To those who had PAIN in their breast BEFORE diagnosis

I had pain before. In Feb 2012 I went into the doctor because I was getting shooting pains in my right breast. The started near the nipple and shot toward the outside of my breast. They woke me up in the middle of the night. Mammogram was "fine" according to my doctor, who could feel the lump that I was feeling. I did NOT go to a breast center and I did NOT know to push for an ultrasound. 

I skipped 2013 mammogram in total denial. I was "fine" before, and young at 45, so why worry?

Fast forward to 2014. Still shooting pains. Go in for physical and dr finds lump in my other breast, is not concerned with previous lump that is still there, maybe slightly larger. Go in for a routine mammo, but this time to a breast center. 15 minutes later had an ultrasound on the FIRST lump. I said, "Wait a minute. My doctor was concerned about the other side." Was told that was just a well developed pectoral muscle. The first lump is the concerning one. 15 minutes after ultrasound I had 4 biopsies. Had my results of IDC by noon the next day.

Had lumpectomy and SNB on April 2nd. Started chemo in May and just finished 5 weeks ago. Scheduled for BMX on Sept 12th. Shooting pains started in my other side last week and I'm totally freaked out by it. 

My story:

A year ago found what I was told was a simple cyst.  Had my routine mamm and untrasound. They found nothing.  3 months ago there was localized pain and minor change to dimension of cyst. Went in to see PCP in June referred for mamm and ultra sound this time they saw something on the screen.

I am 47 (body type, personality and health of a 27 year old)
pre-menopausal. One of those 7% of why did this happen maybe its the
7-13% body fat with dense breasts my whole life? Cant be too thin or
overweight need to be just right - LOL

I was dx 7/11/14 with stage 1 infiltrating ductal carcinoma. modified
Nottingham grade 2. 1.5cm r breast tumor. No findings anywhere else.
ER/PR+ Her 2neu negative. Lumpectomy with sentinel node dissection (3
nodes) No findings in the lymph nodes. Braca1/2 reflex bart test clear.
Oncotype score 26(intermediate with 40% chance of inaccuracy).
Waiting on mamma print. Just started localized direct target radiation
to R breast and .07cm margin near chest wall. It has been suggested i
do chemo then tamoxifen.

My questions are around quality of life:

What would you do if you were me?

I have been told by onc I have a 95% survivorship with R breast after lump and rad and 60%
survivorship for rest of body. If I add chemo it goes up 3-6% and if I
add tamoxifen it goes up 17-20%. Putting me in the 86-89% range. BUT
what about "QOL" Quality Of Life issues???

With chemo and tam the SE's as you know and have read here are
horrendous. I have never been able to tolerate hormonal deviations. At
17 when my menstruation began they put me on ortho pills to regulate
menses they made me worse overall but periods were more regular. Weight
gain, headaches, nauseous, very depressed and angry.

I take nutritional supplements now and they regulate my periods well
but they are not helpful/contraindicated or recommended for chemo or
tam. I now have osteoarthritis and I have not started any hormones or
chemo yet.

My neurophysiological system is very sensitive.

My 17 year old daughter says don't do it. My sister and brother in
law don't do it think of quality of life. My husband says lets wait for
mamma print get a second opinion AND lets see what other women like
yourself have to say about their quality of life. My friends say do it.
My family all physicians and in the cancer field say look at the
numbers. I am not a number though. I am an individual who
philosophically is against toxins in the bodymind.

Many thanks, warm regards,

Jyoti

Thoughts, Questions, Comments, Feelings

I have pain.  It comes when I drink coffee, when I am upset or have sugar or dairy.  It is very strange how I have always been able to detect something before standard medicine finds it.  The pain now I believe is hopefully nerves trying to heal themselves vs. the localized breast pain on the simple cyst that turned into cancer.  I felt all that before the mammogram and ultrasound found it.  Now after the lumpectomy and radiation the pain feels different. The thing I am dealing with now is the what to do question?  I need to decide on my next course of treatment intergrative complimentary diet, exercise nutrition and no further  standard medicine or, am I being irresponsible if I don't have chemo and follow up with tamoxifen?

This is also a good advertisement for making use of a breast center if there is one near you. They have equipment and staff that deal with all different types of breast cancers daily. I know sometimes, its just not possible but if one is near enough, take advantage of that. I did and I'm glad I did.