A few questions!

Options
mariewaslike
mariewaslike Member Posts: 8
edited October 2021 in Not Diagnosed But Worried

Hello, so I want to first say I'm 28. When I made my profile I miss clicked and it's set to birth year 2007, I tried to see if I could change it in my profile but it only lets me change the month and date. I was born in 1993! I'm also horribly sorry this is so wordy. I am a bit anxious.

Anyways for two months (next week will be 2.5 months) I will have had focal left breast pain, 7 o'clock area. VERY tender to press. Wearing any type of bra/unlined or not also doesn't feel great. My great grandmother had breast cancer, and then my moms aunt. So nobody immediately related to me. I had a breast check by my midwife (she works in an obgyn clinic) on the 7th of this month. She didn't feel anything suspicious but sent me for an ultrasound that day. It came back with BI-RADS 2 (I read the link provided here on this), "mild heterogeneous echotexture consistent with dense breast tissue with no focal cystic or solid lesion and no suspicious acoustic shadowing." My midwife said to call in one month if the pain was still there OR if anything has changed before then.

I have been a bit anxious. I haven't had the best experiences in getting diagnosis, and it was always due to either "you're too young for this" or "it's rare". When I was 19 I started fainting and getting dizzy as well as a lot of other symptoms, and it took 2 years for someone to tell me it was POTS. And that it was uncommon so they don't think of it. I was put on medication that improved my life once I had that diagnosis. Thankfully it went away in pregnancy.

Then I got pretty sick and developed joint pain in my fingers. I was dismissed based on a few labs and was told to simmer by a rheumatologist. I refused, sought a second opinion from another rhuemy and he ran a parvo lab and discovered I happened to be one of the rare adults who get long lasting joint pain.

Then I needed an ENG done and was told it was abnormal but I was too young for what it was showing (menieres disease) which turns out, I actually do have. I also had issues with EDS getting diagnosed until I saw a geneticist. And I had HG for both my pregnancies however the first time because of how 'rare' it is I didn't get diagnosed until I was in the hospital. Despite coming in to my dr with 15lbs weight loss and vomiting 10+ times a day. (the first pregnancy was in CA and I saw an OB. My midwife where I live now immediately had me come in with my first positive test with my second and got me started on medication and closely monitored me.)

So. Just because of past experiences I have a really hard time trusting things medically. Other than informing my midwife about any changes or if the pain still continues by November, is there anything else I should be doing? Would my BI-RADS be given a level 2 based on my age at all?

· Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Comments

  • B-A-P
    B-A-P Member Posts: 525
    edited October 2021

    I think if you can get an mri that would allay your fears a bit. I was 30 at diagnosis but had a hard time getting anyone to believe me. Mine started with pain in the same area 6-8 on a clock (toward the chest ) and then nipple discharge , and then hardening by the time diagnosis came along. I do have the BRCA2 gene but didn’t know it at the time. Otherwise I think I wouldn’t have so much trouble getting a diagnosis.

    BIRADS 2 is good but if you really want peace of mind , mri for young women will be the most helpful

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • mariewaslike
    mariewaslike Member Posts: 8
    edited October 2021

    Ahh thank you so much for responding! If you don’t mind me asking, how long did you have breast pain before other symptoms?

    Would you wait until November (8th to be exact) to request the mri or go for it now?

    I realize I’m probably being very irrational over this. I know just because my past medical issues doesn’t mean I’ll continue to have them. But man. I’ve been consumed with researching all things breast cancer (which is also good since I didn’t really know any symptoms and didn’t realize I needed to check myself once a month!) I’ve embarrassingly neglected laundry. We’ve been living out of sorted baskets. We’ve ordered take out or had like quesadillas/sandwiches a lot more for dinner. I’m just so stressed over it that it’s taken over my life. Which I know is stupid and I’m being dumb about. My anxiety is unrelenting ever since all this medical things I’ve dealt with.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • B-A-P
    B-A-P Member Posts: 525
    edited October 2021

    Well, i completely understand . It’s hard not to worry with your past. It definitely doesn’t mean anything is happening though or will continue to happen. i think with the amount of worry you’re having , I’d ask for the mri now instead of waiting a month . It seems to be affecting the way you’re living.
    from pain to discharge, it was like a year. But the discharge could have been the papilloma that was in the duct. It just turns out when I had a biopsy they found dcis in that duct. It took 2 years to diagnosis because where I live , only a specialist can order an mri and they refused based on my age and their lack of belief In me. I didn’t notice the hardening until I had my mri and the dr did the breast exam while I was sitting up instead of laying back. Then it was obvious. And that was where my tumours were. (I had two small tumours and dcis all over) . The mri saw “non Mass like enhancement “ and my lymph nodes lit up. It didn’t see my tumours but I think it was just hidden behind the dcis. I don’t know.

    But yeah. I wouldn’t wait till the 8th if this is negatively affecting your life. If you have the option of getting the ball rolling sooner , I’d do it.

