What were your symptoms and what was your stage?

No symptoms, stage 1, 1.9cm. Although my tumor was about the size of a cherry, it was hiding up in my armpit so it was missed by yearly mammograms AND direct palpation. Once we located it on US, THEN everyone could feel it. MRI found it easily.  

My first and only sign was an area about 4" across that was reddened when I got out of the shower. When I looked closely I saw peau d'orange texture in the area. There was a prominent vein that had recently come to my attention as well, but I pretty much blew that off. Now I believe the vein had become enlarged to help with the tumor's blood supply.

I had no symptoms other than a slight thickening of the skin. I was diagnosed at stage iv.

I had no symptoms. My BC was detected during my annual mammogram. My GYN gave me a breast exam (3 weeks before my mammogram) but didn't notice the lump because the lump was right behind the nipple. The MRI measured my tumor to be 2.5 cm, so I was stage 2a.

I had no symptoms. I found the lump myself. It was 1.6 cm, stage IIA.

Had no symptoms, found on mammogram. At least I think I had not symptoms, almost a year earlier, I was extremely itchy. on my arms and legs. I would use a ruler to scratch myself raw, it was that bad. But this went away. So I figured it wasn't much of anything.

Didn’t feel a lump but did have adrastic drop in weight. I thought it was due to my giving up sugar. Looking back on it now it was a definite sign. Mammo found it. One breast larger than the other. I knew what the outcome would be. To be fair I wasn’t diligent about self exams.

Diane

Only symptom I can say was fatigue the year or so before diagnosis. I felt a small lump. Which ILC does not usually present as. 1.8cm. Stage 1a. Not painful except for the US pressing against it, really.

(I had been having diagnostic mammo for years -- nothing seen even on one done with tumor sitting right there. US vaguely caught but MRI definite.)

initially nothing, then a small lump, showed doc , lets follow, it's a cyst. The lump waxed and wained with hormonal cycle, not painful at first.complete exhaustion!! Then jumped in size almost within a few weeks and was extremely painful. Tight chest breathing right before diagnosis, while exercising. Would get sick with upper respiratory infections every 6 to 9 weeks, sometimes pneumonia all before the lump presented itself. Once the lump started to hurt, went into breast center. Mammo first...moved immediately to US same hour..... both breasts done.. cyst in one... the other not so much.... two doctors came in. Led me and DD to an office, within 20 mins he came in and knelt down to talk to me ...I knew at that moment. Next thing I knew less than an a half hour later that same day, I was laying on a surgical table in the breast center having an immediate biopsy, that's how concerned they were. It felt like I was being shot by a gun. Six times. Three into the arm pit and three into my chest, was like another persons life.Two days later the call came from the doctor. Instead of saying Hey great news!!! He started off with "How are you feeling?" I knew that second I had cancer. Saw the BS two days later, first assessed as stage 2. Then came all the body scans. Nope two weeks later, stage four, And had my left breast removed and a liver resection of a marble sized tumor as well months later the same day after 4 AC heavy chemo. The original tumor was 4cm and 13 positive out of 35 nodes Were cancer. Which were removed at time of surgery. I don't want to ever look back.

No symptoms. Just a dimple that seemed to pop up out of nowhere, in July. I finally got to the dr a couple months later..went through mammogram and ultrasound to be told I had the primary tumor (an MRI revealed the 2nd one).

My blood test a week or so later was totally normal..looked healthy.

I'm having unilateral mastectomy Nov. 28. The primary tumor was stage 1 (1.2cm) after biopsy but my BS said i's 2.2cm, from the MRI.

Inverted nipple and good sized lump, left side close to nipple, all of this missed on mama in Sept,-16 growing concern over inverted nipple and what I felt was a lump I went back to Dr in Nov and was told just plugged milk ducts, by two Dr. I demanded ultrasound and it was only after I directed then to the lump and 3 different tech looked did they finally find it . 2.69 cm, pretty big lump to be missed that many times. Looking back there were symptoms of extreme fatigue, I was horrible cranky, depression all of which I just though were part of my age and menopause. Again looking back I do remember a pain when sleeping on my stomach but figured that was due to just getting to dam fat .

Ended up having 1 positive node and have 4x TC chemo., Still have extreme anxiety but each day gets a little better

I did do self exams but now wonder how long that nipple was inverted before I really noticed it . . They did a lumpectomy and of course did not get good margins so was going to have to go in again, I decided on single mx, Im small busted so there was not going to be much left after going in a second time . I have not decided on reconstructions , its really just not on my radar. I just want to get healthy and get through this whole mess.

I check myself everyday now , with my eyes wide open while looking in the mirror. I write down every lump , dimple or pain just so I can watch it and be sure of what my body is doing ............

You're making me realize...my nipple was inverted as well. And for a long time. I didn't think anything of it.

I, too, had fatigue for a few months leading up to noticing the dimple.

Yeah, I guess I DID have a couple of symptoms.

Just diagnosed today, so thought I would share my story.

I'm 42. Typically screening mammograms in Alberta do not start until age 50. However, I have PCOS and hence quite lumpy breasts, so my PCP decided to refer me for mammograms at age 40. He may have saved my life. First mammogram in October 2016 was clear. Second mammogram was 2 weeks ago. Got called back in immediately for a diagnostic mammogram, then had a ultrasound immediately thereafter. Tumour showed up on mammogram, and was very clear asymmetrical on US.

I was completely stunned as I do not feel sick at all. Would have said I had no symptoms at all. However, looking back at the last few months, there were a few changes:

1. Lost 10 lbs in last 2 months without trying. Believe me, this NEVER happens to me, being both hypothyroid and insulin resistant thanks to PCOS. Thought it might have been because I was back at the gym after a summer off and exercise was FINALLY working for me. Maybe not?

2. My hair got dryer. One of the lovely side effects of PCOS is greasy hair. Since puberty, I have never been able to go more than 24 hours without washing my hair; last month or so I can.

3. Night sweats and inability to fall back asleep. I have always been fortunate in that I am a good sleeper. Since the kids were born, would often wake in the night but could usually go back to sleep immediately. Not in the last 3-4 months. Now when I wake up, I am often sweaty and I cannot seem to go back to sleep.

4. Sour sweat smell under my breasts (I know, gross). Armpit odour seems normal, but really noticed the sweat smell from my breasts after exercising or spending time in my work coveralls in a hot building.

Don't know if the above are truly symptoms or not, but they are the signals my body gave me! Hope this helps!

Edited to add: Now that I know where my tumour is, I can quite clearly feel it. It does not hurt at all, no matter how hard I press on it. Zero pain.

my symptom was a lump, which i found myself, totally by chance, 4 months after a clear mammogram. it was already pretty big -- 2.5 cm -- but there was no apparent node involvement, so: stage 2.

Stage 1, 3 tumors, clear nodes. ZERO symptoms. Nothing was big enough to even feel it. My surgen wasn't able to even feel 2 of the lumps durning surgery.