Sorry to sound so dumb but can anyone discribe thickening? I know to look out for it but not sure what it is. Is it the skin feels ‘tougher’ or is it a swelling? any advice would help thanks
What a good question! It’s really hard to suss out what they mean isn’t it? I think it just feels more sid and less malleable maybe, a bit like a lump but not defined enough to be a lump. Maybe someone else can help
out as my cancer was a lump.
Vickie
I meant more solid, not more sid!
what a tricky one to answer!! I would describe it as an area which isn’t a lump as in a pea size lump or anything like that but an area where the skin seems more dense to feel, you kind of have to feel ‘deeper’ through the density to try to feel if there’s a lump underneath.
Hope that helps…not sure its such a good explanation but I tried xx
Suze x
The things to look for are when things are different to how they normally are for you. A lot of women have breasts that aren’t an even, soft, spongy texture, so if you find things are firmer than normal, or more firm in one side compared to the other, then maybe that’s something to keep an eye on.
If you have ANY concerns, take your boobs along to your GP, who will have a lot more experience at feeling breasts. (Don’t know about you, but I’m only in the habit of feeling two of them, but doctors will have had their hands on loads!) Your doctor will be very happy to reassure you if there’s nothing to worry about, or refer you if he or she is not sure, but it’s so much better to pick things up early. And if it turns out to be nothing, your doc will be able to show you how to examine yourself.
May I ask why you ask? Have you noticed something peculiar but you’re not sure what it is? If that’s the case, book yourself to see your GP, they really won’t mind if it turns out to be nothing.
Whatever it is, well done for asking the question. The more aware women are about their breasts and any changes, the more chance that early, more treatable changes are picked up.
Agree entirely with ChoccieMuffin, the important thing is to look out for changes from how your breasts normally feel. In my case I saw my GP because I had found a lump, but as it turned out the lump was a harmless cyst and the area of thickened tissue next to it was the cancerous area. Difficult to describe, but my breast tissue normally felt quite soft if I prodded it, but the thickened bit felt firmer - like poking a bit of tough gristly meat rather than a fine fillet steak. It might sound daft but it’s that sort of difference. When my GP checked it out she said she didn’t think it was anything significant but would refer me onwards. Even the breast consultant said she thought it was OK but couldn’t be certain, so sent me for a mammogram, and from then on the alarm bells started to ring.
There is far too much emphasis on looking out for “lumps” - we should be on the look out for ANY changes and get them checked out. Thank goodness I did.
Sarah x