I agree with Sarah, all changes should be investigated.
I found mine when I noticed a stinging sensation while I was in the shower. When I looked in the mirror my breast was red and hot. Couldn’t feel a lump but didn’t feel right. Doc diagnosed mastitis but didn’t respond to antibiotics so I asked to be referred to a clinic. (Had a friend pushing me in the background to make a fuss) Mammogram didn’t show anything but also had an ultrasound which showed a mass confirmed by biopsy as Inflammatory Breast Cancer. Rare aggressive type which grows in sheets rather than the usual lump and doesn’t show up in mammograms. Very good reason why we should ALWAYS have changes checked and not be afraid to make a fuss.
I didn’t have a lump, but a dimple which appeared, even at breast clinic no lump could be found turned out to be a 7.5Cm!!! lobular. I was 40 and a good 10 yrs from a routine mammogram no history in my family at all.
Molsid, those lobular cancers are sneaky, same here, 7 cm, two tumours, no family history. Confirmed by U/S & core biopsy. Also high grade DCIS in 3/4 quadrants.
Found mine when I was in the bath reached across for the soap and felt a thick area not a lump had a mamogram 18 months earlier and it had not showed on that it was invasive lobular 22mm and LCIS 68mm had mx on 18th August no node involvment start rads next Tuesday,am taking Arimadex for 5 years understand about the flushes topsymo
Celia.x
Had been having cysts aspirated over about 2 years, 3rd aspiration in May and they gave me another mammogram I wasn’t aware they were going to do. After the mammogram another younger doctor did the aspirations and noticed something on the mammogram and called it “calcification”. She said nothing to worry about but she would mention it in MTD. Then got call 2 weeks later to go for biopsy, (8 attempts over about 40 mins) again, sure it will be fine, just a precaution and follow up appointment, but 2 weeks later got call that my follow-up appointment had been brought forward a week, she couldn’t tell me anything over phone, then alarm bells started ringing! Sat in clinic waiting to see actual Consultant, blimey, never seen him before, clinic was 50 mins behind and by the time I was called I already knew it wasn’t good news but when he actually told me it was like an out of body experience, thought he was telling someone behind me. I was just 49 for goodness sake, no family history, this can’t be me he was speaking to and totally gobsmacked. Was on my own and went onto autopilot. Drove back to work and carried on with my usually routine whilst colleagues fell apart, I felt totally numb and in some sort of denial, remember walking to bank like it wasn’t me walking.
I was, apparently, very lucky to be discovered so early (didn’t feel lucky at the time but do now!), eventually discovered had mixed/high grade DCIS, non-invasive, no nodes involved, ER and PR positive.
Had wire guided WLE 2 weeks later, histology revealed didn’t get it all first time, so re-excision a month later and more DCIS so 15 rads, just completed but won’t find out results until next mammogram next summer. In some sort of no man’s land now and been told can’t go on DCIS trial as i’m pre-menopausal. Guess I just take my chances with everyone else and hope I stay “lucky”.
Routine mammograms should be done at 47 but can’t complain about my treatment, have been looked after very well but feeling a bit strange since rads finished. Does anyone else feel like this after treatment?
Oh and I should also add that I had noticed a change in my left breast (where there was a 20mm cancer too), wrinkled / dimpled / puckering…but after having 3 children I put it down to breastfeeding them. I agree that there needs to be more awareness of any changes not just lumps.
Both my mum and grandmother had bc in their 60’s and my cousin was undergoing tests (which turned out to not be bc) so I asked my GP if I should have early testing. He didn’t think I would be accepted on the family history programme due to the age of my mum and grandmother at diagnosis, but would write to breast care to check. Within a month or two I had an appointment come through to see a doctor to discuss if I was suitable. He said I was a borderline case but would put me through. Within a month I had my first mammogram and was recalled and the cancer was found. Grade 3, 25mm, everything positive. My consultant said it would have been another 6 to 18 months before I would have felt it myself.
Found lump while in shower, didn’t regularly check as such, but did have a “feel” in the shower every couple of months. At 47 too young for routine mammograms, and no family history.
Had lump removed 4/10, together with lymph nodes, waiting for oncologist appt on 10/11 but nothing found in nodes or blood vessels around lump.
Went to the doctors on 16th of September as after my return from visiting my Dad in France i had a bad case of “acne”…had never thought much of my doctor(newish to practice)and she kept on and on asking if i had any other symptons and i said i was sure it was hormonal as my left nipple had been sore for 2 days…she examined me and said i was a bit lumpy on the left side. I was referred to the breast clinic and got the appointment for 27th September…saw a registrar who said it definitely felt cysty but to pop downstairs and have a mammogram and ultra sound.
Doctor who did the ultra sound said it definately wasn’t a cyst and she needed to do a biopsy immediately…that done back upstairs to be told it was almost certainly cancerous but to come back on the friday for confirmation.
On friday 1st Oct i was diagnosed with Grade 3 invasive ductal carcinoma…have had SLNB and all clear! Awaiting mx on 5th Nov…its coming off with a bang!!
Nipple puckering made me go to the GP. I had had a couple of weeks of itchiness of the right breast and the old rare fleeting stabbing sensastion in it (which I thought was muscular - was renovating a cottage at the time!) but nothing significant. Felt perfectly well. Subsequently at 44 (so no regular screening for me)I was diagnosed with 3cm ductal ER+ tumour followed by lumpectomy, SNB x4 removal, further surgery as safety margin not attained, x5 FEC chemo (could not do 6 - veins could not cope), x23 sessions of Radiotherapy and now on Tamoxifen for 5 years. There was no lump to feel - even my GP could not feel anything but thank god he referred me anyway!
