Breast anxiety - benign mammo and US but still worried

vcq15 · April 2015

Hi, all... I posted a month or so ago on a different thread, but didn't really get much feedback, so here goes.

I'm 34, I've always had somewhat irregular periods (when I was underweight I went nearly 2 years with no periods, now they've evened out to about every 6 weeks), also have PCOS and Hashimoto's. Usually I suffer from pretty severe PMS (including swollen breasts) for about three weeks a month.

In late February, I noticed that my right breast was actually sore in two places, and I could feel what seemed to be a lump (this was during my period, so I waited a couple of weeks...lump was still there). Before, my left breast was always slightly larger, but now my right breast was definitely larger / lower / heavier. I was also experiencing brief stabbing sensations through / under the nipple and a "bubbling" and tingly sensation that seemed to zap through the breast, as well as occasional itchiness.

I called my OB and saw the nurse, she noted that my right breast in particular seemed to be fibrocystic, and she also felt the lump at 6 o'clock where I was having pain (I also had pain at the 3 o'clock position and wearing underwire bras became painful). I was sent for a diagnostic mammo and ultrasound the next day. As am 34 with no family history, this was my baseline mammo. Report said "In the right breast 6 o'clock position 4.8 cm from the nipple, there are some grouped microcalcifications that on a true lateral view show some dependent linearity. There is a lobulated density in the area that is associated with calcifications measuring approximately .6 cm. There are no suspicious mass lesions, areas of architectural distortion or other" US report said "Ultrasound reveals a 0.7 x 0.4 cm hypoechoic area in the 6 o'clock position with internal punctate calcifications that corresponds with the area seen by mammogram." This may represent a tortuous vessel or a focal malformation." Final assessment: Benign, BI-RADS 2.

What I found a little odd was that despite my nurse and myself feeling said "lump," and a finding on the US, the radiologist and tech couldn't find it, and the radiologist said she saw no cause for concern and to follow up in 12 months. As I was getting ready to go out of the country, I opted to see a breast surgeon for a second opinion and mentioned the change in size, density, fizzy sensation, etc. He felt the lump and looked at the mammo and US report and slides and said it was quite clearly a cyst, that my breast was definitely textbook fibrocystic, and to follow up in 6 months. (Again, I find it odd that the changes only affected one breast rather than both...)

Now that I'm overseas, I'm not having any breast pain, rash, heat, tenderness or swelling (my fear would be IBC), but still the sensation that the right breast is heavier (it now hangs lower). It doesn't seem that it has grown any more (and the difference is not extreme; it's not like I'm overflowing one bra cup). I'm still worried that something is going on with the breast; there are now two prominent veins, one above the nipple and one running from the 3 o'clock position where the tenderness is to just under the nipple, but that could be related to the increase in size. Oddly, my left breast (the one that was always larger) feels "empty" while the right feels full of ridges (especially above the nipple) and firm spots (but it is during my period).

I realize that I had not only my OB / GYN, but a radiologist and a well-known breast surgeon sign off on my breast health - would greatly appreciate ways to cope with breast health anxiety as I am far from home. I am hoping that all of these recent issues are related to my messed up thyroid / PCOS...

Meadow · April 2015

VCQ, I think you are doing the right thing by staying observant with your breast changes, we have to do that. It is common for one breast to feel completely different from the other one...what the heck, they are a pair arent they?! Nope they have a mind of their own. My leftie always felt a bit different from the other, a bit smaller, lumpier. I had a spot that was benign, it was palpable to me. did not show up as anything to be concerned about on mammo. You have been cleared by a specialist, for now, so just keep watching for changes that wouldbe something new, and relax, enjoy LIFE and the great trip you are on. I have IBC, and I can tell you that there are rapid changes that are unmistakable, and progess in a matter of days. I hope that helps.

RosieMjdtrt · June 2015

VCQ, I'm so glad I searched PCOS here. I was diagnosed with PCOS at 19. Even though I only got a period every 6 months, I had no problem having 3 children. When I turned 35 I went for my first mammo (dads mom had it in both breasts). Due to pleomorphic calcifications I needed a biopsy. Came back benign. I was really good about mammos after that for about 5 years but then I lapsed and didn't go for 5 years.

