Stretch Mark or Dimple

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Nervous_Nelly28
Nervous_Nelly28 Member Posts: 4
edited December 2020 in Not Diagnosed But Worried

Hello all,

I don’t mean to be a bother, but I’d like some input or advice on a stretch mark that is on my right breast. I randomly noticed it about a month ago when putting on lotion after getting out of the shower. It sits on the side of my right breast and looks like a stretch mark.

However, when I look at it in different angles or take a picture of it, I can’t tell if it’s a stretch mark or a dimple. When I lift my arms up it disappears and there is no indentation. However, when I flex my arm, it looks like the stretch mark is pulling in. My breasts are quite large (Double D) and have been since I’ve been a teenager. I know I’m getting older (29 in March) and feel that my breast could be losing volume. I also lost a little weight, but noticed the right breast had more pronounced stretch marks than the left. I also know that you don’t have to a lump to have breast cancer (I haven’t felt a lump at all, unless it’s hidden).

I’ve gone to both my primary care doctor and OBGYN and they all said they didn’t feel anything or see anything out of the ordinary. I don’t know if I’m just being paranoid and having some health anxiety, but I don’t know what to do at this point. I helped care for my aunt when she had breast cancer and it was very hard to see her live with the disease. She passed with breast cancer and I just want to do right by her by making sure I’m on top of my health with my breasts. If anyone on here could give me some advice, I’d really appreciate it. I know this year has been extremely challenging and I’m hoping that 2021 provides more light, love, and healing to all who need it.

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  • MelissaDallas
    MelissaDallas Member Posts: 7,268
    edited December 2020

    Hi Nervous_Nelly28,

    Okay, you have very large breasts, with stretch marks and recent weight loss, and some associated anxiety related to an aunt’s breast cancer. You also seem to be acknowledging that your anxiety may be more a product of a crappy year and your aunt’s experience. Less than 10% of breast cancers as far as we know now are hereditary.

    My thought is, after having both your PCP and OB/GYN look at this and see and feel nothing concerning, what would reassure you to be able to let this go? Could your gyn refer you for an ultrasound? Is there even anything to target with an ultrasound? What do you think you want done at this point? Maternal or paternal aunt? Does your Mom have any breast issues? Someone here will likely come along and suggest a breast MRI, but it appears that there is no medical justification for one, in which case you might be required to pay (sometimes thousands of dollars) out of pocket for one. Additionally, MRIs are notoriously sensitive, but also non-specific, generating lots of (benign) biopsies.

    What do you want to happen

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  • amanda6
    amanda6 Member Posts: 121
    edited December 2020

    Hi nervous, could your doc request a diagnostic mammogram to set your mind at ease? When was your last mammo? I had something similar a few weeks ago - i have scar tissue in my previously radiated breast, my lymphadema therapist mentioned feeling a lump there & was concerned. I knew the feel of the tissue was lumpy & always had been, but it did feel a little bit different to me. My doc felt it, thought it was just scar tissue but to ease my mind ordered a diagnostic mammo. I had recently lost about 7 lbs, she thought that was why it felt different, more pronounced. The radiologist read my mammo on the spot, came in & talked to me, felt the follow up ultrasound was not necessary but if I still felt uncomfortable, they could do that. I was ok with his reassurance. My next mammo is in March, will only do the right breast next time. The usual protocol if a doc is concerned is a diagnostic followed by an ultrasound if anything looks suspicious. Hope you can feel reassured about this, worrying is not good! Take care:).

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  • MelissaDallas
    MelissaDallas Member Posts: 7,268
    edited December 2020

    amanda6, it appears “Nellie” is only 28, in which case mammograms are of very limited benefit because young women’s breast density, which makes reading them like finding a snowflake in a snowstorm.

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  • Taralynn
    Taralynn Member Posts: 99
    edited December 2020

    hi Nelly! I understand your worry as it was a dimple that brought me to this website in the summer. Unfortunately my dimple did lead to cancer being discovered. My OB also did not feel anything concerning (i was 38 with larger fibrocystic breasts) but sent me for a diagnostic mammogram and ultrasound luckily! Not saying any of this to scare you of course, but if you’re still concerned it can’t hurt to ask for maybe an ultrasound to put your mind at ease.

    Dimples can be caused by lots of things but I think you’ll feel better knowing for sure it’s nothing! :)

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  • MelissaDallas
    MelissaDallas Member Posts: 7,268
    edited December 2020

    Taralyn, again, breast cNcer in someone in their twenties is bery rare, as is any benefit from a mammogram at that age

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  • Nervous_Nelly28
    Nervous_Nelly28 Member Posts: 4
    edited December 2020

    Thank you lovely ladies for your responses, I really appreciate them!

    Melissa Dallas,

    My mom hasn't had any issues with her breasts at all. I was going to ask for an ultrasound, but I'm not sure my doctors would give me one because they didn't feel or see what I pointed out as a “dimple". My maternal aunt had a history of breast knots, which was the culprit of her breast cancer.

    In order to let this go, I'm going to back to therapy to help with my anxiety. I've been in therapy (on and off) for 8 years and that's helped! I've also been helping my dad heal his cancer (salivary gland) and that's been hard on me and has ramped up my anxiety. I sincerely appreciate your thoughtful words. It's hard seeing your loved ones live with cancer and I just worry that it'll happen to me.

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  • Nervous_Nelly28
    Nervous_Nelly28 Member Posts: 4
    edited December 2020

    Thank you amanda6,

    Both my doctors weren't worried and couldn't "see" a dimple. They poked and prodded my breasts and felt nothing as well. My OBGYN talked to me about my caffeine intake and if I had been drinking more caffeinated beverages. I told her I did (I'm a lover of Starbucks and Pepsi unfortunately). I've never had a mammogram before because of my age, but I did have a ultrasound on my left breast last year. The ultrasound was clear and I haven't had an issue with that breast since. I'm just a worry wart (hence my username). I'm not afraid of having or getting cancer. I'm just afraid of not being able to "catch" it. As I told Melissa Dallas, I'm headed back to therapy next month and hopefully I can work on easing my anxiety around this. Again, thank you so much for your helpful words amanda6!

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  • Nervous_Nelly28
    Nervous_Nelly28 Member Posts: 4
    edited December 2020

    Taralynn,

    My heart is with you and I hope everything is going well for you. I don't know if my OB would give me a mammogram based off my age and I'm not sure if she would give me an ultrasound because she did not see the dimple. I'm really thinking it's a stretch mark. When I raise my arms up, it disappears and when I bend over with my hands on my hips, I don't notice any indentation. Thank you for taking time out of your day to talk to me. I hope you a great New Year and I hope 2021 is better than this crazy year.

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  • amanda6
    amanda6 Member Posts: 121
    edited December 2020

    nervous, I'm glad you're feeling better about it :), and Melissa, wow, I actually never knew that about mammograms for women in their 20s...interesting!

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  • MinusTwo
    MinusTwo Member Posts: 16,634
    edited December 2020

    Nelly - stretch marks are often caused by gaining & losing weight. You said you had recently lost weight so it wouldn't be unusual for large breasts to have stretch marks. Maybe your Mom can address the topic about stretch marks when she was pregnant with you? Both for belly & breasts.

    Glad you're going back to talk with your therapist.

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