A question for you lovely, brave ladies.

Karlilay
Karlilay Member Posts: 15

I have been to the doctors for two breast exams, neither time did they pick up on a tiny dimple I have in my breast.

I am paranoid about it though, and as my breast are covered in stretch marks, which are very deep and I have lost 3 cup sizes, you can see right through my skin to my breast tissue and when I move my breast I can see all the ridges, pits etc in my breast tissue.

I really don't want to upset anyone, please, tell me to leave and I will, but I was just wondering if anyone had a picture they could maybe send me privetly of their dimpling, because although I suffer with anxiety, I don't know if I should be perusing this more than I am, I have posted a picture in the 'not yet diagnosed section' but it was deleted, which is fine. But I just want to know if what I have is a dimple, or s stretch mark. After reading the stories of others on this site, I don't trust in my GP a lot anymore.

Just to add, I have no lumps, and was told I had very easy tissue to feel and defo no lumps. I examine myself daily, and iv just turned 28. Thankyou.

Comments

  • Morwenna
    Morwenna Member Posts: 1,063
    edited September 2014

    Sorry you are so concerned about this.

    One piece of advice I will pass on if you don't mind is, DON'T check your breasts daily. If there are changes going on, and you check daily, you will likely MISS them, as they will likely be so gradual that the change will be imperceptible on a day to day basis. 

    This was told to me when I was stressing over a possible recurrence, and it actually makes very good sense if you can make yourself do it. Check once a month, and you will notice a change, and in between times, tell yourself there is nothing there and try to concentrate on whatever else is going on in your life. 

    Take care xx

  • Karlilay
    Karlilay Member Posts: 15
    edited September 2014

    Thanks so much for responding, I actually told myself this today!

    It is a tiny little dimple, it looks like a spot with no spot in if you know what I mean. O all the dimples I have seen on dr google. They're are quite big and noticeable, and form lines, which are quite deep.

    My breasts are very saggy and if I pull the skin slightly so the stretch marks even out, the dimple disappears altogether.

  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited September 2014

    Do you have a gynecologist? Ge another opinion and you might feel better. 

  • txtamsland
    txtamsland Member Posts: 7
    edited September 2014

    I don't mean to scare you further, I really don't. But I didn't have hardly any dimpling when I was Dx with stage 4 ILC 70% mets in bones. I was 38 at Dx. I have no idea when it started. 

    The only reason they found the cancer is because I was was having sever headaches caused by the flu and my GP ordered cat scans. They found that my skull was loaded with lytic lesions. Spent 2 weeks in the hospital with every kind of test that could be ordered before finally doing a bone marrow biopsy and finding that I had ILC. That is when the ordered the MRI on my breasts.  

    They had to use the MRI for the biopsy because it wouldn't show up on the mammogram or the ultra sound. They had to take 60 samples because it wasn't defined enough for them to know that they had a correct sample even though the masses were the entire right side of my ride breast. I guess the difference is that my breast are very dense.

    If you feel something is wrong, get a second opinion. Ask for an MRI just to be on the safe side and put you mind at ease. Ask for tumor marker tests. 

  • Karlilay
    Karlilay Member Posts: 15
    edited September 2014

    Thanks both, I am in the UK so no seperate doctors. You just go to your GP and then they refer you to the brest clinic if they think you need to be seen there.

    I have had two breast exams, and iv actually spoken to a breast care nurder, but that was on the phone, I told her about the small spot/dimple, she asked a few questions, the main one was could I feel a lump or thickening, which I can't, neither can any doctor, my mum etc. 

    in fact the doctor made a point of saying to me that I have very easy breasts to examine, because iv lost so much weight there's nothing to feel other than breast tissue which doesn't feel abnormal to her at all.

    This dimple, underneath just feels like s tiny ridge in my tissue, which I have hundreds of all over both breasts, and when I pull the skin right up I see lots of these little dimples, and on the other breast too, but in a different place.

