33,worried, not sure what to do next, HELP PLZ...

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BarbieBush
BarbieBush Member Posts: 45
edited June 2014 in High Risk for Breast Cancer

Hi, Just want to start off by saying this is a great site for researching and knowing you are not alone..

I have been sick for over a year, with constant colds, viruses, even just got over a bout of the shingles.. I feel very weak, tired, always throwing up in the early am, no appitiete, just overall ill...

I had my first mammo and ultrasound in 2010 because i had a dilated duct at that time, results were my breasts are composed of extremely dense tissue, a dilated duct at the 10 o'clock region and multiple cysts throughout my right breast, largest behind the nipple measuring 12mm. left breast has collection of cysts or a soitary seperated cyst total 17mm, here are a few more smaller cycts. no solid mass on either reports..

Now over the last month while i was sick with the shingles I had noticed 2 small hard like rock feeling lumps in my right breast, so i looked up how to do a proper self examine, and when doing so, I found another third lump and also bloody, yellowish discharge from my nipple.. On sunday i went into a walk in clinic as I have no family doctor, the dr I seen did a breast examine and felt the lumps right away. She sent me for a mammo and ultrasound, in which I had done yesterday. The radioligist came and seen me after my ultrasound on my request. He assured me that he is convinced that its all just cysts and nothing to worry about right now, have it checked again in 6 mths and if i still feel that something is wrong over the next month to just come back in and he will then let me speak to a breast surgeon..

I am still very worried, as i know with all my research that it is very hard to detect cancer in very dense breasts, also very concerned as my immune system has been extremely low and have been catching everything under the sun..

Please anyone out there with any advice or going through the same thing, please let me know.. Thank you

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  • MelissaDallas
    MelissaDallas Member Posts: 7,268
    edited September 2013

    Hi Barbie. You could request a breast MRI.



    Nothing you are experiencing really sounds high risk. While hugely annoying, sixty percent of women have fibrocystic breasts and they don't increase your risk for cancer. The dilated duct and discharge could possibly be a benign papilloma, but it doesn't sound like the radiologist sees evidence of that.



    As for the immune issues, most women who get breast cancer diagnoses don't have ANY symptoms. You should talk to your GP about the constant little illnesses.

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  • BarbieBush
    BarbieBush Member Posts: 45
    edited September 2013

    I am high risk as my mother and both my aunts had breast cancer. My moter also had uterine cancer and also a brain tumor. I am also classified as high risk as I have extremely dense breasts. I found this out when I was 31, and that is why now I have to have yearly mammo's, which normally wouldnt start till I was 40-45.

    And I also havent had a family doctor in over 10yrs, s it is very hard with walk in drs as the alwas say I am to young to have the problems i know i do have, let alone the ones i would lik to be tested for.

    I will mention to the walk in dr about a breast MRI, thank you..

    But I have been researching and alot of women do not have symptoms, but alot of women also do have certain symptoms. Thats why I posted to see if anyone is going through the same thing I am or close to it..

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  • BarbieBush
    BarbieBush Member Posts: 45
    edited September 2013

    Also my dilated duct was back in 2010, that since has cleared up, I am more concerned about lymph nodes being swollen and the hard, rock like lumps ican feel that i could never feel before, My breasts r very lumpy, but i can tell the difference between the two as my normal lumps i can more and are very squishy, those 2 small hard lumps are far from that...

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  • MelissaDallas
    MelissaDallas Member Posts: 7,268
    edited September 2013

    Well, since you didn't mention your history or the nodes it is rather hard to respond to what you don't know. Ask for referral to a breast specialist for MRI and possible genetic counseling. Find a regular GP or internist rather than continuing to go to walk-in clinics.

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  • BarbieBush
    BarbieBush Member Posts: 45
    edited September 2013

    Sorry I totally forgot to mention that in my first post, so much going on in my head with being worried.. Than you so much for your help and opinions. Here in Ontario it is hard to get a ffamily dr, I have been on a waiting list with health care connect for several years with no luck as of yet. I also have other health problems, which makes it that much harder when seeing a dr at a walk in clinic.. Alot of them think I am to young and just dismiss my concerns, I now always bring my medical files with me.

