Worried and needed a place to talk it out

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mtower_xo
mtower_xo Member Posts: 6
edited February 2019 in Not Diagnosed But Worried

I am 30 years old, I have a history of breast cancer in my family. Father’s mother diagnosed in her 30s

Mothers side great and great great grandmothers diagnosed later in life.


About 2 weeks ago my left breast became sore, not intensely sore. But noticeably sore, especially if leaned on.

I am half way through my cycle, finished period about two weeks ago and have two weeks to go until it starts so it’s not period related, I’ve also never had a mass or lump due to my cycle (or any other reason)

After a few days I felt around, and found what feels like a 1 1/2 to 2 inch long mass

It is longer then wide, feels like it is misshaped, feels as if it has longer piece coming from back of it, below nipple and off to side towards arm pit. It is fairly hard, and feels attached to the chest wall.

It also feels as if it has changed in size since I originally found it

It hurts a bit to push on, sometimes I will get a stabbing like pain in the area.

My armpit has been sore or itchy on and off. My shoulder blade has had pain on and off. I’ve been with a sore throat on and off (which may or may not be related)

Just yesterday I felt it again (I keep checking for changes) and I had a very small amount of nipple discharge.

I went to doctor 6 days ago, she seemed a bit concerned. Said it made her feel better that it wasn’t completly solid like a rock, but booked an ultra sound on rush (which I have not heard from yet) And sent me for blood work that same day, which I have not heard from yet

Would the blood work be able to tell her that it is probably infection/fine/benign etc

Or if my red or white blood cells are off?

Or am I just waiting to hear from blood work for nothing, and should be focused more on the ultra sound?

About a year ago my armpits started sweating profusely while at rest, dripping down my arm. The doctor believes it could be a thyroid issue causing the sweating. So could the sweating cause an infection. And could an infection cause a mass, tenderness, tired, back pain, sore throat, and even now one side of my jaw started hurting (although that could be clenched jaw from stress)

Today I woke up with terrible lower back pain, I feel like a hot mess that is falling apart.

I hate the waiting, I didn’t think to ask enough questions at my doctors app. And I figured I would have heard back from blood work and for my app for ultra sound by now.

I just want to know if it’s nothing major and I can treat it and move on, or if I actually have a reason for this anxiety and start dealing with it.


Any advice, opinions, or kind words would be greatly appreciated <3


Comments

  • CaliKelly
    CaliKelly Member Posts: 474
    edited February 2019

    Hi, just wanted to answer, with some advice. Even at your young age, a lot of those symptoms could be hormonal changes, hormones fluctuating, can cause sweatiness, backache, sore breasts, anxiety, etc. Even benign breast lumpiness. HOWEVER! I am very glad you are getting an ultrasound to make sure,esp. with your family history. I would call the ultrasound place, my experience always is to call instead of waiting! Just tell them you're waiting to hear from them! You'll take first available. Call about the bloodwork too. I never wait to be called. Sometimes they forget! Call today, waiting around is too nerve wracking! The odds are in your favor that it's something less than what you're worried about. 💗

  • mtower_xo
    mtower_xo Member Posts: 6
    edited February 2019

    thank you for your response!

    With where I am in my cycle it seems unlikely it’s hornone related but I would be over the moon, if it was! I believe the doctor also felt the same way

    I’m in Canada so we don’t have the options like in other countries. Waiting seems to be the Canadian way.

    The ultra sound will be at the local hospital, and I believe I basically have to wait that out (but she did put a rush on it) she said with my age, family history, and her findings she wants to know what it is ASAP. She also didn’t offer any educated guesses (which worries me a bit) I was hoping she would say something like “it feels similar to a cyst, or between how it feels and what your symptoms are I’m guessing breast fibroids” but she offered nothing and just told me we would find out what is going on as soon as possible


    I did however, call her office today to ask about blood work results. The receptionist took notes and is requesting her to call me ether tomorrow or the day after.


    I know statistically speaking, my chances are very good it is something very minor! But no matter what I look up or who I speak to that has had a breast cyst etc, it doesn’t seem to match anything. The symptoms don’t seem to line up

    I plan to let her know about the small amount of discharge when I speak to her as well! I’m hoping that’s a good sign that it is infection or something else similar.

    Waiting sucks.....

