Breast pain for years. What is this?

[Jill1998]

How long ago was your appointment at the Breast clinic ? Is there a doctor in your GP practice that you have found approachable / helpful in the past ? If you are still in pain something is going on even if it's not cancer you want to get to the bottom of it .What tests did you have at the breast clinic - you could push for an MRI if you haven't had one it can sometimes spot things that ultrasound / mammogram can't .Jill x

[Ada123]

I have a sharp stabbing pain in my left breast that goes up to my armpit I have been checked at the breast clinic lovely specialist advised what it wasn't but not what it was. Iv been back to the doctors twice since just to say please tell me what I can do I'm not happy taking painkillers by the dozen the doctor I saw was terrible dismissed me as if I was a naughty child saying she thinks it's health anxiety and you have been checked out your 53 it's normal omg normal well I left in tears iv now complained to the practice manager said nit acceptable to be left in pain and spoken to like that. We are constantly told to know our bodies and check for changes but when you do. I have been so scared to make another appointment as I feel I will be treated as a worrier but I'm not having this we have a right to be at peace with our health if this means finding a doctor thst listens and talks you through this do it I am. 

[Kassery]

EHi there sorry you feel this way 

I’m now 51 and I’ve had left Breast tenderness for about 10 to 12 years now feels it’s behind nipple breast bone if you prod hit it ouch !! It aches too sometimes 

ive been over the years breast clinic once docs and had a mammogram 2 years ago. 

Ive now been through my menopause last period nearly 2 years ago but I’m still getting tender breast and menopause symptoms like hot flushes all that 

I have a appointment at the breast clinic next week and so anxious about it still I suffer bad from anxiety too hope you are sorted now hun I’m hoping I will be xx

[Lmayyx]

This is my life. I have had a sore left breast for four years. When I say sore I mean all types of pain, dull aches, sharp shooting pains, stinging, everything. I was 20 and I remember the night in the shower thinking gee my boob has been sore today, went to the gp next day and it’s been a nightmare with no answers ever since. I haven’t got any answers! I’ve seen so many different doctors, most but one said they never felt anything, but there was one doctor that said she felt something to I was sent for a biopsy but got there and the people felt my boob and said they can’t feel anything so they can’t do the biopsy! What! And they will not give me a mammogram because I’m too young. I gave up. But nowmy left rib is in soooooo much pain and I can’t sleep on it, the pain between my boob chest and rib and like joining and it’s worrying me so much. It’s so umcomfy almost like something is enlarged under it, I’m not freaking out about pancreatic cancer 😒 because I’m feeling so sick all the time. I’m over being told I’m too young for all of this, nobody is too young I just feel like we don’t get taken seriously. How did you get along ?

[glitterykat]

I was yes for private and NHS. I obviously paid for private consultation and scanning. Neither said they found anything malignant or concerning. I try to get professionally checked out and scanned every six months but this one didn't even refer me for a scan at this time..

i have already rang the help line and they were under the impression they'd maybe give me a biopsy but they have always firmly refused this for me. Thanks for your thoughts Ann x 

[ann-m]

Sorry to hear that you dont feel any further forward with this. Were you previously referred the the breast clinic for the ultrasounds, or was it a general referral for these investigations?
If you were not seen in a breast clinic, then the only other thing I can suggest is maybe seeing another gp about referral there, as the clinic deals with all breast conditions.
Other than that, I can not add any more to what Jill, Jobey & Annie has said below.
It might be an idea to conract the helpline above to talk it through.
ann x

[glitterykat]

Update. I had a doctors appointment this past Thursday but it was generally useless. 

The doctor didnt refer me for me for another scan, or biopsy and was generally refusing any other course of action. She checked my breasts but was not very thorough throughout; said she felt nothing and saw no cause for concern.

