Hi I would appreciate some advice and support. I had a mammo 04/06 - normal they said - yes there is something we see but we don’t know what it is!! Fatty lump, scar tissue? Now it’s August 2007 and I have had a firm swelling with puffiness up to collar bone on left side since May and getting more swollen. I have visited the doc twice and been told the mammo was normal and they don’t want to send me back for another one. I should let them know if i get a lump in my neck!
I am wondering about returning to insist that I am sent back - they can examine me without the need for a mammogram. How assertive should i be? The whole area aches including down my arm and there’s also a swelling inside my elbow.
I may be worrying needlesly but feel that I deserve a second look. The skin reddens easily in this patch when I have a shower - even when I try to protect it - I am not worried that I have inflammatory breast cancer because I think that would be more noticeable.
I really look forward to hearing from you. I am going to the doc tomorrow for the result of an abdo ultrasound for abdominal swelling which is apparently 'essentially normal2 whatever that means. I’m worried.
Sorry to hear you are so worried. You must insist on a referral to a breast clinic. You have symptoms which need investigation. 04/06 is a long time ago…just because a mammogram appeared ‘clear’ then means nothing now. Please be assertive with your doctor.
Elaine
I will echo what Jane says. I don’t want to worry you but I had totally clear mammograms and ultrasounds 06/05 but dx with a 5cm grade 3 aggresssive cancer 05/07
hi i would insist the dr refer you back to breast clinic. In December my mammo said no signes of cancer it was swollen and red three courses of antibiotics later dr sent me back to clinic .I had ultra sound another mommo
a biopsi then they said it was cancer.If your not happy you have the right to be checked again . I hope it turns out ok for you but dont let them fob you off its your life . Better safe than sorry
I agree with what the others have said. I had a discharge from my nipple and had a clear mammo in July 05, by Xmas 05 I had a pea sized lump - which I ignored until May 06 I was finally dx with BC in August 06.
Isn’t it encouraging when other people say what you are thinking? It’s that that makes us feel much less isolated and this forum is a tremendous source of support.
I’m really interested to know about your symptoms because they sound quite familiar! I had a mammo two weeks ago because I had been to my GP, (2 weeks previously), with symptoms that are very similar to yours, (although my swelling and pain does not spread down my arm but under my arm and around to my shoulder blade). I was given the all clear, mammo wise, but still have the swelling and the pain. Where there is swelling under my arm, it’s uncomfortable to let my arm hang down by my side so I tend to rest my left hand on my hip most of the time, which probably looks quite funny but it doesn’t feel funny after a month! I had a chest x-ray just over a week ago and was told that I could get the results in a week from my GP but, when I rang the surgery, I was told that was wrong and that it takes two weeks to get the result! More waiting! I think after the “all clear” mammo result I was meant to shout “Hallelujah!” and stop being a nuisance! According to something I read somewhere “reassurance” is all that’s needed in most cases for the pain to disappear! If only!
I’m sorry, Elaine. I seem to have hijacked your thread to moan about my own circumstances. I suppose it’s helpful to know that there is someone else with similar symptoms though I really wish you didn’t have them at all, or the waiting, or the worry.
One thing is for sure, though; this forum is a Godsend. There are some lovely, caring people here, so you are in good company.
beano,
you never said you were still in pain hon, what the hell is it then babe, sounds very fishy to me hon, have you ripped your shoulder muscle, as that can cause so much pain and swelling
why dont they send you for an mri scan at least then it will picture your whole body and will pick up the prob hon
grrrrh i,m so angry these ruddy docs are ok they are not in pain, what have they given you for the pain?
if it is still giving you that ammount of jip go bk and pester the doc he can ring for the results
i,m sending you a special bucket of love
i wish you well too elaine i pray you get it sorted
I’m just taking Ibuprofen and co-codamol, (I was disappointed that they don’t taste like cocoa! lol). It is better than it was, pain-wise. Either that or I’m just getting used to it! I haven’t done anything to my shoulder that I’m aware of. Think I’ll just wait for the x-ray results and then say, “Well, Doc. What’s next?” The trouble is, I’ve now got (had for nearly a week, actually), a huge blister like thing on my toe! And then a couple of days ago, a lump appeared on the next toe along. I know it doesn’t sound like much, especially when I hear about what some of the folks here are going through, but it is a bit wearing sometimes!
Did you like my yoke? Doubles the bucketloads. Very handy, cee!!!
Thank you, cee, and you are on my daily prayer list too.
The blistery thing on my toe has burst today. Yuk! I don’t know of arthritis in the family but I’ll do some internet research for symptoms. OH says I’m turning into a hypochondriac by doing that. I just showed him the blister on my toe and said, “Yep, it’s real enough!”
Thank you, cee; big bucketful gratefully received. I’m in a weird mood tonight. We’re going away for a week on Saturday and, although I have a doctors appt booked for Friday, (should get x-ray results then, I’m feeling like cancelling it and just not doing anything about it till I get back from the holiday. Honestly, I’ve been complaining about waiting and now I feel like this! lol
oh sweetie, please go to docs, i know how worried you have been and it does need to be sorted, nothing will be sorted on fri hon but your a step closer to knowing hon
We’re going up to Whitley Bay. I’ve never been there before and I’m really looking forward to it. I probably won’t do anything about the other thing until I get back because I’d only be dwelling on it and I think I’ve almost risen above it… or running out of everrgy! Not sure which! lol
We’ll be passing your neck of the woods at some time on Saturday so I’ll throw a bucketful of the good stuff over when I see the sign for Lincoln!