Worried that I might have breast cancer-looking for reassurance

SSteven

HI there. I've been reading multiple posts on this website for a while now, and got the courage to post my own concerns today.

I've been a huge mess for the last 6 weeks or so. At this moment, no one has any idea what's wrong with me, but I suspect it could be breast cancer. The first week in January, I had this weird spasm sensation happen in my upper right quadrant in my abdomen. The pain would radiate to my mid-back, I'd get some chills, then it would go away. It took roughly 3 seconds, then it was gone. It happened at random times, so at first I thought it was a pulled muscle. I went into an urgent care on 1/6 and the doc thought it was my gallbladder, so she sent me for an ultrasound of my upper right quadrant, turns out ultrasound looked fine. I had blood work/CBC done, all looked fine. Xrays, looked fine, but they did find a pulmonary nodule in my right lung- I met with a pulmonologist and he said given it's appearance and what it's made of, he's sure it's benign, but we're keeping an eye on it and I have to do a re-scan in April. I was given a CT scan, everything looked fine other than the nodule. I've also had a HIDA scan of my liver/gallbladder, everything fine. Upper endoscopy, have no clue yet how that turned out because I have a follow up with that doc (gastro) on Thurs, I'm sure he'll go over results with me.

During all of this, I've gradually had more and more symptoms crop up. I still have mild pain on and off in that upper right quadrant, mid to upper back pain, pain in my right rib cage on the side and my right arm is painful at near my elbow and mid-arm, particularly when I twist it. On Feb 5th though, I felt a sharp pain in my mid-chest, that moved to my right breast. Since then, my right breast feels swollen, nipple is super sore when I press on it. The skin on the top of the breast looks a little more red than the left breast. It feels heavy and full. I noticed last week that it looks like I might have an enlarged lymph node in my right armpit. I'm wondering if I've had BC this whole time, and somehow the URQ issues are connected? I do have an ultrasound/mammo scheduled for Thurs, and I did have an MRI of my stomach and upper stomach area done on the 13th. And I am expecting the worst. I'm a big planner, so it's what I do. I try to plan for things in advance, but in the meantime I'm freaking out- not sleeping well, very emotional. Scared. Thinking that maybe I've got stage 4 from the lung nodule, which the pulmonologist said isn't related and was only found because I've had so many tests done- but still. Any and all advice or reassurance would be most helpful for me. Thank you so much!

ElaineTherese

Your array of symptoms don't indicate breast cancer to me, but I'm not an expert. None of us are medical personnel, except for djmammo. Take a deep breath. You've set up an ultrasound/mammo. That's the best you can do at this point. ((Hugs))

AliceBastable

I've never seen anyone's breast cancer symptoms that sound anything like yours. Have you discussed health anxiety with your primary care doctor?

Moderators

SSteven, we completely understand your concerns. It's difficult when your body acts different. However, as they others have said, the symptoms aren't necessarily typical fo breast cancer. We do hope though that you follow your gut feeling, and get everything checked out.

We're thinking of you

The Mods

wallycat

I'm so very, very sorry you are scared and dealing with this feeling of unwell.

Certainly your symptoms are real and they may be of two or three different conditions/situations. I will just add that your initial symptoms sound very much gallbladder-like. And I will add that sometimes, when a gallstone passes, it causes all of those symptoms but since the stone passed, nothing is seen on ultrasound. It happens. The bile duct can be inflammed and lymph nodes try to deal with the inflammation.

I tend to agree with the previous poster...uncommon symptoms for breast cancer but cancer is an effing crapshoot. i'm glad you have doctors who are taking your symptoms seriously.

Please post back and let us know what you discover; this is a learning journey for all of us. Best to you!

clarebarez

Hi Ssteven,

Looks like you're symptoms are the same as mine. First is my upper left quadrant of my stomach, under my left breast. afterwards my left breast feels sore, ribcage pain on the side, and armpit.Then I also had pain in neck shoulder down to my left arm. I also have hyperacidity and acid reflux. When I had the breast ultrasound, doctor told me i had tiny cysts, all benign. She pinched my rib at my left breast diagnosed me costochondritis and i should see a rheumatologist. So i did. (but at that time my breast seems to get better) Rheumatologist told me I have osteoarthritis due to my work where I always have a computer infront of me. He gave meds and gel for the area of pain.

I hope you find the answers to your questions too. I have been very worried for almost 3 months becoz d pain in my neck shoulder and arm did not go away until I visited a rheumatologist.

dtad

SSteven...Hi there. So sorry you are stressed about your symptoms. I'm not a doctor but I am a RN. IMO your symptoms sound more like costochondritis than breast cancer. I had it for 6 months and it was very debilitating. I was also worried about having a recurrence of my breast cancer. The good news is it came out of no where and left the same way. I think it's good that you are exploring why you have these symptoms though. The stress alone is not good for you. Best of luck and keep us posted

SSteven

Thank you all so much for giving me your well wishes and thoughts on this. So far, all of my tests, including the MRI have come out OK. I found out about the MRI this morning. But my doc, and all the other docs I've seen conclude that something is going on- but they don't know what. This makes me even more nervous about the ultrasound/mammo scheduled for this Thursday, because if everything else looks OK, but I've got swelling and soreness in my right breast, including a possible enlarged node in my right armpit... it's scary. On top of that, I forgot to mention that I have some spider veins in that breast, too. I have a small one in my left breast, but a few (and more coming) in my right breast.

dtad and clarebarez, did either of you have swelling in the breast, or anything going on with your lymph nodes in your armpit?

AliceBastabo, I do have health anxiety after all of this. I am looking into getting a therapist I can talk with. I'm hoping Thursday's doc visit helps to alleviate a lot of my fears, but it's good to still talk with someone.

spriest

Hello. I am 38 I live overseas and went to the Dr for nipple changes (pain and itching on one side and crusting on both). I also suspected I have 2 cysts by my sternum. I went in thinking this was all benign nothing more. There is family history of BC (mother and an aunt on both sides). The Dr immediately ordered a Breast MRI (no mammo or US). Had it the next day and received a copy (not the radiologists interpretations a CD of the scans). What I got out of it was I had 4 areas enhanced (don't know if it was termed Mass or NME) in one breast in 2 different sections (lower outer and upper inner) all with Type II curve, and a foci in the other borderline Type II/III but designated Type II curve. I then had a mammo and US. The Dr read the results of the mammo and US to himself but didn't say anything to me (unfortunately the reports are not in English and I didn't receive them- but should be getting a translated copy this week). After he read the Mammo and US the Dr said I had to come back in 3 months for another MRI.

My concern is would there really be any changes in 3 months? Seems short, but I also didn't have any baseline images to go off of and if that is the case and there is something slow growing will that be baselined like it is benign? I really don't know what to think. Any advice. Also he never addressed my suspected cysts, nipple pain or crusting and when I asked before I left he said I probably pulled something in my neck and to take an NSAID. I don't have a lot of options here and from what I can gether it is one of the best places in this country for treatment of any kind.