    Txt - iv never heard a story like yours before. Did you have no symproms at all. How brilliant your still kicking ass 5 years later. I hope you continue in great health for a long time :)

    Don't really know where to go from here, other than pay privatly for sun ultrasound. 

  • Alloway
    Alloway Member Posts: 32
    edited September 2014

    Hi Karlilay,

    Have you stood in front of a mirror and raised your arms in the air? Do you see a change in the depth of the dimpling or any other change at all?

    Can you see any of the other GPs in the practice? I'm in the UK too and have found the Breast Nurses on the Breastcancercare website very helpful. Closed on a Sunday, but anyone can call them -diagnosed or not-and they'll be able to help with what you should be saying to the docs. GPS are not experts!! I find it puzzling that they say your breasts are easy to examine- most young breasts are dense and some very lumpy, hence I think you should stand your ground and insist on a referral. Could you take a friend/family member for support? Sadly, 28 is not too young to rule out BC, even if your GP has no experience of young patients being diagnosed. Life is too precious to live with your level of anxiety and hopefully a referral to an expert will result in good news.

    Take care and let us know how you got on.xx

  • Bellis
    Bellis Member Posts: 18
    edited September 2014

    It is easier to see if you lift your arm. But I don't think you can have a dimple without a lump. It is the lump that is causing the dimple

    så I don't think you have to worry

  • Alloway
    Alloway Member Posts: 32
    edited September 2014


    I'm afraid I had dimpling but no lump. My GP identified an area of thickening but mammogram and biopsy still resulted in a negative, in March. By September, with a deeper dent and an Ultrasound, I was diagnosed but at no time did I have a lump in that breast.

    Be vigilant. Lobular often presents without a lump.

  • QCA
    QCA Member Posts: 1,539
    edited September 2014

    I had no palpable lump, and my ILC was found by a savvy radiologist with a routine mammogram.  

    Kathy

  • wallycat
    wallycat Member Posts: 3,227
    edited September 2014

    I don't want to scare you either but knowledge is power.  At 28, the odds are this is nothing...if anything, a b-9 cyst.  Having said that, you should trust your body.  I trusted mine and I hope it saved me.

    I had zero lumps and zero dimpling; mammos since I was 40 and even once they knew where my spot was (with an MRI), the ultrasound could not find it to biopsy it.  

    Is there breast cancer in your family?  Healthcare in the UK should be good and I would contact your GP/primary and simply tell them you found a lump/dimple and you want to make sure it is reviewed.  If they don't want to do a mammogram, you could insist on an ultrasound since these are less expensive and easily done in an office setting.  If the ultrasound finds nothing, it will give you some peace of mind.  If you have dense breasts (your post seems to imply that is not the case, but let the professionals decide), then maybe you can convince someone to schedule an MRI.  I was told if my MRI came back clean, I was golden.  It did not.  I was 49.

    At your age, the most likely things are cysts and fibrocystic type tissue, but if you are concerned, don't waste your youth (oh to be 28 again!) worrying!!

    Best to you.

  • Hortense
    Hortense Member Posts: 982
    edited September 2014

    I had a long dimple on the side of my breast that I hadn't noticed until I felt a firm lump the size of a Jelly Belly candy bean. I didn't take a picture so can't post one. I did find pictures of dimples by searching google. They looked like mine. I have dense breast tissue which is hard for mammograms to see into. I have never heard of "easy" to examine breasts. 

    You mention you have lost weight, was that by choice, or has it just happened? If it has just happened you should talk to your doctors about it. Cancers are very greedy feeders and use up a lot of the body's nutrients. They can cause people to lose weight. It is one of the first questions I get asked at check ups - "Have I lost weight lately".

  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited October 2014

    I had a dimple that was ILC.  No bump or tumor.  I had lost a lot of weight too before my discovery.  In fact, if I had not lost weight, I believe I would have not discovered the cancer at this time.  

    I urge you to see a doctor for an opinion.  No need to take chances.  Good luck to you.

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