Hi everyone. I’m new here but have been experiencing symptoms that have been worrying me now for some time and I just don’t feel able to talk to anyone about it (I usually just end up crying with worry and then nobody gets anything out of the conversation).
Back in October I started to experience discomfort in my right breast (I don’t call it pain as it is more of an ache) that started suddenly one day and that would come intermittently during each day. I have in the past on a couple of occasions experienced painful breasts around the time of my period but this is defintely not the same. I wondered, because of my age (41), whether it was just a change in hormones or muscle damage so left it to see if it settled down. I couldn’t feel any lumps on self examination.
Since the start of December I have started to have the sensation at times that my right underarm is swollen, again intermittently but have also had discomfort on my right hand side. I stopped using deodorant (I had recently tried a new type so wanted to rule out any disagreement with that). I have managed to convince myself also that my right nipple has changed and developed a slit like appearance. I am so panicked as I cannot think clearly as to whether it was like that before. It definitely seems to look different to the left nipple though. So I have been scared to do any further exams as I’m worried about what I might find and as I haven’t been able to pre-book an appointment with my GP until this Friday (I phoned the first week of December!) have been fretting for the past four weeks and spending a lot of time crying.
I learned a year ago that I am a very big wuss when it comes to my health and medicine as I was seriously iron deficient and had to undergo various procedures in hospital, the experience of which effected me mentally especially as quite early on the GP told me that it was possible I had a cancer - and the only test they had done at that point was a blood test! For a while every pain I had I thought I was dying and I have serious issues with the thought of dying.
I am worried to the max and cannot think about anything else, it’s on my mind from the moment I wake up to the moment I go to sleep.
Hi Rachel,
Sorry to hear you have this anxiety & obviously, your previous experience has not helped.
The important thing is, you’ve acted on it & have a GP appointment. The sort of symptoms you describe are not uncommon & usually there is a staightforward reason for it. BC would be the Least likely reason.
Of course, any breast change must be properly checked out, so your GP may refer you to the breast clinic, which is normal procedure, so try not to read anything into it. For the vast majority of women referred to the clinic, it turns out Not to be bc related, whatever the symptoms are.
If you need to talk it through, then do ring the bcc helpline here.
Easier said than done, but try not to let your anxiety run away with you & google is really best avoided as it only fuels anxiety for no good reason.
If you want to, let is know how you get on.
ann x
Thank you for your response. I find it really hard to get medical things investigated because in the past it has always lead to worry and them finding something wrong. I can confess to being a Googler with medical symptoms. Even more since my last ‘medical emergency’ when I thought I was just tired but turned out to have a Ferritin level of only 8 - although I’d had numerous blood tests each year so I don’t get how it was missed until it was late in onset of issues.
I very much hope to post news tomorrow of how I get on with the GP.
Well, I saw the doctor and she said that she couldn’t feel anything (which was sort of reassuring) but she has referred me to the clinic because the discomfort has been going for so long. She seemed to think that it could be something to do with my chest cavity rather than breast tissue but I don’t think that explains the pain in my breast and underarm.
Chest wall I meant. Now I’m back to worrying - I don’t think anything do to with your chest wall can make you underarm feel swollen or discomfort near a nipple?
Hi Rachel
Try not to overthink it all. It’s good about what your Dr said & you have been referred to have it properly checked out.
There’s nothing more you can do now, it’s all in hand & letting the mind go into overdrive will not change anything.
If you have been, it really does help to stay off google as any breast symptom will only lead to bc, when it’s usually not, there is no reassurance there.
Do take care
ann x
I got my letter of appointment today and am now back in a state of panic having been able to relax somewhat this weekend following the doctor’s appointment last Friday. Mainly because the letter states ‘2WW Suspected breast cancer’. Does this mean the doctor wasn’t completely honest with me? Worrying so much again now…
Hi Rachel. I have just joined this forum and your post is the one most relevant to me and you have the exact same traits as me! I have been experiencing pain in one breast (right hand side) for a couple of months… Leaving it be for this long thinking it might be to do with trauma (I’m quite clumsy!) Or hormones or any other excuse I could think of. It got to the point where I couldn’t touch my boob in the shower with shower gel or lay on my front or even hug someone properly! I check my boobs literally every week and couldn’t feel a lump anywhere.
I made an appointment with my GP last week and she had a feel of both boobs and said everything felt normal but because of the pain she would refer me urgently. I got a call from the breast Clinic the next day and got booked in the following week so I didn’t have too long to wait. Leading up to the appointment I was thinking the worst because my symptoms got worse… The pain is now constantly in my armpit and up to my collar bone area. Sometimes it keeps me awake at night.
Physically being sick with nerves the day of the appointment (which was yesterday) and constantly telling myself I was going to have some horrific news just made me panic even more. I couldn’t eat or anything with worry! My lovely mum came with me and waited while I was seen by a consultant.
They did a physical examination and said everything felt & looked normal and not too worry and sent me on my way. At the time I was so relieved to hear that from a medical professional and didn’t think of asking about a scan or anything. I left pretty quickly (it’s not the nicest of places to spend your afternoon anyway so I was glad to be out of there with good news) however… Reflecting back - I’m no clearer on what is actually wrong with me? I’m still in pain despite taking ibruprofen. The pain is constantly in and around my armpit and radiates up to my collar bone through my breast.
I have no other symptoms… just the pain/discomfort. I am 31.
I am calling my GP again on Monday for a second opinion and to tell her what happened at the breast clinic.
Please let me know how you get on. It sounds like we are in a very similar boat and it would be nice to chat. Xx
Hi, I am in same ish position. Went to GP re pain in right breast. Had it for around 4 weeks. Painful to the touch/shower etc. GP felt and wrote “palpable lump? Deep seated” I haven’t felt a lump as such but because he has written that I’m constantly feeling now for it making my breast more painful!
Anyway appointment is next Saturday for clinic. I’m frightened for two reasons the first is that I am wasting time by going there and there’s nothing wrong with me and secondly because I’ve convinced myself I’m fine if there is something wrong it will be like a slap in the face.