Just had 1st anniversary and mammogram which shows no evidence of disease at the current time.
What is interesting reading these posts however is that I had an FNA of a cyst in the same breast in 2003 which was lumpy - always have wondered of that aspiration may have prompted the bc. Probably will never know for sure but it does make you think.
Leigh
PS: I did have a mammogram 18 months prior to my dx as my left breast was lumpy and I was told I had ‘dense’ breasts but this was clear. Ironic it has been the right bc has developed in, in such a short time frame!!!
I was 43 when I was diagnosed. I felt a small hard lump in my breast whilst getting dressed, so I went to my GP, who referred me to the hospital. I had a mammogram, ultrasound, and saw a consultant. I was told during the ultrasound that I had a fibroadenoma, and the doctor did a fine needle aspiration, and that appeared to be it. Then, just over a week later, I received a letter asking me to come for a core biopsy. I was given an appointment for two weeks time to come back for the results, but I had a telephone call after a week asking me to come in, and to bring someone with me. It was then I was told ‘It is cancer, I’m afraid’. After the initial shock, I realised that I had a very good prognosis. I had an 8mm grade 1 lump, stage 1, node negative, ER positive, and I only needed a lumpectomy, and 15 rads, then Tamoxifen for 5 years. All this was just over three years ago, and so far I am doing fine. There were dark days when I thought I would never feel normal again, but believe it not I do now and life is good.
my history is a complicated and worrying one.
I did not have any lumps or any skin changes, in January this year (aged 49) I had a small bloody dishcharge from my right nipple, I only noticed when I took my bra off. went to the Gp 2 weeks later referred to the breat clinic.
I am a nurse and was seen by a consultant that I used to work with. She examined me, no further discharge , no lump felt. U/S nothing detercted. Mamogramme, ‘nothing seen, but a small ? insignificant line’.
she reassurred me that all was fine, but to reasure me furher she would send me for an MRI…showed 5 suspicious lumps…biopsies.
nearly 4 months later…19th April, extensive Breast Cancer, 9cm mass.
chemo commenced May, due to finish mid Nov, then Mastectomy, Rads then reconstruction.
Moral of the story, any changes no matter how small, ensure that all avenues are explored to rule out any disease.
I had been swimming with my nephews and had done quite alot of lengths ( breast stroke ) ha ha and thought id pulled a muscle. a couple of months later i had burning, stabbing pain in left breast but it was around period times so thought it was hormonal or mastitis
then it would go away. i then felt a thickening ( elongated like a tendon ) so still thought it was a pulled muscle which when biopsied turned out to be a 2.6 cm ductal lump.Ive now just finished 7 months of surgery,chemo and Radiotherapy woo hoo xx.I was 47 yrs when diagnosed aswell so 2 yrs away from mammogramme so very lucky it showed as a lump and felt it myself because where would i have been 2 years down the line I still wouldnt have known it was there as still too young for routine mammograme now xx
I have had a history of breast cysts since my 20s and have always had them aspirated by our local breast surgeon. However on a visit 5 years ago I saw a different doctor who was quite derisory of my numerous visits to the clinic and told me that it was something I’d have to put up with until menopause and that I was wasting everyone’s time by constantly being referred, as the cysts would only fill up again. Incidentally this was reiterated by the radiographer when I mentioned his comments to her.
So although I could feel new cysts in my breasts I followed his advice until last November when I noticed my right nipple was slightly inverted. I asked to be referred to a different hospital as I didn’t want to see that surgeon again. Result - bilateral mastectomy as tumours in both breasts, chemo, SNB followed by full node clearance. Fortunately I only had 1 node involved - could have been so much worse. I constantly worry about how long the tumours had been there.
Like Rugbygirl I am advising anyone who will listen to go to their GP with ANY breast changes and if they have a cyst get it checked out.
Looking back now I should have recognised problem much sooner, - had noticed a sort of tingling in my breast, and thought it looked a bit different, but then it all went away and I did not feel worried. Then, several months later i found a lump under my arm, went to GP, was referred, and there was a large 5cm areas of DCIS in breast with 2cm IDC, 2 nodes involved. I often think if I’d picked it up at the earlier point it might not have been so bad, but easy to be wise after event! Had a local recurrence 4 years later, found that myself too (a lump near my armpit). This had been missed by both onc and surgeon at check ups earlier in the year.
I think that as well as yearly mammograms on our “good sides” those of us who’ve had mx’s should also get yearly ultrasounds of the “bad” side. Have suggested this, but got nowhere!
Mo
Looking back now I should have recognised problem much sooner, - had noticed a sort of tingling in my breast, and thought it looked a bit different, but then it all went away and I did not feel worried. Then, several months later i found a lump under my arm, went to GP, was referred, and there was a large 5cm areas of DCIS in breast with 2cm IDC, 2 nodes involved. I often think if I’d picked it up at the earlier point it might not have been so bad, but easy to be wise after event! Had a local recurrence 4 years later, found that myself too (a lump near my armpit). This had been missed by both onc and surgeon at check ups earlier in the year.
I think that as well as yearly mammograms on our “good sides” those of us who’ve had mx’s should also get yearly ultrasounds of the “bad” side. Have suggested this, but got nowhere!
Mo
I found mine during a routine self breast exam, I am 36 with no family history so nowhere near time for screening. Turned out to be grade 3 ductal cancer, 17mm, no node involvment. So glad I checked myself. Peversley, now I am too scared to checkyself and really have to make myself do it, have finished Chemo and rads ten days ago.