Found lump; remembering other symptoms?

CuriousDreamer

Hi All,

Trying not to worry but I'm overthinking things and worried that I may have missed something. I'm a 35 year old woman. I'm overweight and have been diagnosed with PCOS and Hidradenitis Suppurativa. I've never been pregnant and my periods have been inconsistent until my doctor prescribed me metformin. My family does not have a history of breast cancer.

I stated having issues with HS in 2006, I started developing large painful boils on my stomach and under my arms. The doctors were no help and kept telling me to lose weight but even when I did the boils become worse. They ended up localizing to my underarms, specifically my left underarm. About 3 years ago, I was doing research on HS and read a study that it might be linked to inflammation in the system. I overhauled my diet and figured out that potatoes were causing the flare ups. I gave up eating potatoes and have not had a flare up in 2 1/2 years.

At the end of July I was lying on my bed and happened to rub across my left breast. I ended up feeling a lump and assumed it was acne or HS. But when I checked in the mirror the lump was under the skin. I immediately freaked out and made an appointment with my doctor. She needed to do a referral for me to have a mammogram and then there was this big mess with the referral and finally got into the see the doctor today. The did the mammogram and then did an ultrasound. The doctor informed me that it was tumor and they would need to do a biopsy. I believe they said the lump was between 2 to 3 cm. They told me that it would be a couple of weeks before I could get in for the biopsy and then about 3 to 5 days before they figured out what was going on and they would have to let my primary know.

After crying in my car, I was driving home and reflecting on did I miss anything. I realized that a months ago probably March or April I remember having a stain on my nightgown one morning. It was dark brown discharge from my nipple. It only happened once so I didn't think anything of it and assumed it had to do with my period. I also remembered that prior to the lump showing up (probably 2 weeks) I was having slight breast pain. It was more of an annoyance than painful but I remember I was at work and announced my breast was hurting. It wasn't a consistent pain but it was noticeable, it probably lasted just that day.

The lump doesn't hurt and it's located in what they said is the 3rd quadrant (near my areola). It's something that if you can feel immediately when you touch the breast (like it's right under the skin). It feels like marble.

I know all I can do is wait and see what happens, but I'm scared that I may have missed something and this could have been checked out months ago. But I'm also wondering if anyone has experienced something like this. Where they may have had symptoms before and then months later a lump showed up or they didn't have symptoms and a lump showed up?

Thanks!!

Jean837

I'm in the same boat as you as far as thinking I could have handled things sooner, and wish I would have!

I simply dismissed so much on this or that. I get really bad acne cysts. And my pain at first seemed cyclical.

The most important thing is seeking the treatment now!

Moderators

CuriousDreamer - Welcome to the Community! We are sorry that you are experiencing these changes and they are causing you worry.

It sounds like you have been proactive and done all the things you could do to find out the cause of your discomfort and lump but, having that said, please remember that many, many biopsies especially at young age come back benign. Try to relax and get some rest, and please keep us posted on the procedure and the results! We'll be thinking of you!

Best,

The Mods

GoMama

Though the discharge looked dark brown to you, it was probably bloody when it was fresh. That's a sign of possible breast cancer. That said, it's probably not something they would have found before the lump showed up, anyway. And as the nurses and doctors told me when I was anxious to get surgery scheduled, a few weeks rarely makes a difference as far as cancer growth. You're doing fine. Please let us know what the results are.

KBeee

I'm sorry you're dealing with these symptoms. A couple suggestions:

1. Immediately request a copy of the mammogram and ultrasounds report for your records. No matter what this turns out to be, it is helpful to have for future reference. I have a copy of all of mine.

2. Ask why it will take so long to get the biopsy, and ask where you can go to get one sooner. Once they know you are willing to go elsewhere, they sometimes can find room for you. (One of my surgeries was going to have to be in 6-8 weeks before they could fit me in. Once they knew I was willing to go elsewhere, they found me a spot the next week).

I know different areas have longer waits, but I was able to get my biopsy the next day every time I've needed one, and the time I needed a surgical biopsy, I only waited a couple days. Be the squeaky wheel. If you have to wait, it should not affect things long term, but mentally you'll be spinning your wheels in place (if you are anything like me) until you have a definitive answer.

Hopefully this is benign, but even so, you want to know what it is!

CuriousDreamer

Thanks everyone for the answers!! It's been a while since I updated but I was able to get my biopsy. My doctor called me today and asked me to come in, which told me that it was most likely malignant. I went ahead and checked my medical record and sure enough its an invasive ductal carcinoma, grade 3. I have an appointment to see my doctor tomorrow to get more information but I have already started looking it up. Luckily my doctor already put in a referral for me to see an oncologist and have surgery.

I told my mom today and you can tell she is very upset, she and my dad are planning to fly up to go to oncologist with me. This was definitely not the outcome I had hoped for but I'm trying to remain positive. I have a tendency to go to worst case scenario but I'm trying to remind myself that I will be ok. It's crazy because I had two interviews today (which was why I couldn't go the doctor) so I can start my career as a therapist and part of me is questioning what my future looks like. But I'm glad I found this community because I'm going to need all the support I can get.

Thank you all again!!

KBeee

Sorry to hear this was malignant. Ask around locally to anyone you know who's had cancer and find out what they like/don't like about their oncologist so you get one who's a good fit for you. This will be the person who continues to monitor you over the long haul, so you want it to be a person who listens well to you and takes your concerns seriously. Do you know the ER.PR, HER2 status? Hoping you get a plan in place soon. You CAN do this. (((HUGS)))

Topsy3

CuriousDreamer,

I'm so sorry to hear about your results, but thank you so much for posting this. I had my abnormal mammo and us in the end of may. When the questionnaire asked about nipple discharge I said no. Because I haven't really ever had nipple discharge when squeezing aside from a tiny little dot of clear fluid once in awhile, but I don't think that counts. However, when I read your post I remembered that duh, I've had a few times when I felt a cold sensation on my breast and when I looked I had a little wet spot on my bra. It never occurred to me to think of this as nipple discharge, but now I'm rethinking it. Just one more thing to ask the breast surgeon next week.

Stay positive, and know that you've already helped at least one person by sharing your experience.