Waiting to get biopsy done, found sudden large painful lump.

Hi all. Hope everyone is doing something they love today even for a bit.

I was just on holiday vacation with my folks and woke up one day to what felt a little like the usual hormonal sore breasts. Im turning 52 this month and havent had a period in a year, and am on a super low dose bc for peri-meno symptoms (loloestrin) so I have had zero hormonal fluctuations in a long time so I was a little confused. Then realized that it was actually just one breast, the right one, and there was a huge (like the size of a quarter of a big carrot) firm lump in it, it definitely hurt/ached when pressed, a little warm over the lump and a little red on the outside. I put it down to the fact that i'd been traveling with heavy bags and running more than usual. Plus i'd heard bc "didnt hurt." After a few days of this I googled a little and of course got terrified of IBC (though no skin or nipple changes and a def lump rather than swelling.). Eek! I called my GP back home for an immediate visit. The thing didn't go away or get better (or worse). I use Retin A on my chest so my skin is really thin, so maybe skin changes wouldn't be evident because I"m always "regenerating."

My GP said it really felt to her like a cyst. She said it didn't look like any IBC she'd seen in pics though she wasn't personally familiar. Set me up the next day for a mammo (havent had one in just over two years, thing number one I'm kicking myself over, we're renovating a house and I tried to get one but couldn't get in for months so kind of put it on hold) and ultrasound.

Got the tests, the Rdoc wanted a biopsy. He said some things about how "the tumor looked "suspicious" (I forget exactly what he said). And it definitely was not a cyst as was not fluid filled.

Called my doc and asked about the report. She reassured me again (her receptionist read her the report) that Birads 4 actually means it's probably not cancer, etc. and she didnt think I should worry but sched the biopsy of course. After looking at the rept she seemed less sure, including saying something like "well it could be in situ..." (I'm making her seem like an idiot, she's not, she's great i'm just paraphrasing).

The report said, I think, 2.6 cm(?) mass, no calcifications. I don't know what else except the birads #.

The lump is stll there, seems very big and firm (you can almost see the edges, and i'm small breasted). kind of mobile but not too much, seems to change between smooth and kind of not. hurts to press it or lie on it. kind of red on top of it in a little circle or patch (though my skin is very senstitive to any markings and turns red at anything). No rash or nipple things or orange peel skin.

So now I start the (i'm sure) familiar battle to get in for biopsy. Doc is constantly in touch saying she'd get me in to another place if they couldnt fit me in this week, that i should def. go this week. She knows I'm terrified.

So, yes, I'm terrified. Things I'm freaked out about: I probably just entered menopause (under great care from my gyno) and that is a tough time to deal with all the hormones anyway. I have been on a low dose bc pill which made me feel shitty and then a very low dose one (combined, lo loestrin) for about two years or a litte more. I was JUST going to get off it and possibly start on HRT with Duavee which uses estrogen and BZT and actually has a blocking effect on the breast receptors, but she said to wait til the stress of the renovation was done (as it now is). ugh, should have just started then.

I also use the Estring, low dose vaginal ring for local dryness, urogenital issues, plus a little bump of estrace cream topically a few times a week on vulva (sorry if TMI) as she recommended. I was even putting a tiny bit of it on my face/neck (NEVER on breasts or touch them after), ugh. Anyway, GP says that does not cause BC, but still. Please don't yell at me, the "hormone jungle" is sort of a nightmare for me and had just found some sense of equilibrium in it. I was never on the pill or HBC before that except years ago in college for about 5 minutes. I have depression issues that make me do badly on it. Also i'm small so wonder if there is more hormone exposure for my body weight.

Other things I'm worried about: Havent had mammo in two years. Also, seriously scared that because the tumor is so big, it means the the cancer is really bad or spread.

I have doubts the mass is any other benign tumor as i have never had any kind of things like that or call back mammograms though I do have a uterine fibroid as of a few years ago that has been checked out ever possible way and deemed harmless. No family history of cancer.

I am in eally good health, excercise a lot, am thin, take tons of supplements (not saying at ALL that makes me less likely to get bc, my parents are scientists and health nuts so that's just my fate) but wonder if that and stuff like turmeric are suppressing symptoms that would make it seem worse if it's serious. Also, seriously scared that because the tumor is so big, it means the the cancer is really bad or spread.

Anyway, wonder if anyone else had the same symptoms, what their experience has been etc. Or anything.

Thanks for listening!