    Hope that helps

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • mariewaslike
    mariewaslike Member Posts: 8
    edited October 2021

    I just slightly worry I'll be written off as completely crazy if I ask if we can just do the mri. I want to ask. I want to just know right now so I can move on with whatever the results are. I just fear they'll say no and decide I'm just bonkers. I think I'll call on Monday and just try to really convey my concerns and anxiety where hopefully they can understand. My toddler has an appointment with his own medical issue tomorrow morning and we will be out of town potentially all weekend.


    Oh wow two years! I truly cannot imagine. I feel really bad now even complaining about my situation. I really hope nothing I shared came off insensitive to anyone. I've been back and forth since my scan results whether to post here or not. I know others are having a much more difficult time than myself. I'm not sure if you are the praying type or just a good vibes kind of person, but I will send both your way! Also thank you again so much for responding, just even sharing all this and talking to someone really does help a lot.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Moderators
    Moderators Member Posts: 25,912
    edited October 2021

    Dear mariewaslike,

    We are sorry for this worry and the uncertainty that it brings. Please keep us posted on what you decide and how things go. Here is a link to information about all things related to Imaging Questions and Symptoms.

    The Mods

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • B-A-P
    B-A-P Member Posts: 525
    edited October 2021

    don’t be afraid to ask. This is your health and your body. What others , including drs think , doesn’t matter. My mission in my life is advocacy for young women to be heard. If you feel you need it , ask for it. you got this

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • mariewaslike
    mariewaslike Member Posts: 8
    edited October 2021

    Okay, so I ended up just calling & the nurse has me scheduled for Monday at 10am! She thankfully understood my concern especially since the pain has gotten worse and now the burning/prickly sensation I’ve been getting.

    Going to try to get through the weekend now without googling things. Hopefully.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • mariewaslike
    mariewaslike Member Posts: 8
    edited October 2021

    Okay so I was given a second opinion while there today at my appointment, and now scheduled for a mammogram for the 20th. Trying to not be anxious still

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Salamandra
    Salamandra Member Posts: 1,444
    edited October 2021

    Hoping for the best for you, mariewaslike! And no matter what, good for you for advocating for yourself!!

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • B-A-P
    B-A-P Member Posts: 525
    edited October 2021

    certainly easier said than done trying not to be anxious. Hoping all goes well for your mammo but if you’re still uneasy , try the mri because of your age. All my mammo showed after I was diagnosed was many calcifications (but in saying that , had they done that ages prior , it would have gotten the ball rolling sooner

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • mariewaslike
    mariewaslike Member Posts: 8
    edited October 2021

    Okay! So I had a diagnostic mammogram and I just got home. They did the 3D kind, and then needed two additional close ups. He found 2 small calcifications however felt confident that they were benign but wants me to come back in 6 months to make sure. & to do the monthly breast checks and just watching for any new signs. I feel a lot better. But still a bit on edge that I am to go back in half a year. Also the calcifications were oddly EXACTLY where my breast pain is!

    I have a calendar thing that was given to me to do the monthly checks, however my breasts are just lumpy feelings. So hopefully I will be able to tell a difference.

    And mammograms freaking hurt! Well on my tender breast at least. Thankfully everyone was so nice, and in the waiting room a few older women chatted with me giving me some comfort.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • mariewaslike
    mariewaslike Member Posts: 8
    edited October 2021

    Okay so my results which just has more info were posted:

    Probably benign finding--short interval follow-up suggested (BI-RADS 3)

    Recommendation: Six-month follow-up left diagnostic mammogram with repeat spot magnification views

    Findings: The only abnormality in either breast is a small group of tiny microcalcifications in the posterior third of the medial left breast at 9:00. Spot magnification views demonstrate these to be a band of linear calcifications in 2 separate
    continuous lines with overall size of both measuring about 9 mm. These may be benign vascular calcifications. They do not have a suspicious dot-appearance of highly suspicious fine linear calcifications. There are more continuous than that and do not
    have branching. In this young female, these are most likely benign, but they are of unknown stability and therefore need short-term follow-up.


    I guess I still feel less anxious but worried that I need to wait 6 months to ensure anything.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • AliceBastable
    AliceBastable Member Posts: 3,461
    edited October 2021

    Six months IS short term and the standard minimal time to wait.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • mariewaslike
    mariewaslike Member Posts: 8
    edited October 2021

    Oh, yes! I know, I'm still just a bit anxious over it. I'm terrible about waiting over anything. Sorry I was a bit slow, I have fairly bad TMJ pain and have been battling that for the past few days.


    Did anyone else have sore breasts days after their mammogram? I still have tenderness in the focal spot that caused all of this, but since the imaging both have been horribly sore. I think it was the image where they smoosh you vertically since the pain for both is in the sides.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • LillyIsHere
    LillyIsHere Member Posts: 830
    edited October 2021

    mariewaslike, I am sorry you are finding yourself here and I hope all goes well. Meantime, can you ask for a biopsy? Just in case you don't want to wait for another 6 months and other follow ups and to make sure all is well and move on with your life.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • MinusTwo
    MinusTwo Member Posts: 16,634
    edited October 2021

    Marie - I had sore, fibercystic breasts most of my life. Finally I gave up drinking coffee and it made a huge difference. No more pain for another 25 years until DCIS discovered. Might be worth trying if you're a coffee drinker.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Categories