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  • lekker
    lekker Member Posts: 594
    edited September 2013

    Hi Barbie.  With everything you've had going on, it might be worth it to find a personal physician with whom you can build a trusting relationship - for you breast as well as immune issues.  I think you will feel better if a trusted doctor tells you everything looks OK vs. someone at a walk in clinic.  Try to get as much information as possible on your relative's cancer diagnoses (exactly what type - not just which organ, age at diagnosis, treatments received, outcome, etc).  This will help the doctor know if there is enough suspicion to suggest genetic testing or at least referral to a licensed genetic counselor.  Cancer happens in a lot of families and knowledge of how hereditary cancer works is in its infancy, but there are certain patterns that stand out.  You didn't mention the swollen lymph nodes in your initial post - were they there when you were ultrasounded?  Lymph nodes can swell for many benign reasons but keep track of them - how long they've been palpable and if they're getting bigger or increasing in number - as this can be important (but not necessarily bad) information for a doctor.  If the discharge continues, maybe they could take a smear and have a look under a microscope?  It's non-invasive and I don't think it would cost much, but I'm not sure it would give any definitive information.  Keep track of how often it happens and how - is it spontaneous (staining your bra) or does it only happen when you squeeze your nipple (in which case you must stop squeezing your nipple because that will only make it continue)?  I hope you get good news soon. 

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  • BarbieBush
    BarbieBush Member Posts: 45
    edited September 2013

    I have tried to obtain  family dr for several years now, In Ontrio Canada our health care system really sucks, so for now I am stuck having to use a walk in clinic.. I  was adopted and only have certain bio health history and it isnt broken down into specs. Which makes this very frustrating at times.. My discharge is only when squeezed, but i have noticed it also leaks tiny droplets when i wake up with my night sweats.

    I think I am going to go back to the hospital here where i had my mammo and u/s done and ask to speak to the surgeon and request a breast mri and biopsy just to ease my mind.

    Thank you so much for your reply wit all the info, grealy appreciated..

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  • MelissaDallas
    MelissaDallas Member Posts: 7,268
    edited September 2013

    Barbie, there is a Canada-specific thread. Maybe you can get some advice & help there :



    http://community.breastcancer.org/forum/55

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  • Beesie
    Beesie Member Posts: 12,240
    edited September 2013

    Barbie, it is true that there is a shortage of family doctors in Ontario, but this is because new doctors are not choosing to go into family practice.  It's not because our health care system 'sucks'.  You live in a small town and small towns everywhere - including in the U.S. - have trouble getting family doctors.  That's an unfortunate fact of life about living in a smaller centre. But then even in Toronto, with our huge population boom over the past 10 years, there is a shortage of family doctors. There are a lot more people, there are many fewer doctors going into family practice... it's an obvious outcome.

    It seems to me that the attention and care that you've received so far is pretty good - in fact a lot better than most people who come to this board, wherever they might live. You went into a walk-in clinic and the doctor scheduled you for a mammo and ultrasound within 3 days.  The radiologist reviewed your imaging immediately and spoke to you on the spot, reassuring you that he sees nothing of concern in the images. He also offered to set up you with a breast surgeon if you still have concerns. So despite not having a family doctor, it sounds to me as though you are getting pretty good attention. I agree that you should take the radiologist up on the offer and get in to see the breast surgeon.  Given your family history and all the lumps and issues that you have, it certainly makes sense to get an 'expert' opinion from a breast specialist.

    With luck this will all turn out to be benign.  But if you do find yourself with a diagnosis of breast cancer, hopefully you'll reach the same conclusion that most of us here from Canada have reached, which is that we are really lucky to have the healthcare system that we have - a system in which patients with urgent need are immediately moved to the front of the line, and where it is the doctor (and not some clerk in an insurance company) who gets to decide what treatments are most appropriate. 

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  • BarbieBush
    BarbieBush Member Posts: 45
    edited October 2013


    Seen the Breast Surgeon on Fri, Oct.4th/13, he didn't say much at all, did a breast exam, had another Student Dr also feel my breasts and in my armpits, they felt around for almost 10 mins it felt like. Dr sat me up and then said, " U have extremely lumpy dense breasts that are full of cysts, I would like you to have a MRI done andthen to follow up with me as soon as the MRI of my breasts is complete?


    Does this sound like good news?

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  • MsPharoah
    MsPharoah Member Posts: 1,034
    edited October 2013


    Hi Hun, yes this is good news! Be aware that MRI is highly sensitive and may give a false positives. But it is very effective finding breast cancer that mammo and ultrasound may not see. It would be the next step if mammo and ultrasound is not conclusive.


    Good luck to you sweetie and congratulations for taking charge of your health!

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  • Moderators
    Moderators Member Posts: 25,912
    edited October 2013


    BarbieBush


    In addition to all these helpful responses, you may want to check out the main breastcancer.org site for information on dense breasts.


    Best wishes,


    The Mods

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  • BarbieBush
    BarbieBush Member Posts: 45
    edited October 2013


    Thank you so Much, will check that out forsure...

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