Lump with shoulder and upper arm ache?

kiwi_rose

Hi everyone,

I'm 31 and live in New Zealand. I initially went to my doctor because for 2-3 months I'd noticed this "cord" on my lower left breast. Like a vein but harder, and ended in a small bump, but was not visible and palpable all the time. I also started getting sharp pains on my upper right breast, so mentioned this at my appointment too.

My doctor thinks the cord is a blood vessel, I'm not sure since it feels hard and lumpy. But also during the exam she found a lump on my upper right breast, where I've been getting the sharp pains. She said it's around 2cm and mobile, and thinks it's a lymph node or a fibroadenoma. I sure hope it is just that, but what worries me is since that appointment my upper arm and shoulder have also been aching. I can't help worrying that it's from metastasis to the bone or something.

I'm not getting myself worked up, but I am scared. Especially since also since December I have been having a discomfort under my left ribs, nausea and some weight loss. I had an endoscopy, colonoscopy, abdominal MRI and blood tests to find the cause of that with no answers. So I'm worried it was something from my breast causing that too but they never scanned my chest, just my abdomen.

I have an ultrasound on Wednesday so not long to wait, but in the meantime did anyone else have arm/shoulder pain or any of these symptoms?

Moderators

kiwi_rose, welcome to BC.org! We wanted to let you know that we hear you and we absolutely understand how scared you are. We're sorry we can't really help you with your questions, but we're sure someone will be along shortly who can weigh in with their own experiences and advice. Please, come back to let us know how it goes on Wednesday. We'll be thinking of you!

The Mods

LivinLife

Welcome kiwi! Understandable and normal to have such feelings of worry with all you describe! So your U/S is today.... Best with that! I hope you do not have to wait long to know results or initial impressions... Please let us know when you hear something. Thinking about you today...

Salamandra

It's scary to have so many unexplained symptoms and I'm glad you're getting this investigated! For what it's worth, bodies are weird and have so many weird things that can go wrong that we've never heard of, and I think it's normal to jump to breast cancer because we've all heard of it, but that doesn't mean it's actually likely. I really hope you can get a diagnosis that leads to helpful treatment and full recovery, whether it's breast cancer or not!

kiwi_rose

Thank you for your replies.

At my ultrasound I was told there were no suspicious areas/lumps/tumour or anything, she said that there was a collection of cysts in my left breast and right breast was normal. Was told it would be reviewed by the radiologist and he would decide whether a biopsy was needed of the cysts.

However I just got my report which notes that the lumpiness in my left breast is mainly "dense tissue" (can't remember the technical term) with some mild fibrocystic changes. But that there is also an ill defined hypoechoic area measuring 1.4cm long that needs to be biopsied. I wasn't expecting this result and am now obviously worried. I'm not sure what the chances of this being benign are.

KariBlue

Hi KiwiRose, did you get the results of your biopsy?

kiwi_rose

Hi, yes I did, I posted it in my other thread but the result was adenosis (increase in the size and amount of breast lobules). I guess one of the lobules was irregularly shaped and that's what they saw on the ultrasound? No explanation for my other symptoms but it is at the very least not breast cancer.

clarebarez

Hi @kiwi_rose,

It sounds similar to me.Breast pain, Left rib pain, shoulder pain. Ultrasound report says multiple cluster of cysts in both breasts. And I had muscle spasms at d back and pectoralis. It went away after I go to therapy for my left area. Now the pain is in my right side ..

Thank you