I am 24 years old and have a few probs with my breast and was wondering if someone can help me.
In 2008 i experienced swelling in my left breast, with a burning sensation. After showing my mother i went to the walk in clinic and was told i have an infection. At the same time, I was also had swelling near my left shoulder and shoulder blade, this was also painful. A couple of months later I went to see my gp and was told i had fluid retention and was put on some medication.
During that time I had swelling of the left side of my abdomen, which I have been told by my GP and consultant that it feels tender.
Since my infection the swelling in my left breast has not gone down. In the last few months i feel that the difference between my left and right breast is very noticeable. I feel no lumps but have sharp pains in the area that is swollen and goes right through to my nipple and have pain in my armpit and in my forearm. My nipple is sore and itchy and the breast has raw type of feeling. The shoulderblade pain and swelling has not disappeared at all. When I lie on my front the pain in my breast radiates through to my shoulderblade and is very intense. I also noticed that the lymph node in my neck is swollen ( i do not have any type of infection). I have pains in my left rib and lung. I have shortness of breathe and cannot walk or stand for long (my mum is if 50 with heart problems and can walk longer than me).
I went to my gp in september and she referred me to the hospital for my shoulderblade pain and the swollen lymph node in my neck. The consultant that checked my lymph node said it was nothing. The rheumatoid consultant checked my shoulder and basically said she does not know what it is as my blood work was fine. She said it may be the onset of rheumatoid athritus but not sure (although she was not sure she presctibed me some medication). She also said she can see the size difference in my breast but did not mention anythingelse about it.
A mole which I had since birth has also changed, it has grown, has 3-4 different shades, is over a cm long and has no regular border. My GP agreed and told me to come back and see him.
2 consultants have said that I have alot of symptoms and believe it is down to one condition but do not know what. Sorry for the long post but should I go see the GP about my breast? I am afraid that all my symptoms started in 2008 at the same time and are still here.
(This is the original post I sent. Sorry if i sounded rude, I was just wondering if had psoted it incorrectly. Thanks Lucy and Oscarbailey for your help).
I have set your post live and I don’t think you did anything incorrectly. To avoid any confusion I have deleted your original post. I hope you soon get some replies this time.
Don’t forget you can also call our Helpline to talk things over, and for information and support. The opening times are 9.00am- 5.00pm Monday to Friday and 9.00am- 2.00pm on Saturdays. The number is 0808 800 6000 and calls are free and confidential.
Hi Sarah, any changes to your breasts should be examined. Please go back to your GP and ask to be referred to your local breast clinic. Its often difficult when there are multiple symptoms, sometimes things get ‘lost’.
In all likelihood it will be nothing - I think the stat is about 85%. But, again, all changes should be investigated.
My first symptom was an itch under my nipple, it was only because of this that I finally found a lump.
Would love to see a post tomorrow saying that you have an appointment with your GP!
Best wishes
Marguerite
A agree, call your doctor’s surgery first thing tomorrow and ask for an emergency appointment. My local surgery does 5-minute appointments and as you’re looking for a referral they should be able to fit you in.
Good luck, and don’t automatically assume it’s something sinister, as there are a lot of breast conditions that turn out to be nothing to do with cancer. But do keep pressing for them to take a closer look.
Hi Sarah I think you need to ask your GP for a referral to breast clinic as you do have some symptoms which you need an explanation for. I am not suggesting that I think you have BC but you need some answers for this.As Maguerite has said the likelihood is that it will be nothing.You do have a myriad of symptoms but you also need some peace of mind too.BTW I had no symptoms so we all vary so much.Please make that appt asap.Jackie x
Thank you for your help. I called the surgery and the receptionist basically said there are no available appointments til next Thurs! She told me to keep ringing for cancellations. To be honest with you the receptionists are very unhelpful. I am thinking of booking an appointment with the nurse (she is a fab nurse) and hopefully she will fit me in earlier with my GP.
Also I was diagnosed with PCOS when I was 18 years old and was wondering if that could affect me breasts in any way? I have about 2-3 periods a year but my hormone bloods are normal.
I couldn’t get an earlier app so went to see the GP yesterday. She has referred me to the breast clinic. She checked my breast and asked me quite a few questions about the top of my breast. She looked concerned and said we better get it checked out ( I was only in there for 2 mins). The top of my breast does feel sore and hurts when something rubs against it but I thought she would have found a prob with the side of my breast as opposed to the top of my breast. I went to see the GP thinking she would tell me it is nothing and does not need to be checked because I am only 25 (just turned). I am grateful that my GP took me seriously.
