Too much too young
Too much too young Hi,
I have a 2 year history of fibriodanomas and breast cycts, this time last year I had 6 solid lumps of various shapes and sizes, and one cyst. At that stage I was told that I needed to have some removed, because it was getting difficult to ‘keep track of them’! I had 4 removed at once, 3 from one breast and 1 from the other. Throughout my treatment I have felt let down by many of the health professionals who should have been making this better for a 23 year old!!! I have suffered a lot of pain and a recurrent cyst, and at every consultation have been told ‘we don’t know why you keep getting lumps’ and ‘we don’t know why you get this pain’ last time I got told it was just something I would have to live with. I have been suffering with pain now on and off for a year and am preparing for another hospital appointment that will no doubt lead to frustration and disappiontment. I am getting pain up into my armpit and sometimes tingling sensations into my arm.
What I’m really looking for is some form of advice on how to get my voice heard, as all I seem to get is its nothing sinister so get on with it. I already have two bad scars that dictate my wardrobe, and such a lack of self-esteem when it comes to my personal life. I hope that someone out there may know of something to help with the pain, or some advice to reduce the recurrence of more lumps - as the professionals seem to have less of a clue than I do.
Sorry for my ranting, hope someone can help!!
MunchkinXxx
Further advice and support Hi Munchkin
I am sorry you are experiencing such difficulties at the moment.
Often with this very specific sort of inquiry you may find you get more information by contacting our Ask the Nurse email service or phoning our helpline. Our experts working in these services should be able to point you towards sources of help.
You can contact the free helpline by phoning 0808 800 6000. This is open Monday - Friday, 9am - 5pm and Saturday, 9am - 2pm.
If you would prefer to correspond by email you can contact our Ask the Nurse email service by going to:
breastcancercare.org.uk/content.php?page_id=119
on the site.
Hope you find these services of help. Do keep posting on the forums as I am sure you will also find support here.
Kind regards.
Online Host
Breast Cancer Care
I’m so sorry to read of the problems you are having and to such an extreme. 
Pain can be the worst part of any illness.
I’m sorry also that you feel unsupported through your breast clinic.
Is there anyone you can seek a second opinion from? We are entitled to one, and it may help.
Hope the ask the nurse service is helpful for you too.
I was given a sheet on foods to stop any breast pain, and foods to avoid. Have you looked into this? As it may be that this could ease some of the pain (i’m not saying all).
Hope you are able to see some progress soon. ((Hugs))
We can hear you! Hi Munchkin,
You asked for some help in getting your voice heard well you have made a great start by using this website. I only recently joined and within a couple of days people were talking to me, supporting me and most of all they understood how I was feeling and what my worries were…because they had been there, or were there, themselves. Doctors are important but they can’t give you what the women using this website can give you…an ear and a shoulder.
People have heard you Munchkin. You will get nothing but support and total honesty from us out here. Stay with us.
I’ve had my pain for over a year now and, like you, the doctors don’t know the cause and are happy to leave it with " it’s just one of those pains "
This can be so mentally, as well as physically, draining and you start to doubt yourself and you end up ‘putting up’ with it! Not good enough!
You have had such a horrible time and there doesn’t seem to have been much in the way of ‘support’ from those who should be doing just that!
One thing that helped my pain and gave me great comfort is something one of my son’s bought for me! A big, soft, cuddly hotwater bottle cover! I fill my hotwater bottle up, put it into this wonderfully huggable dog, wrap my arms around it and it feels so good. It doesn’t remove the pain but it warms the area and relaxes to tissues around the breast . It also gives me something to bury my face into if I’m feeling fed up. You can get all sorts of hotwater bottle covers in the High Street eg Boots, Superdrug, etc. I have had mine for 3 years now and I cuddle it every morning!
Do you have anyone who will go with you to your appointment? Someone who will come in with you and ask your questions for you if you feel you can’t? If you do that’s great. Get them to come into the room with you. Maybe you could talk with this person before you go in and write a list of questions you want to ask, questions you want answers to etc. This appointment time is yours and it’s very important to you. Ask what you want and don’t be fobbed off by anyone!! You deserve answers not side-steps! Be strong but if you can’t have a strong person with you if you are having a low day. Go through one question at a time and don’t leave until you have every question answered. You have been through enough already for someone so young. Time to put the foot down!
I have found the Nurse on this website very good so the advice you were given to contact her I think is good advice. She/he replied within a couple of days and she answered my question. She also gave me other options of where I could find the information I needed.
Let me know how the appointment went and don’t forget to write everything down you want to ask, take someone in with you who knows what you want to ask, take the list of questions in with you so you don’t forget anything.
Take Care.
Cathy
how are you? Hi Munchkin,
I was just wondering if you have had your hospital appointment yet and if so how did it go? Did you get the answers to the questions you wanted to ask?
You also mention that your scars dictate your wardrobe. There is so much out there that can help you with that ie creams, make-up for scars, different styles that flatter, look great but hide the scarring. I’m sure someone on this website will be able to help you with information regarding this. I will find out what I can and let you know but I sure others will post their thoughts as well. You need to start feeling good about yourself again…one step at a time.
Will help where I can.
Take care.
Cathy
how are you? Hi Munchkin,
Was just wondering how things are? Have you had your hospital appointment yet? If so, how did it go?
Hope you are ok, always here if you need to talk.
Take care,
Cathy
Hi,
Had my appointment - to which they had two failed attempts at draining the new cyst and have decided to leave it. I had the TOP consultant however, and he was a lot more helpful than all the other docs i’ve seen, but still could give me no clear answers. The consultant asked me to come back in 3 months, for my own piece of mind, and suggested i try taking regular anti-inflammatories. However, yesterday I noticed that the breast with the cyst was hypersensitive and painful (more than usual). I have developed a hard, large swelling that dominated the whole area under the nipple, I am Very worried as it has come on very quickly, and I have been in constant pain with it last night and all day today. I am desperatly trying to get a doctors appointment tomorrow - but am aware that I am unlikely to see a specialist before christmas and new year. Is anyone aware of being able to contact consultants without going through the usual referal process?
Hope to know more by tomorrow - also does anyone else have experience of such a quick breast lump flare up?
Thans again for all your kind words and advice,
Munchkin Xxx