Pain before finding lump

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Joanne1978
Joanne1978 Member Posts: 1
edited June 2014 in IDC (Invasive Ductal Carcinoma)

Hi



I'm really curious as to who else only found their lump after having pain. I started having pain on /off for a few months, I actually thought I'd pulled a muscle as I had recently joined the gym! However the pain became more frequent and more intense. It wasn't until one particular day where I carried a 2litre juice bottle under my arm that I felt such a distinct sharp pain that I checked myself.



All my friends and family told me not to worry as its rare to get BC if you have pain.



Upon finding the lump (3cm) I have since been diagnosed with IDC, I've had LX and SNB last Monday and I'm awaiting the results.



Thanks

Joanne (aged 34)

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  • Sassa
    Sassa Member Posts: 1,588
    edited March 2012

    I had a sharp pain in my right breast where 3 months later a small invasive tumor was found.

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  • invisible2
    invisible2 Member Posts: 105
    edited March 2012

    I had pain!  Then I could hardly tolerate the ultrasound because every time she rolled over the lump it hurt like hell.  BC can and does hurt sometimes.  I found out the hard way.

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  • barsco1963
    barsco1963 Member Posts: 2,119
    edited March 2012

    I too had some pain prior to finding a lump. The myth "BC doesn't hurt" definitely needs to be debunked!

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  • MichelleMassey
    MichelleMassey Member Posts: 213
    edited March 2012

    I had pain also and was told by everyone cancer doesn't hurt. I was also diagnosed with IDC. I've had all my scans and biopsies and I'm waiting for the phone to ring with my results.

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  • epgnyc
    epgnyc Member Posts: 101
    edited March 2012

    Hi, Joanne.

    I am another who's here to debunk the "breast cancer doesn't hurt" myth.  I had pain in the same breast that I'd had a lumpectomy in 9 years previously.  At first I thought it was just scar tissue pain, but it became persistent and constant over a period of about 4 weeks.  I saw my surgeon and was very surprised to find out that I had developed a 2nd TNBC tumor in exactly the same place (you couldn't even feel any lump there because the tumor was intertwined with the scar tissue from the last surgery).  I underwent a BMX followed by more chemo.

    Good luck with the results of your lumpectomy and SNB.  I hope the news is all good (as good as it can be after a BC diagnosis).  Hang in there!

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  • Karen3
    Karen3 Member Posts: 307
    edited March 2012

    Same here - found my first IDC TN tumour because of a sharp pain in my breast. I found the second cancer in my other breast last summer. I knew something was wrong because it was so painful. The Onc ordered a bone scan because he thought it was my rib. A month or so afterwards I felt a 'ridge' and the pain persisted. The mammo and ultrasound found nothing but it was palpable and so after a few biopsies I was diagnosed with DCIS Grade 3 with same pathology as my first TN tumour. The Oncologist felt that I had caught it early before it became invasive. Please ladies - if you feel pain DO NOT dismiss it. Know your own bodies and do not rely on screening tests alone. If I had to wait until this last cancer was visible on screening tests, it might have been too late. I feel very, very fortunate. Pain is a signal that something is wrong. Do not ignore it.

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  • babysammy
    babysammy Member Posts: 74
    edited March 2012

    I felt like I was breasatfeeding again. I experienced a sensation like a milk letdown often. Was also tender to touch.

    I am 4 days post op had a mastectomy and lymph node dissection.

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  • maltomlin
    maltomlin Member Posts: 343
    edited March 2012

    Me too! I had a stabbing feeling in my breast and when I put my hand there I felt the lump. Nothing prior to this, but I knew as soon as I felt it that it was BC.

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  • Catrina
    Catrina Member Posts: 16
    edited March 2012

    I too had pain, it was my first signal that something wasn't right. They were sharp, soothing type pains, and also noticed what seemed like swelling. The mass on the mammogram showed up exactly in the area of the pain. In my case breast cancer definitely hurt!

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  • dechi
    dechi Member Posts: 173
    edited March 2012

    I had pain too!  The first time was in 2003.  I thought I pulled a muscle lifting weights.  Found the lovely pea-sized hard as a rock lump.  Had a MX, chemo (CMF), tamox etc.  Then last August, I felt like I pulled a muscle in the SAME side again, and what did I find, but another lump.   I say thank God for that pain, b/c both of my tumors were around 1 cm.  This last time I had an axillary node dissection b/c they couldn't do another SNB  and all nodes were clear but b/c of the recurrence I'm having chemo and rads, tissue expander, etc...

