How long did it take to get diagnosed?

I was thinking about this the other day.

 I think I "knew" something was not right for about 6 or 7 years.

I remember DH and I were traveling when he retired, to locate a new place to move to, and we were in a motel room.  I was showering and noticed that one of my breasts responded differently to nipple stimulation than the other one. I remember standing there thinking...is this normal?  I wonder if I have breast cancer in one of them.  I had regular mammograms and ultrasounds and nothing until an MRI found my tumor.

For me it was more than a year. 

I first noticed non-cyclical pain and internal itching in my left breast at 35.  I knew something wasn't right. After several months and couple of visits to different GPs I had a mammogram, and possible ultrasound (can't rember now), which showed nothing.  Ten months later I found a lump at the site of the pain and itching. Nearly didn't get it checked.  The mammogram tech told me off for getting too many mammograms, she shut up when she saw the films.  Four weeks later they cut off my breast at the age of 36.

Sandy

Something weird had been going on in my breast since two years (searing pain sometimes, especially when exhausted), felt the actual lump in October 2010 and called my doctor a month later when it didn't disappear with the next menstrual cycle. Two weeks prior to my phone call I saw my nipple inverting from one day to the other. I got diagnosed december same year after an echography and biopsy. Treatment started in January 2011.

I first found a lump in April 2009...took it to the docs a month or 2 later, and they felt it too, but they didn't see it on ultrasound and just told me to follow up in 6 months. Long story short, I wasn't diagnosed until July 2010. Still hoping and praying that delay doesn't end up doing me in.

I was unusual, but at 32 I had extreme bilateral breast pain and went to see a new OB/GYN. Never in a million years did I think of breast cancer - literally never crossed my mind (no family history of any cancer, I was so young I knew no one who'd been dx'd, etc.). There was nothing palpable and she assured me it was probably nothing, that the pain was probably related to ovulation. I'd just gone off the pill (which I'd been on since college!) - married almost a year earlier and trying to get pregnant.

She wanted to be absolutely sure so ordered bilateral mammos and sure enough, I had microcalcifications in my left breast CLASSIC for a malignancy. I will never forget the look on the tech's face when she told me I needed to see a surgeon, STAT. Ended up with very high grade, HER2+ cancer, but stage 1. My breast surgeon, one of the best in her field, told me I needed to start going to church and/or playing the lottery, b/c I got so lucky that someone took a flyer and sent me for a mammo. It was moving fast and I would've been in rough shape in another year or so. Needless to say, that OB/GYN is one of my favorite people in the world. Still see her.

Sarah 

I still have not heard of someone finding BC the way that I did and I want to share my story to raise awareness so please share with me!!

I was 28 years old and for about 6 months to a year, had noticed a dimple in my right breast. It was a dimple like you would see on an area of cellulite. I thought, "Well that really sucks that I have cellulite on my boob."  It would catch my eye sometimes and I started to notice that if I flexed my chest muscles it would pucker a little more. Then, about 6 months later I had an OB/GYN appointment. I mentioned it to the ARNP and she did a breast exam and said, "Well, I don't feel anything but it's a change so I want you to have it checked out." (She is still my hero!) I still procrastinated and another 6 months went by and I figured I'd better get the appointment scheduled before my yearly came around again. I had a mamogram and an ultrasound done. She spent about 4x as much time on my right breast and I could tell she was taking lots off different images.When she was done she had the Radiologist come in and he said they found about 4-5 different areas of suspicion and wanted me back the next day for a biopsy. He took about 8 samples I think and I said to him, "Are they fluid filled or tissue." He told me tissue and at that point I was pretty nervous. That Friday the ARNP told me it was cancer. Stage IIIC with one positive node. I beat myself up a lot at first not getting it checked out but I am a strong believer that everything happens for a reason.I am doing very well now and in a few weeks I will be 2 years out!!

Thank you ladies for listening and for all of your posts!

I noticed my lump a few weeks after I stopped breast feeding towards the begginning of August.  (I had yearly exam with breast exam on 7/14 with nothing noticed)  On 10/19 I had another breast exam, an ultrasound with imediate mammogram and biopsy on 10/24.  Path results on 10/25 and a right mastectomy on 11/3.  My chemo (TAC) was supposed to start on 11/18 but I will now be at MD Anderson, so we start after Thanksgiving. My post mastectomy diagnosis is Stage IIIa high grade Infiltrating and insitu adenocarcinoma. ER+ PR+ Her2 - and BRCA unknown.  Size is the kicker, 9x6x5cm.  This tumor must have enjoyed my Preggers estrogen!

I noticed my lump in may 2011 and did not go to the doc till October since I thought it was just another fibroadenoma...went to doctor October 18, ultrasound and mammo done following week, MRI and biopsy a week later. Officially diagnosed November 1, 2011. I underwent double lumpectomy on November 22, 2011. I am now about a week away from harvesting embryo process. Chemo will start after that. Thinking last week of January or 1 st week of February.