  • GreenHarbor
    GreenHarbor Member Posts: 265
    edited February 2019

    Mtower, the waiting stinks big time, doesn't it?! I'm not a medical expert, but I do know that thyroid issues affect many parts of the body. Stress does too, so that could be the cause of your back and jaw pain. Here's what I would do: call the doctor's office that did the blood work. Ask if the results are back. If they aren't back, I would ask when to expect them, and who would be calling (your doctor, the nurse practitioner, etc). I would also mention that you're waiting for the ultrasound referral. Explain how stressed you are. This phone call will at least give you one concrete task to do to feel like you've accomplished something. Try and stay busy... bake, start crocheting an afghan, binge watch a new series. Physical activity could help too, if your back isn't too painful. Be careful what you Google!! There is a lot of misleading or wrong info out there. Until you have a diagnosis, it's hard to know what info applies to you. Something like 80% of breast biopsies come back as benign, so the odds are in your favor. Sending you positive vibes and a big hug!

  • mtower_xo
    mtower_xo Member Posts: 6
    edited February 2019

    thanks you!

    I did call my family doctor and expect her to call back tomorrow with some info regarding the blood work. Although I’m not sure if that would be much help or not, I’m hoping.

    I do know that a google search for symptoms is one sure way to make yourself believe your dying. So I try to be very impartial. Google only things that I knownit could be example:cyst symptoms etc

    I’ve come across a few things that have given me some piece of mind.

    I typically don’t get too worried. I’ve had a heart condition that took over a year to diagnose and treat. And I never once becane as worried as I am right now.

    I run my own business, I have a two year old I bring with me to the store everyday . Even if it did turn out to be the bad thing I’m worried about, I know my chances would be good to beat it.

    My fear is, I don’t have time to be sick, I’ve got a baby to tend, a household to run, and a business to work 70 hours a week at

    and I’ve just got such a bad feeling that this is something bad.

    I know positive thoughts, positive vibes, and what you put out into this world is what you get back.

    But I’m just worried, and wish my dang phone would finally ring for that app.


    I thank you for your well wishes, and for your advice!

    I think maybe creating a valentines day craft is in order with the little to clear my mind ☺️


  • djmammo
    djmammo Member Posts: 2,939
    edited February 2019

    mtower_xo

    What color was is the nipple discharge? The blood test is probably for prolactin, a hormone that causes milk production and nipple discharge (milk).It is produced by a benign tumor of the pituitary. Its always ordered with nipple discharge but I have yet to see one come back positive. Such a tumor can be accompanied by changes in ones vision.

    What ever that is you are feeling in your breast I doubt it is responsible for all your other symptoms. The ultrasound should answer most if not all of your questions.

  • mtower_xo
    mtower_xo Member Posts: 6
    edited February 2019

    The discharge was a new symptom I’ve gotten since my doctors app.

    It was very very minimal in amount, but I would guess clear-ish or light coloured

    The blood work was to check my thyroid (which she thinks could be cause for the sweating)

    And my “levels” which I assume meant my red and white blood cell count


    I feel like it makes sense that with all this sweeting, something got clogged, and caused an infection. Which an infection in your body could make you feel achy, run down, etc

    I feel the lump itself is what’s causing the shoulder blade/shoulder/arm pit and even upper arm pain. If it’s pushing on things, surely it could cause those issues.

    I have lower back issues to begin with, but this feels more like an achy pain.

    I believe the jaw and back are probably stress related, but wanted to add any new things in my world that may point to something like infection etc

  • B-A-P
    B-A-P Member Posts: 525
    edited February 2019

    hi girl. Glad you’re following up on this and that your dr is checking you out seriously. I was brushed off for two years due to my age (which was 28 at the time ) . I’m a rare case so please don’t get frightened. Just make sure you monitor it , go to your appointments and make sure they make you feel comfortable with what they tel you. I was no tested at all until I demanded it. So the fact you’re getting testing so soon is great.

    My symptoms were the same except I couldn’t feel a lump. Just thickening in the underside of my breast. My breast was tender all the time.

    My discharge started out as an oily type of colour and a few months later it was bloody. But they still maintain the blood was from a papilloma they found while doing my biopsy.

    Hopefully you’ll get a good report soon ! Most lumps are benign so you definitely have that on your side.



  • mtower_xo
    mtower_xo Member Posts: 6
    edited February 2019

    B-A-P

    What was your beginning symptoms that matched up with mine ?

    And did you have another’s that I’m not having or ones I’m having that you didn’t

  • B-A-P
    B-A-P Member Posts: 525
    edited February 2019

    The only same ones I had were the breast pain that had nothing to do with my period. Just hurt when leaned on or put pressure on only . And the nipple discharge.

    My arm pit eventually gave me trouble but that was due to swollen nodes.

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