33 with lump and pain. Dismissive consultant.

fariah

Hi there everyone,

I'm just looking for a bit of advise and support after coming from the hospital feeling very dismissed.

I'm 33 years old, estranged from my family so have no idea if there's any history of BC because I haven't seen any of them since I was 18.

About 3/4 weeks ago I started to get a sharp stabbing pain in my right breast. It was very painful but would come and go. I normally check myself in the shower perhaps once and month and didn't notice anything sinister. As the weeks went by I occasionally got the stabbing pain coupled with a bruise like 'pulling' feeling that radiated around my breast. Sometimes it's so uncomfortable I can't get comfortable to sleep.

Last week I laid down and noticed two small pea sized lumps which were very hard and immovable not far from my areola. They took some finding but definitely there. The area is somewhat tender as well.

I am not on any hormonal contraception and my period has been and gone, this pain is very different to the tender breasts during your period and is localised to one breast.

My partner also felt the lumps.

I booked a doctors appointment and he said the breasts look symmetrical, no dimpling, or orange peel texture etc but could feel like lump so referred me.

Today I went to see the consultant at hospital and honestly I was in and out in about 5 minutes. He rushed me and was very dismissive. He felt my breasts said "there's nothing there, I am happy to discharge you" I urged him to check again even though I told him before hand they are deeper inside the breast tissue, I've not had children and would say my breasts are quite dense.

He checked again and felt them and just said 'might be a deep cyst, hormonal or a bad fitting bra I'll l send you for an ultrasound'. Handed me a breast pain leaflet and sent me on my way.

The ultrasound didn't show anything abnormal and they've discharged me. But I have also seen that both mammograms and ultrasounds can miss lumps when deep in the tissue and when the breast is dense.

I have now been discharged with no idea what to do or to believe, I still have the pain, still have a worry and no idea where to go or what to do as I don't want to appear as if I'm a hypochondriac but I know my breasts and know something isn't right. Am I to wait to see if this lump gets bigger/smaller? Go back to GP? I literally have no idea.

I sat in the car park crying as I know something isn't right but I was shoved out the door in 15 minutes still none the wiser.

Rah2464

Fariah first things first I am sorry you got the "too young for an issue" experience from your doctor. Been there, done that. It isn't helpful to the patient when your physician is too casual with their assessment based on your age. Yes, BC is a disease that occurs primarily at an older age but we all know that it can pop up when you are younger. When you are younger it is very common to have fibrocystic breasts with the accompanying painful cysts. They hurt terribly I well remember. So we know statistics are on your side but it is perfectly ok to be careful and thorough with your body. You have to advocate for yourself and your health.

You have two identified areas that are palpable, that haven't changed during your cycle. Since they were not imaged on ultrasound (at least that is what it sounds like from your post) I would be pushing for at the minimum a mammogram to establish a baseline with a recheck later depending on what they see. Do you have access to a breast specialist? I think I would begin there.

I wish you the best, sorry you are going through this stress. Please come back and update on how things are going.

ParakeetsRule

I agree with rah that at a minimum you need a mammogram. And a new doctor who isn't a sexist jerk who blames women's breast health issues on a "bad bra". Most likely it's something benign and it's good the ultrasound was negative, but they need to find out what's causing it.

Rain88

Fariah, I also think that you should have a mammogram as well, since it would show the bumps from a different perspective that could be correlated with the US imaging. In my experience, even with lumps considered benign, without a biopsy to rule out malignancy, there should be a follow up at 6 months to check for changes. If possible, insist on having a mammogram and the 6 month follow up. Best of luck! ♥️