pain before diagnosis?

wondering47 · January 2011

i have dense lumpy breasts and have had 3 benign biopsies. when i had my first, mammo showed just a "questionable" area, which correlated with a level 4b/5a suspicious lesion on U/S and a positive MRI. sure it was cancer, they removed the entire area (3 tumors, 1 large and 2 small, all benign). since then, i've only had U/S as it seems most accurate for me.

several years ago, aabout year after my last negative biopsy, i noticed an area in my left breast maybe thicker and slightly number than the rest. OB examined my breast, nothing unusual. fast forward to now: that breast has the same lumpy thickness; am not sure if there are more or larger areas than back then.... (i'd given up on self-exams because my breasts are so lumpy and the exams cause pain that can last for days. the areas definitely have pain now when i palpate them, which i'm doing A LOT, making things worse, lol!)

i've recently been experiencing an aching in my left breast when i lift things. i think i may have injured the pectoral muscle and/or chest wall, either by lifting a book box, wearing new tight underwire bra, and/or laying on my left side propped up in bed (on a new laptop), all of which have just happened, coincidentally, within the last month. when i wear the bras, lift anything, or lay in bed or lean over on my laptop, it definitely exaccerbates the pain.

since there are all of these possible "injury" factors, i don't know whether to be nervous or not.

did any of you with an ILC diagnosis have a first physical symptom (besides the thickening or lumpiness) of this kind of pain when stretching your arm out or lifting? and were your thick areas painful to palpate?

AnacortesGirl · January 2011

Yes, I had pain prior to the dx. But it had nothing to do with lifting, it was just "there". It correlated to my period. About mid-cycle my left breast was very tender and the nipple really hurt when I touched it or anything rubbed it (like a washcloth). It was that way for two month prior to my dx. Before that, it was more localized on the left side of my breast where I had a cyst (one of many!). I just thought it was my cyst getting bigger. Looking back, it was probably my cyst getting bigger and the tumors getting bigger. Started pushing on the nerves.

I would also add that the week before my mammo (the one that started me down the cancer path) my breast was so painful that I knew I would be able to handle the squishing. But by the next week the pain subsided and it handled being squished. Thank goodness for that. I don't want to think what might have happened if I didn't get in when I did.

BTW - they didn't see any tumors on the mammo. But because of my families cancer history the radiologist did a called me back in for a closer mammo which revealed 3 micro-calcifications that appeared to be a cluster. Not much to go on. She gave me the option of a 6 month wait-and-see or go for a biopsy. I opted for the biopsy route. They weren't able to get the stereotatic biopsy to work so I ended up with a excisional biopsy. The surgeon took out 1 of the 3 tumors.

sueinfl · January 2011

I had aching pain in the area of my tumor the month before final diagnosis. I was told my mammogram was clear just 10 months prior even after a call back for new views. Lobular is often "radio-opaque." Insist on an MRI, or, better still considering your history, a PET scan. I hope it is just a pulled muscle and nothing else and wish you the best!

mtks · March 2011

I had aching pain in the area they found ILC but it was not due to lifting or use of my arms.

I could be just sitting ang I would have pain in that area.

The mamo/sonagram did not pick up the cancer. I agree! Insist on a MRI or a PET scan.

Good thoughts are with you!

Frapp · March 2011

I had an ache and my nipple inverted. I have been told I have "cystic" breasts and still don't feel any difference in the lumps. Don't settle for a regular mamo.....push for more.

jan508 · March 2011

I had pain before DX and they thought it was from caffene or chocolate WTF??? Also had DCIS which I think is what showed on the mammagram to trigger agressive testing.

Have an MRI please!!

Jan

--- · March 2011

Hi,

I did not feel any pain until I came in for my ultrasound. Perhaps, I was not vigilant enough in feeling my breast that it took an US machine to make me realize a part of my breast is painful when palpated.

Mammogram did not pick up the mass in my breast AT ALL! MRI gave a more accurate sizing info and was able to detect 3 more masses of smaller sizes.

Laureen Romero

wondering47 · March 2011

Hi--I'm the original poster. I finally got the results from my U/S: OB's office called and said benign fibrocystic changes....

THEN today I received the actual radiologist's report in the mail, and found they had said an "ill-defined hypoechoic lesion with irregular borders" existed at the same site in my left breast I have a palpable lumpy area and pain. Because this lesion is at the same site I had a lesion 4 years ago (a needle core biopsy showed a benign tumor), and it basically looks the same, the radiologist is not recommending any action.

But I'm worried: When I had my last biopsy, right after they took the tissue they said there was nothing left that could be seen on the U/S--so the needle core had basically removed the whole area. So how can it be the same lesion? The radiologist won't talk to me, so I have to wait until Tuesday for my OB to come back from vacation.....

Has anyone had a benign biopsy that basically removed the observable tissue and then had cancer or another benign tumor return at the exact same site? Or is it just likely scar tissue?

pain before diagnosis?

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