So here I am 10 years later needing another biopsy for calcs again only this time in 3 different spots. To make a long story short.... Biopsy said DCIS, lumpectomy found 8mm invasive tumor and now I wait for oncotype to decide if I need chemo. My cancer is er+, pr+ and HER2-. I'm wondering if my PCOS plays a role because 4 years ago I started getting my period every month!!! I go my whole adult life with a period every 6 months and when I turned 41 I become regular?!? What is with my sudden shift in hormones

heather37 · June 2015

hello vcq15... i am in a similar position to you. I am 37, and last October, i noticed my right boob was very painful.... long story short (you can prob click on my user name and read all my previous posts) i went in for a mammogram, ultrasound and then had a biopsy becuase they saw 2 areas of concerns. I do have to say that my biopsy and areas of concerns were NOT on the right breast - the breast that was hurting that i went to do my mammogram in the first place! it was on the side that i felt nothing! I also had a small indent on the right breast (the breast that hurt). Long story short, it was benign (Thank God).

The reason why i am back on this site is becuase as of a week ago, my right breast started hurting again. so annoying. I find your post interesting becuase i was diagnosed with PCOS about 13 years ago. I was on metformin and took clomid to get pregnant. I have 3 kids now. Anyhow, i do have fibrocystic breasts, but the thing is, they said my Right breast was less fibrocystic than the other side. And that is the side that always hurts. Wierd.

At this point, i am not gonna lie, i am kinda freakin out about the right breas since it hurts - and it hurts on both sides as well! just like you! more along the edges. Does that make sense? like on the outer sides of the boobs, and in the inner boob. Like around it. I also get the stabbing nipple pain. I am telling myself that this is all fibrocystic - the breast specialist told me that is prob why it was hurting for weeks back in Oct. I had my u/s and mammo in Nov/Dec so i dont believe i need to go again...until next Nov/Dec for my yearly mammogram now.

I say dont worry about it - esp since you got the all clear! btw, the stuff you were saying above about what was in your mammo was similar to what was said on mine... although that is what was said in the biopsy.. my mammo didn't go as well as yours... they saw 2 areas of concern and gave me a birads 4... that's why i went in for the biopsy... again, everything was fine.

I honestly think this is all part of our stupid pcos and fibrocystic breasts!

vcq15 · July 2015

It is currently July; the right breast has continued to experience "funny" sensations (tingling inside / under the nipple) and there is a definite ropy / lumpy area on the right near the chest wall (the area has caused consistent pain even after switching to wire-free bras) and a sharp "pebble" under the surface of the skin. The right side of the breast from three o'clock to about six o'clock feels very lumpy (but no hard discrete lumps) and the breast feels very heavy (and is also larger) than the left breast. I have lost about 10 pounds since the beginning of the year and have missed several periods (no possibility of being pregnant), so it could be hormones are out of whack.

On Sunday there appeared to be a small amount of clear discharge from the right nipple after stimulation; this is the same breast that leaked quite a bit during the diagnostic mammo. For the last two days I've had pain in the right breast as well.

I have finally kicked the Diet Coke habit, have tried to reduce stress, and increased exercise (just hiked my first mountain at 1,700 meters elevation on Sunday!), so am making the most of my overseas experience and trying not to let "what ifs" derail this once-in-a-lifetime experience. I will certainly be glad to follow up with the breast surgeon when I get back in September; I did bring my ultrasound and diagnostic mammo results and slides with me just in case, but would prefer not to have to seek treatment overseas.

51Kpax · August 2015

I've been diagnosed with DCIS this past May. Surgery will be at the end of August and I'll, hopefully, have the reconstruction done at the same time. I've had "problems" with my breasts since early 30s. Cutting out caffeine helped with the cysts, and stopped them from enlarging. I don't know how many times I had the cysts aspirated. They would come and go, and when they came, it was very uncomfortable. I had calcifications too, and at 40 had one calcification removed. About the last time I had an aspiration I was about 50, then it seemed to stop. I've had mammograms and ultrasounds done regularly every year, till about 5 years ago, when the oncologist I saw retired. Bad move on my part. I had become complacent and just figured everything was ok - I don't know why I thought that, but I did. Anyway, I'm writing this to, maybe, help you with the cysts that you have, maybe having them aspirated is a consideration. The Dr. would freeze the area, then insert a needle and withdraw the fluid. It stings a little bit, but not painful. Done in his office. But its important for you to always have this looked at, and keep on top of it. I'm 64 now and going for mastectomy soon. Hope this helps you a bit.

Breast anxiety - benign mammo and US but still worried

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