full breast

I've never mentioned it to anyone, but I had a full feeling, similar to breast feeding.  Like when the baby hasn't nursed for a long time and you need to feed them.  I also had the sensation like milk letting down on several occations, and it was on both sides.  Do you think that means anything?

Sheila- I was actually really happy with my left breast because it was all perky and my right breast was starting to hang a bit (I'm 48). Then I realized that breasts are supposed to hang at my age and had a second look at the left one. It did feel full and a little sore- like before your period. I had my ovaries out 2 1/2 years ago so it couldn't be hormonal fluctuations. It took me awhile to realize it was a lump because it didn't feel like a lump. It felt like an oblong, flat eraser with a very bumpy surface. Everywhere I read they were talking about lumps the size of a lemon seed or a pea, never a long rectangular thing. Also, in my mind a lump was round and mine was so flat that it was hard to feel against the chest wall. A medicine student said she wouldn't have felt it if I hadn't told her it was there. And it was 2 cm.! There actually were 2 lumps in the left breast- 2 cm. each. That aslo confused me because I couldn't find anything on the internet about several lumps, so I thought I was just lumpy. What got me to go to the doctor was one web site that emphsized comparing the breasts because there should be the same kind of lumps on both sides- any differences are what you should worry about. Also I saw "dimples". The tumors pull at the skin a little- especially if you flex the muscles that are behind the breasts. The normal check for breast cancer (lying down and rubbing in circles) didn't help me find much. But by squeezing the breast together from each side I could feel something. Also, in the shower with soapy skin I could feel things better. When I jumped up and down in front of the mirror, I could see that the breasts were behaving differently than each other. 

You can tell I spent alot of time in front of my mirror and feeling my lumps, but otherwise I wouldn't have gone to the doctor. My lumps weren't "hard", they weren't "unmovable" and they were a little bit sore. The normal "self exam" didn't help me out, but by putting my breasts throught the paces, in every which way, I saw that things were strange. At the end I could even see that the breast looked a slight bit "angular". 

Just one more thing that I don't think is emphasized enough, if you are past menopause (hormonal changes aren't a factor) get yourself to a doctor if there are changes in the breast! As I understand it, the 80% of lumps are benign figure applies MUCH more to pre-menopausal women than post-menopausal. After menopause, only something like 50% of lumps are benign. Correct me anyone if I have my figures wrong. 

I don't mean to scare anyone and Sheila, I really hope you find out that you just had a scare and that everything is just fine. But the things I have mentioned now are just the things I wished I had known before I actually was diagnosed. 

I didn't have a full feeling until it started to grow after I had my mammo. Being small breasted didn't make a difference in finding anything sooner,.either. What was really strange,.was the fact I had gone target shooting one weekend,.took my sons friend with us and while he was shooting,.a hot shell casing flew through the air and landed right in my bra on the left,.(at the time it was funny as hell) lt left a tiny burn on my boob,.I thought nothing of it. 2 weeks later,.while laying in bed,.I ran my hand across the exact spot where that casing had landed and bingo,.there was the lump. I see that as being a sign. If I hadn't gotten burned,.I may not have ever checked! Anyway,.once this thing started growing,.my boob felt very heavy,.but,.they also felt heavy right before my period so,...and my lump felt round,.smooth,.and it could be moved around,.it didn't feel "attached" to anything,.I could almost wrap my fingers completely around it. It didn't feel anything like the model boob I felt at the docs office as to what breast cancer is "supposed" to feel like.

((hugs))

Kim~

Gitane- Well, I haven't got the path report yet after the surgery so the IDC is just from the needle biopsies. By next week maybe things will have changed. I didn't know that ILC were unusual shapes/hard to find. I had digital mammograms, ultrasounds, biopsies and a MRI (apparently lighted up everywhere on both breasts- but they did find a small tumour on the "good" breast). Could ILC have gone undetected through these tests?

lindainfla.....that's a good thought. Most women believe that if they get a good report from a mammogram that they are all clear. Having had bc once before, I thought I was very knowledgeable but I had never heard of lobular and had no idea that it wouldn't show on a mammogram and in my case also didn't show on u/s......scary!!!!

You are right.  I'm going to start a thread on the ILC page.  Hope that's the right terminology.  As with everything, word of mouth among women is better than anything!  Thank goodness for my friends and the wonderful ladies of breastcancer.org

krell-

sent you a pm.

I have this same feeling in my breast,like when I was nursing my kids a long time ago,but when I mention it no one has heard of this or they look at me like I am nuts. Wish I could find an article to show Doc. Last years Mamm and ultrasound was a BI- Rads Category 3 No solid mass but cystic changes very very dense tissue ,ductal dilatatiom etc. Last weeks Mamm (no ultrasound done ) was Normal? Not sure what went on there the report didn't even mention my left breast and not much compression was felt,have an appt. next week to talk about that,but would love to know if there is an article about the feeling of" let down" in breast I could take with me.