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General health

Hand Hold Please - Breast Pain and Armpit Lump

5 replies

Theonlyoneiknow · 08/04/2013 23:55

Am trying very hard not to freak out!

Last October amidst a period of stress (house move, threat of redundancy)I started getting pain in my left breast along with mild tingling down the same arm. GP thought thrush and maybe pinched nerve due to lifting baby and heavy car seat. Went to Osteopath who said my posture was awful and my upper body was really tight. Two sessions later the pain had gone away. I was also given medication for thrush (DD 4 months at the time).

Three months later the pain came back, again when I was very stressed (DD referred to genetisct for NF1 with myself also likely to have it). Went back to GP who referred me to Breast Clínic. Consultant examined me and did an ultrasound scan, told me I didnt have cancer and to come back when I had finished breastfeeding for a mammogram (not because he suspected cancer but because it was procedure. He said I had fibrous breasts which were more sensitive to my emotional state as the fibrous buts swelled with water or something?). The pain went away.

Roll on another three months and the pain is back again. This time with a lump under the same armpit, that I found purely by chance. It is pea sized, very movable and quite hard (well, not soft). It can slip between my fingers if that makes sense. This week we have the actual hospital appt for our diagnosis which I have been fraught about (for Neurofibromatosis / NF1). Its a very unpredictable disorder and one of the complications is that it also increases your breast cancer risk. The pain in my breast isnt constant and sometimes radiates up into my shoulder.

Straight back to GP again today,in tears. Sh says it feels like a swollen gland but as the breast pain has now been on and off since Oct .we must get to the bottom ofif it and has referred me back to the Clínic. I am still breastfeeding though so am worrying about how much they can check for without a mammogram.

I have started weaning DD off fdaytimefeeds as am back to work soon but was hoping to carry on with the AM and PM ones but based on what my GP said I will might need to stop so they can do the mammogram. Does anyone know how long it takes for milk to be totally out of the breast? I wondered if they might do an MRI instead? She also said they will probably do a fine needle aspiration on the lump.

Sorry for the very long winded post! Hasa anyone experienced similar and it been innocent? I am really freaking out and convinced myself its cancer. I an lucky to be able to go private through work so should get an appt soon. It's hard to stay sane at the moment inbetween worrying about this, the NF1 for DD and me, and going back to work!

Thanks TIWIK x

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Charlottemerwiak · 09/04/2013 00:21

Try not to worry, I know so easy to say not so easy to do.
My mum found a lump in her armpit turned out to be cholesterol she now has another on the top of her arm.
Also this time 2 years ago I was pretty certain I had a brain tumour in brief I had headaches blurred vision mini vision blackouts I saw orbs all the time. So went to the optician he says bluntly there's a blockage putting pressure on the back of your eyes. He referred me to neurology. Turns out after several appts and MRI I have intracranial hypertension which is now being treated and I'm fine. But I'd started to plan my funeral. Seems daft now.just goes to show there are so many possibilities,as mums we always think of the worst possible outcome. Sorry for my poor grammar and or spelling just wanted to respond as quickly as I could. Smile

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Theonlyoneiknow · 09/04/2013 08:12

Thank you, it's very hard trying to see past cancer sometimes when most people have been affected by it. I could cope better if it was either the lump or the pain but its both which Dr google makes out to be bad!

Great to hear your story and that all turned out ok x

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Theonlyoneiknow · 09/04/2013 19:52

Just bumping for any more advice ? Thanks x

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NomNomDePlum · 09/04/2013 21:50

i was told to leave it for 3 or 4 weeks after stopping breastfeeding before having a mammogram.

good luck

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Theonlyoneiknow · 09/04/2013 21:59

Thank you nomnom thats what I thought

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