Thickness under arm and aching in armpit/ breast

Have I got breast cancer? Breast awareness, signs and symptoms
1

I’m new to this forum. I’m just looking for someone who might have experienced similar issues as my anxiety is spiralling out of control at the moment. I know that no one can diagnose anyone over the internet.

 

For 2-3 months I have had some thickening/swelling under my right armpit. It aches too. At times it’s seemed to go away for a few days but the aching has been constant for a few weeks. I’m also now having some niggly pain in the right breast- it’s mostly tingling and feels slightly like the feeling when breastfeeding, but no discharge or lumps. It feels slightly ‘fuller’ than the other breast and I think it may be hanging slightly lower but because I’m actively looking for symptoms now, I’m not sure if it’s always done that as I know most women have one breast larger than the other. The difference isn’t massive but it’s the feeling of fullness and slight hotness to it that is disturbing me. I’ve also been incredibly tired all the time and seem to be sweating more than normal but have noticed a sweet sort of smell on myself. I’ve done my blood sugars which were normal. 

 

I went to see the Doctor this week and she did an examination of the armpits and the right breast. She could find no lumps and she did not think the thickening was my gland, she said glands normally feel like a hard pea shape? But she agreed it felt slightly swollen compared to the other side, especially when my arms are raised. She has referred me for a scan- she didn’t feel a referral to the breast clinic was necessary at this stage which has worried me as I’m now not covered by the two week wait rule. She said if a swollen gland is seen on the scan, they will refer me on to breast clinic to do more tests but that what she had felt was quite reassuring. 

 

Unfortunately, I’m not reassured and I’m going out of my mind with worry. I have four children and am only 39. I know lots of people probably do this but I keep googling and obsessing and it’s really upsetting me, I know I need to stop and wait but I’m scared. I have some family history as my maternal grandmother had breast cancer and a masectomy.

 

Does this sound likely to be BC or are other causes more likely? What else could it be? I can’t find much online to explain other causes, everything just leads to BC which isn’t helpful as you start to feel it’s a foregone conclusion! 

 

Thanks for reading. 

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Hi Qeen of worry
No, it certainly is not a foregone conclusion!
That’s the problem with google, as any googling of symptoms ultimately leads to bc, when usually there is a much more common reason for any breast change we search about. Whatever google says, it’s Not normally bc. One positive thing about googling is, that it does prompt us to get checked out, but that’s all.
Chances are all’s well, it usually is & the vast majority of women who come here, generally do not turn out to have bc, whatever the breast symptom is.
Your Dr obviously feels referral to tbe breast clinic is not indicated at the mo, but if you don’t find this acceptable, do go back & ask to be referred.
Do come back & chat if you need to.
ann x

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Just to update as I know people may find this in a search one day when worried about their own symptoms…

 

All was fine. I had an examination, mammogram and scan and no abnormalities were seen. Normal lymph nodes. It could be hormonal changes, but also may be that I had an infection or virus which resolved as my symptons have improved a lot. 

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That’s fab news Qw & thanks so much for letting us know the outcome as it’s so helpful for others.
ann x