different symptoms. Take care.

aseal321

I had this a couple years back, the cord traveled down to my elbow from my right armpit, pinching my skin and inhibiting my range of motion. Thankfully, I have been followed by a breast surgeon for a while (for activity-not cancer), and I also work in a hospital...and his office is across the street. I called him and he had me run over on my lunch and he did an US...it wasn't related to anything scary and resolved within a mth or so. I am glad yours did too! Just keep an eye on things, I started in my twenties with issues, and they have recently grown into something more worrisome.