So I am now waiting for my for my app which will drive me mad. I am really nervous. I have had so many hospital apps over the last 2 years and a few coming up, so I am hoping everthing will be ok.
Thank you for advising me to go see my GP, I am glad I went.
Glad you went to see your GP. The clinic needs to see you within two weeks, but you may find you get seen earlier than that. Don’t panic if they call you with a cancellation, they’re just being efficient if they do.
This is a horrible time as your imagination can run riot, but do remember that most things referred to the breast clinic turn out to be NON-cancerous.
Keep posting on the forum if you need some support, we’re here for you.
Thanks for your support. I am trying to keep myself busy hoping the time will go by quicker. I hate waiting but I know I cannot change anything in the mean time (so I keep telling myself).
Thanks again for your help and support, I really appreciate it.
hi all, just posting an update. My mum rang the docs surgery for my meds i am taking for diff condition. She also asked about my referral and was told that they are waiting for the app to come. So mum told me to ring the docs again myself as she can’t go into my medical info. So i rang the docs surgery and said i had an app on 27th with my gp and was meant to be referred to the breast clinic but i haven’t received an app. I told them i am meant to be seen within two weeks, she said we are waiting are waiting for an app and said oh someone else processed the referral. I said can u get that person to ring me back. My sis told me to ring the breast clinic directly and see when the app has been arranged for. I rang and the lady said we havnt recieved the referral (she was really nice). She said we get alot of faxes but she wil check again. Then she said oh we’ve jus received a fax just now. That means the receptionist at the docs just sent it after i rang them today! I was so upset and angry. I have been so anxious already and now i have to wait another week. I have put a complaint in to the gp about the receptionists… My rant is over, sorry. Hope you are all well!.. Sarah x
Sarah, that is so horrid for you, but well done for chasing it up. You could try speaking to the clinic again tomorrow to see if they have any cancellations, as that sometimes happens, and let them know you’ve already been waiting since 27th.
Hi CM. Iv got an app on 14th feb in the morning. My complaint didn’t get very far as the GP defended the receptionist saying my app was dealt with late due to a backlog! Anyway i am not too worried about the app at the moment, hopefully i will remain like that… Sarah x
Sorry for the very late update, have had a few probs.
Anyway, I went to my app on 14th Feb. I explained what I was feeling and had an examination. The registrar felt something at the top of my breast just above my nipple and said there he can feel something, said nodular something? (sorry cannot remember what it is called). He referred me for an ultrasound and the ultrasound showed nothing at all.
So I went back to the registar and he said they cannot find anything. So I asked him what I should do about the pain and the fullness in my left breast. He replied ‘what, is there a difference between the 2 breasts?’, I said yes. Then he said well the ultrasound shows nothing and told me to take painkillers if the pain is too bad.
Do I just go with that result? I was in the scan room for about a minute. I am none the wiser about this swelling/fullness nor about what he felt. Is it normal for them to just check one breast or do they normally check both in an ultrasound?
I was given a leaflet about breast pain saying it could be hormonal or wearing a wrong sized bra.
I am not sure if I should get a second opinion or just accept that the ultrasound was clear and my body is meant to be like this. Everything is so visually noticeable to everyone family, friends and docs but I am getting nowhere.
If you are concerned keep going back, although an ultra-sound is more likely to pick things up than a mammogram.
I have lobular cancer, which manifests itself in a fullness and a heaviness - it can easily be missed in examinations (both me and GP) as well as mammograms.
If i was you, (knowing what i know and knowing how i know it!)i would go back, make a fuss and demand that they give you something concrete.
Sorry for not posting during the last month, have been dealing with a whole host of problems.
My left breast still concerns me very much. I have a dimple near the edge of my areola and the side of my breat kind of puffs out. I have not been back to the docs and they are driving me mad, so I have decided to go private. There are alot of health problems for which I have no answers, so now I will go private and get everything checked out all at once. I know it will cost me a fortune, but my body is more important.
I am hoping to sort it all out this week. Any recommendations of good private clinics? (one that deals with near enough all types of health issues).
Thanks for reading my post
Sarah x
P.S thanks staycalmandcarryon for your last post, I will make sure everything is clear very soon.