Breast Mass vs. Breast Engorgement

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bejuce
bejuce Member Posts: 97
edited June 2014 in Stage III Breast Cancer
Breast Mass vs. Breast Engorgement
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  • bejuce
    bejuce Member Posts: 97
    edited November 2009

    I've recently requested a copy of all my medical records in an effort to understand how/why it took so long to diagnose me.

    In reading through them, I found out that my OB had noted that back in March '08 (I was diagnosed on February '09) my right breast was engorged from breastfeeding (more than the left) in the upper outer quadrant (I was only nursing my son for comfort at night at that point.)

    Since I found my swollen lymph node (a 2.5 cm one) in July '08, it sure looks like to me that my so-called breast engorgement was already my breast tumor in there. How likely is it to mistake a breast mass for breast engorgement? Has anyone heard/experienced this before? Shouldn't this "breast engorgement" finding combined with my swollen lymph node two months later immediately prompt the doctors to recommend me for a mammogram/MRI? Instead, the doctors told me I had nothing to worry about it and that they would just follow me every 3 months.  I was only offered a mammogram/MRI in January '09, when it was obvious that my right breast was much more swollen than the left.  Imagine what will happen now with the new guidelines in place...

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  • KerryMac
    KerryMac Member Posts: 3,529
    edited November 2009

    I was breastfeeding and misdiagnosed too. I even had an ultrasound and was told I had "nothing to worry about, it is just milk"

    After dx, I was told by several doctors that they just can't tell when you are breastfeeding. It stinks, I know, but it does happen.

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  • fighting4mykids
    fighting4mykids Member Posts: 69
    edited December 2009

    I found a lump while I was pregnant and mentioned it to my OB about 'having a blocked milk duct' and she blew it off as normal pregnant breasts.  The day my twins were born, I mentioned it to the lactation constultant about the 'blocked duct' but she examined me and said I should get it checked out and sure enough...stage III cancer with lymph node involvement and over 5 cm tumor. 

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  • KerryMac
    KerryMac Member Posts: 3,529
    edited December 2009

    If I knew now what I knew then....well, I would have done things quite differently!

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  • Colette37
    Colette37 Member Posts: 387
    edited December 2009

    I was nursing my 7 month old when I found my lump.  My Mom had breast cancer at young age and the GYN said to wait until I was 40 for a mammogram, when I was 35 and asked for one.  Now at 37 I had a 10 cm lump removed.

    The thing that irritated me most is that just because I was nursing they asked me if it was a blocked duct or mastitis...Keep in mind that it was my THIRD child that I nursed and I was quite aware of what those were...I knew I needed to press them further when I did find the lump because I had felt my mothers.  I went on to even letting complete strangers feel the lump because they themselves had lumpy breasts...who knows, maybe I saved a life?

    My heart goes out to everyone who has had to deal with nursing and breast cancer at the same time...it is absolutely the worst.  What is even sadder is that most of the time it is already at the later stages when it is found.

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  • bejuce
    bejuce Member Posts: 97
    edited December 2009

    Looks like there are lots of us out there.  Someone needs to come up with a better diagnostic tool for breastfeeding mothers.  And for young women for that matter.

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  • KerryMac
    KerryMac Member Posts: 3,529
    edited December 2009

    I would have just liked to be told that the screening methods were inaccurate when you were nursing and to keep an eye on things.

    As far as I knew, an Ultrasound could tell the difference between a solid and a liquid, and a liquid would not turn into a solid. I was completely lulled into a false sense of security. I could have easily weaned (my son was nearly 2 when I first found the lump) and retested if I had any inkling at all that the lump was suspicious.

    I was always such an advocate of extended Breast feeding, I feel that this is something else this **** disease has taken from me - if I hadn't breast fed, I would not have wound up as Stage 3. 

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  • AnacortesGirl
    AnacortesGirl Member Posts: 1,758
    edited December 2009

    Colette,

    That is great that you were willing to let others feel the lump to educate!  My breast was so lumpy.  The two times I went to my pcp because I found a new lump he was able to aspirate so we knew they were cysts.  I remember telling him how the heck if am I suppose to find anything in this mess?  I wished at that time that someone would let me feel the real deal.  As it turns out it probably wouldn't have made a difference with lobular.  But I admire the fact that you were helping some ladies.

    BTW - I chuckle everytime I see your avatar but it does have me kind of worried about what going on down in Olympia....  Or is it better if everyone napping all the time and not stirring up new problems? LOL

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