Dimple but no lump, armpit and arm swelling... Cancer?
Hi There
I am new to this but really need to hear other people's views on this as I genuinely don't know what to think at this stage. Two weeks ago I went to my GP as I found a dimple on my right breast when I raised my arm. I had also had an intermittent crusty discharge from my nipple for a few weeks. The doctor felt no lumps but did feel a couple of nodules- he said they could be totally normally however felt he should refer me to the one stop shop clinic which would be 2-3 weeks.
About 5 days later I went to the out of hours GP on a Saturday because I had came out in a rash that was burning. It was like sunburn but was raised. It was just near my armpit. The doctor gave me a prescription for antibiotics. The rash had gone down the next day - before I'd started taking the antibiotics- but the mark of it was still there and my underarm was completely swollen. As the swelling didn't seem to be going down after a few days and I hadn't received any referral letter I thought I'd call my GP and see where I was referred to, only to find out they had forgotten to refer me. The practice manager seemed more concerned with covering this up than trying to help. She told me it had been referred already but when I called the clinic they said she had just put the referral through. She wouldn't get a GP to call me back. I told her about the swelling which she called me back to tell me the GP said unless my breast was red tender or swollen he didn't need to see me.
Anyway, I received my referral letter two weeks after my first GP visit and my appointment date was another 3 weeks away. By this point the swelling was right down my arm. I had a phone consultation with a GP 2 days later who said I had to be seen right away. The GP I saw could not feel any lumps but could see the dimple, the mark where the rash had been and the swelling. She said she would try to rush the appointment on. She called me later to ask me to go to A&E to have a blood test to rule out thrombosis. Long story short thrombosis and infection has been ruled out which, to me, leaves only lymphedema which I know is linked quite closely with breast cancer. She has managed to get me an earlier referral date that is 9 days away instead of 3 weeks. What I don't understand is she obviously can't think it's an emergency or she would surely have got me in sooner but she has not got any other ideas of what is going on with my armpit and arm. I am stressed out going round and round in my head. One minute I think I must be wasting people's time and this is drama over nothing when there isn't even a lump and the next minute I am convinced I have breast cancer.
Comments
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You're not wastng people's tine. Of course you're worried! Something is going on in your breast. Not necessarily cancer, but there are many BENIGN conditions that can cause these symptoms. You are doing the right thing getting it checked out.
You are right now in that special hell where you have scary symptoms and no answers. Try to stay off Google. Everything "breast" goes to breast cancer. Not because you actually have it, but "breast" triggers all the bad possibilities.
Hang in there. It's only 9 more days. Yes, I know it feels like forever. Once you get some answers, you'll feel more in control.
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"which, to me, leaves only lymphedema which I know is linked quite closely with breast cancer."
Lymphedema is a complication of the lymph node dissection performed during surgery for breast cancer. It is not caused by early breast cancer.
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Hi Kirst85 I feel you! Back in January my left armpit started to ache, when showering one day I noticed a large hard painful lump/gland, I didn't pay it any attention and it disappeared in around two weeks! Fast forward to 18 March I discovered blood spots in my bra (left side) on waking up, again thought nothing of it as figured I'd scratched my nipple in my sleep, but it happened day after day! Got an emergency appt with a nurse practitioner at my GPs, she noticed my nipple was retracted, I'd not noticed that! Referred to breast clinic which is 18 April. I've got all kinds of pains and aches going on around arm pit, collar bone, shoulder blades, chest and back, and a couple of days ago noticed a strangely shaped dent at the bottom of my right breast when my arms are raised that wasn't there before I understand your alarm, one minute I'm slapping myself upside the head thinking everything will come back fine (I had a clear mammogram two years ago), then on the other I'm consumed with fear. The waiting is just horrible, just want to know whats going on good or bad so I can move along. Hope you get good results soon, me too! Let us know!
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Causes of secondary lymphedema
Any condition or procedure that damages your lymph nodes or lymph vessels can cause lymphedema. Causes include:
- Surgery. Removal of or injury to lymph nodes and lymph vessels may result in lymphedema. For example, lymph nodes may be removed to check for spread of breast cancer, and lymph nodes may be injured in surgery that involves blood vessels in your limbs.
- Radiation treatment for cancer. Radiation can cause scarring and inflammation of your lymph nodes or lymph vessels.
- Cancer. If cancer cells block lymphatic vessels, lymphedema may result. For instance, a tumor growing near a lymph node or lymph vessel could enlarge enough to block the flow of the lymph fluid.
- Infection. An infection of the lymph nodes or parasites can restrict the flow of lymph fluid. Infection-related lymphedema is most common in tropical and subtropical regions and is more likely to occur in developing countries
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Thank you so much Mustlovepoodles! I didn't realise there were many benign reasons for these symptoms. You are absolutely right those do not come up on google so I have absolutely no idea what those are but that does make me feel more hopeful xx
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Mandymog I so hope you get the results you want too. This wait is the absolute worst and I have to say it would be a lot easier if you could control the worry a little bit. It's a mental battle! xx
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Kirst85 me too, it's such a rollercoaster of emotions, I'm keeping everything crossed we get a good outcome! I also feel like I'm wasting people's time. I feel that when I have my tests done I will be embarrassed that I was so concerned, and I hope I am lol, next Wednesday can't come soon enough xx
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Yes!! That is how I feel! But defo being embarrassed is the preferable outcome! Your appt is the day before mine. Please let me know how it goes. My husband came home and told me that he was speaking to his manager about me -as he will need time off to come to my appt - and she said she had similar issues to mine (including the swelling) and it was cysts that was causing it. I hadn't even known that was a thing. I'm feeling more positive knowing that there are these other reasons that they just don't put on the internet. xx
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Kirst85 yes lol embarrassment is the preferable outcome for sure lol. We have some very scary stuff happen to our boobs. But I've done lots of research since my last appt, and the odds are definitely in our favour, will let you know what happens when I go to breast clinic, and I'd love to hear from you about your experience too. Xx
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Good luck tomorrow Mandy! I'll be thinking of you xx
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Hi Kirst85 unfortunately my appointment was cancelled due to the consultant being ill, so going this Friday instead, can't be helped. Will let you know what happens, and thank you! Everything crossed for you tomorrow xx
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Hi Kirst85, how did your appointment go? I had mammo and u/s, they found my lump is a cluster of lumps and may or may not be the cause of my bloody nipple discharge. My consultant feels it's nothing to worry about and may be just blocked ducts! I have to continue keeping my diary and will see him again in 6 weeks! How about you? Xx
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