Hi, I found this forum from looking around online for help, and I figured maybe someone might be able to shed some light on my situation.
I’m 21, and I’ve had a problem with my left breast since I was about fifteen. Growing up, I noticed that my breasts were never quite even in size, and although I’ve always been an A cup, the one on the left was considerably bigger.
Over the years, the left has gotten heavier and lumps have developed, but it was never too much of a problem until last three years or so, when the condition became very noticable.
In that time, the breast has dramatically increased in size, it feels swolen like a ‘water balloon’, and it’s full of large lumps, about four or five. The nipple is often puffy and swolen, and you can just about see lots of thick blue veins under the breast surface. It’s also extremely painful, and the pain and lumps increase around my period. I also sometimes get pain from deeper under the breast, where my heart is.
Sometimes it feels like there’s too much blood flow to the breast. Sounds strange, I know, but it’s how I imagine it, based on what it feels like. My other breast is very normal and small in comparison, with no pain whatsoever.
I’ve been to the doctor many times over the past three years- they’ve felt me, given me an ultrasound (they say I’m too young to have a mammogram), and all results have come back as ‘benign’ and they told me to go home and not worry.
Since going to the doctors, it’s rapidly gotten worse, and I can’t ignore the size or pain anymore. My left arm has also started to hurt. When I last went to the GP, they wouldn’t consider removing the lumps when I asked, as they told me it wasn’t necessary. (I disagree)
Sorry for such a long post, but I figured it was best I ask people who’ve had experience with problems like this. I’m obviously going to go back to the doctor, but this will be my fifth trip, and I have a feeling they won’t do anything or say any different to the other times.
I’m a non smoker and I don’t eat meat, but I do tend to skip meals and sleep more than the average person, if that helps. I’m not taking any contraception - I get horrendous periods which cripple me, but I’m hesitant to start taking hormones in case it makes my breast worse.
Thank you!