Breast lump

Both Verdana and Noura, please do keep us posted on what happens. We're here for you!

Thank you so much Will do!

Long response, sorry ahead of time...I'm 42 about to turn 43 next month. 2 years ago I had a persistent ache in my right shoulder and upper back. I thought I had overdone it with my exercise so I slowed down but the pain persisted. I would take ibuprofen daily, use heating pads, use Epsom salt rub that I found in the store, ask for shoulder and back rubs from my husband but it would not stop! 3-4 weeks later, my shoulder still aching, I found a lump in my breast. Now I always knew I was high risk because of my family history and I had been faithfully checking myself since my teens. And getting tests yearly since 27 or 28. I was very surprised to find the lump especially since my mammogram and ultrasound had just been completed approximately three or four months earlier. I said to myself, where the heck did this lump come from? It was difficult at first for my primary doctor to take me seriously, due to the clear scans I had and because I kept relating to her my shoulder and back pain. She insisted those had nothing to do with the lump and because of my age and hormones blah, blah, blah it was probably nothing. I smiled politely and told her I wasn't leaving until she sent me for repeat scans because I have the insurance and even if we had to pay out-of-pocket, my gut was telling me I NEED this checked out.

Well, it was suspicious looking and the radiologist recommended a biopsy be done. Fast forward to a month after I found that lump and I was heading in for my surgery surrounded by my husband, two young sons and other family members. I thought, I'm so glad that I had that shoulder ache! Why? Because it made me take the lump more seriously then if it had appeared without my back and shoulder ache. I would have thought hey, I just had a clear mammogram and ultrasound a few months ago and this lump probably has something to do with my hormones or some kind of cyst. I'll just let them check it out if it's still here when I have my next period or something like that. But finding the lump after those aches just set off some type of alarm for me. Maybe my body was trying to tell me something or a tumor was pressing on a nerve. Which in fact, was the case. After my bmx and chemo, the pains in my shoulder and upper back went away and haven't returned since.

Hey SmilingWifey,

I'm so glad you asserted yourself and got proper care. It infuriates me when doctors try to work against us instead of with us. I kind of hope that learning what happened with you gives that doctor a little humbling.