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  • Jennt28
    Jennt28 Member Posts: 2,021
    edited March 2012

    A painful spot is what made me find the lump. Everyone said "breast cancer doesn't hurt so it's probably a cyst" - WRONG! Without that pain, which I'm sure was caused by estrogen based on when the pain appeared in my cycle I wouldn't have made the discovery and been treated as early as I am - could have been a disaster...



    Jenn

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  • SinginCyndi
    SinginCyndi Member Posts: 60
    edited March 2012

    I had pain off and on for a year and a half. I even had 2 mammograms-one to check because of the pain. Of course I did get elbowed there while wrestling with my kids-I ended that kind of playing around. At any rate it just makes me wonder. This IDC was in the exact same spot as the injury.

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  • mingiemoo
    mingiemoo Member Posts: 7
    edited March 2012

    I was experiencing pain last fall and at the time had an appointment to see my surgeon.  She wanted me to wait about 6 weeks, because in the spring I had a hysterectomy due to tamoxifen and since they were there a bso.  Anyway, the pain sort of subsided for a while but is back with a vengeance.  It kind of feels like a few enlarged lymph nodes and not sure if I feel a small lump underneath them.  I have my annual mammo scheduled in two weeks and see the surgeon right afterwards, but am becoming very anxious about this.  Has anyone else felt what they think were enlarged lymph nodes?

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  • GmaFoley
    GmaFoley Member Posts: 7,091
    edited March 2012

    Hi everyone, I also had pain before my lump was felt... that being said.. today is one year since I actually went to the doc because of a tiny lump I found....Now, the other side, which I am hoping is just a swollen lymph node, is something I will talk to my primary about (I am going in for a check up).. I just had a mammogram a couple of months ago and they saw nothing... What worries me is that the mammo didn't show my other lump either... Am I just being a hypochondriac?   the onc, rad onc, and surgeon has seen me after the mammo and said everything is fine... but I didn't say anything because it didn't become apparent until a month ago... I'm rambling... sorry...   

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  • Blessings2011
    Blessings2011 Member Posts: 4,276
    edited March 2012

    No pain, no lump.

    Just a spot of blood from my left nipple.

    That was all.

    That was enough to start the ball rolling....had numerous mammos, ultrasounds, ductograms, core needle biopsies, and ended up with a BMX and recon.

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  • GmaFoley
    GmaFoley Member Posts: 7,091
    edited March 2012

    Update: my ultrasound came back normal... PHEW! :) I'm relieved!

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  • msphil
    msphil Member Posts: 1,536
    edited March 2012

    I had only soreness under my arm on left side for a few days and then found the lump in the shower, but no pain pain, just soreness, God Bless and I pray for us all, I am a long time Survivor and here to Inspire.  msphil  (idc,stage 2, 0/3 nodes, L mast, chemo and rads and 5 yrs on Tamoxifen)( Praise God) 

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  • Karen3
    Karen3 Member Posts: 307
    edited March 2012

    Hi ladies

    Just to remind you that my latest episode with BC involved pain and me going to the breast surgeon (who could feel something) but CLEAN mammo and ultrasound. They only did a biopsy of the area due to my previous history. Keep checking yourselves for change - EVEN if you have a clean mammo and ultrasound. Please be body aware. Mammograms pick up 80% of BC which is high but still 20% go undetected. Some women have dense breast tissue plus some cancers do not provide good calcification (dead cancer cells which can be easily picked up by scans). This is because they are growing so fast. I noted changes in my breast tissue over a period of months plus pain. I knew something was wrong. Keep checking yourselves.

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  • Cottontail
    Cottontail Member Posts: 374
    edited February 2013

    My lump is/was painful.  In my case, it's a good thing it was painful, or I wouldn't have had it checked out.  My breasts are fibrocystic, plus my lump is exactly where my hula hoop hits me when I hoop around my chest.  (I even had a bruise right over it when I went in for my mammogram and when I met with the surgeon the first time.) 

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