Hi guys. I’m new here! For the last 4 weeks I’ve been under investigation for an autoimmune disease. I’ll keep it relevant to this topic.
4 weeks ago I noticed areola changes. Performed a self-exam and everything was fine. Kind of shrugged it off and didn’t think to much of it. Then 3 weeks later, I accidentally found a massive lump on the side of my left breast. It was a well defined ball, kind of felt rubbery and it moved. I performed another self-exam and could not believe what I was feeling! Under both areolas were covered in lumps. They are hard, solid lumps. They don’t move or hurt at all. I can’t make out a shape or an edge, it’s the same on my right breast. The areola has also gone really thick and wrinkled up. Anyway, refural from my doctor… I got a phone call two days later for an appointment with a breast surgeon but also an appointment for Rheumatologist - on the same day, two hours apart… prior to the finding of these breast lumps I was advised to go private for a Rheumatologist because I’d be waiting months on the NHS. Now all of a sudden they want me in within a couple of days, on the same day as breast surgeon - why? Could breast cancer be linked to autoimmunity? There are a couple of minor autoimmune disease suspected but the main one is Scleroderma. Any links between the two ? The funny thing is, the areola changes appeared at the same time as the Scleroderma symptoms started.
I’m 25, female. No family history of any type of cancer.
I’ve also, for the last 4 weeks had a large swelling in my right pelvic area! a bloated tummy, almost painful after I’ve eaten. I’ve been asked a number of times if I’m pregnant. I’ve been struggling with constipation and tummy cramps. I’ve unexplainably lost almost one stone in weight in just 4 weeks !!! I’m starting to look really sick, so gaunt. This swelling was really big last night, it’s grown so much, it’s now reaching from my vagina up through the right side of my pelvic area and disappears under my right rib cage!! It was so swollen last night and now today I’ve started bleeding again. This is my 3rd HEAVY period in just 5 weeks!!! What’s going on ?? Can an autoimmune disease trigger breast cancer?? Please help me, I’m so confused xx