What would you do?

Dance_Mom

I'm at a loss! I moved to Mexico from the US last year and missed my annual mammogram in 2020. Over the last month my nipple on my left breast began to sporadically sting. Just randomly it would sting briefly then stop. It's not painfully; moreso aggrevating. At first it would happen once or twice a day but lately it's been several times a day. I did a self breast check and didn't feel anything out of the ordinary. Last week, my armpit (left side) started to sporadically hurt. Not majorly; just achy every now and then. So I decided to have a mammo and ultrasound here in México.

The healthcare system here has less red tape than the US. I was able to make an appointment same day and get the results and films same day as well.

My breasts are lumpy naturally. I've had a few stable papillomas removed and a lump in my left breast that has been stable since 2019.

The radiologist said the stable lump is still there and hasn't changed since 2019 but there is a new 6mm lump at 12 o'clock. He said it has all the same characteristics as a benign lump and assigned me with a birads 3 (recheck in 3-6 months). He really didn't address the pain at all.

well the pain started happening more frequently so I sought a 2nd opinion. Oddly enough this doctor was kinda shocked that I wanted a 2nd opinion but he did an ultrasound anyway.

He had me lay on my right side (which was weird.. I normally lay on my back during ultrasounds) and he did not see the new lump!!! He only saw the old lump that has been stable since 2019. Once he saw that one he fixated on it and dismissed my pain as hormonal changes and caffeine (which would very well be true). He's also said “breast cancer doesn't hurt".

The thing is now for a few days I've had some slight aches in my left breast too. everytime my breast hurts now I say to myself "he said breast cancer doesn't hurt, so it's probably nothing".

Has anyone experienced this? what would you do?

Messenger77

Just FYI, not going to try and diagnose you or anything, but cancer CAN hurt. It shocks me that doctors tell people a) it doesn’t hurt and/or b) it doesn’t move and is always hard. Simply not true. Mine hurt BOTH times. Tho I do believe some doctors say that some cancers may become painful when they get to a certain size. That being said, do keep an eye on things. I had loads of high and intermediate grade DCIS along with a tumor that was HER2+ all in the left breast and after ALL the imaging I went thru, weren’t found until AFTER my bilateral mastectomy.

Keep us posted and keep an eye on yourself. Absolutely NOTHING wrong with a second or even third opinion. We are our best advocates sometimes.

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scar1888

I'll share this but so not wanting to scare you. I had a mamm in March of '97 and I had MANY calcifications so they told me to come back in six months. During that summer and at the beach with my family, I had some pain and some scary stinging sensations. I called more than once and asked to let me come in early for the mamm and they said, 'No, wait until Oct." When I went in Oct., the calcifications had 'clustered' and I had a one cm tumor and four out of 22 lymph nodes were involved. Stage 3. I am very very blessed!

If I were you and you feel anything unusual I would find the TOP NOTCH specialist in your area OR FLY TO ONE! You're probably fine but I had to share this. It can hurt.

LivinLife

Hi Dance! Just want to send support. I"m not sure what I would do...... I guess another idea is to consider getting another scan in 6 months or even 3 if issues continue...