I'm upset by this. I'm being kept told it's very rare for people in their twenties to have breast cancer and it's hormonal/anxiety induced. I simply do not believe it is just that. I am in agony. It seems unfair to me how I am being refused a biopsy when requesting it and I don't understand it. 

I am am in a lot of pain at the moment and having a lot of rib pain underneath and around my breast, it's hard to move on the side of it especially when sleeping and it's extremely painful.

My nipple on the left is very red raw and the aerola is itchy, with actual white scaly parts around it. She said red nipples and redness around it isn't a concern but when accompanied with agonising pain...I'm not convinced...

Also she actually told me to stop checking my breasts all the time and limit to once a month?? But I feel I can't do that when in awful pain. I just can't believe I'm being refused a biopsy. What should I do? I can barely think straight and can only rest in bed, as I'm in that much pain. 

I am being resssured that breast pain is "normal' but nothing about what I'm feeling is normal in my opinion. She advised me to keep taking pain killers and I said I've been taking them every day at one point and said "Oh that could cause you problems too"....I mean..really?? What can I do? I'm truly at my wits end and in agonising pain.

;-( 

[glitterykat]

I have tried massages, relaxation techniques, stretches that kind of thing.

hopefully they might agree to a biopsy if they can find the tissue with the ultrasound machine. Would a MRI be mor viable at this point or are they more unlikely to give me this than a biopsy?

i have tried epo and that doesn't work for me.  Try to avoid caffeine and I find this helps a lot actually. 

[Jill1998]

Until you get some relief you won't be able to relax will you,no doubt stress doesn't help symptoms but you need explanation .What alternative medicine routes have you looked at ,I have found acupuncture helps me with a lot of things and also re-assures me .

[glitterykat]

Evening Anniej and thank you for your message. 

I feel that that it is necessary at this point as some days I am in complete agony and I have to stay in bed because of the pain, with heat packs and painkillers. They have told me about extra breast tissue. Before this pain started years ago, I had symmetrical breasts and checked them a lot so I think my pain has something to do with the tissue. 

I can feel a pain and an enlarged lower part of my breast and it is just about obvious when I'm not wearing a bra that my breasts aren't the same size, which would be fine if not for the agonising pain I feel most days.

some days I feel ok, some days I can't get out of bed. I literally can't go on like it and feel like something has to be done. If not a biopsy, is there anything else that can be done to investigate this pain and extra tissue? 

I agree stressing makes it worse. I have made efforts to cut out caffeine and to try and be active and to lightly stretch but sometimes my nipple on at breast is so irritated, it is red, extended and itchy. I don't think that is normal surely? It is just odd to me how it has only effected one breast/nipple whatever it is.. it is very confusing. 

[Anniej]

Hi, Glitterycat, you certainly seem to be in some state. You say you have consulted both NHS and private doctors and have been given a clean bill of health? I wonder why you want therefore to have invasive biopsies? These are only done when evidence of cancer has been found, such as raised lymph glands under the arm or neck, and irregular shaped mass in the breast. If these aren't apparent, where would the biopsies be taken from? You appear to be extremely stressed despite the assurances of the medical professionals . I don't feel I can, nor should I attempt to, give an opinion as to what you are suffering from. What I would say is that you have visited so many professionals over four years that if it was BC it would certainly be diagnosed by now, especially the very invasive one you mentioned.  Have you given any thought to investigating the physical route, such as a physiotherapist to look at core muscle tone, or deep tissue massage ? I also wonder wether you would benefit from relaxation techniques. When I was first diagnosed my mind ran riot and I was convinced I had secondaries throughout my body . Of course I hadn't, but it needed a course in relaxation, Pilates and mindfulness sessions to calm me and get me back on track ready for my treatments. I wish you peace of mind and body. X

[Jobey68]

I didn't have a lump I could feel, my breast would swell and become really painful during my period but then settle back down so it was never investiagted as it was put down to being hormonal pain, it was only when I was having another lump investigated that it was picked up on ultrasound, I have no pain at all now it's been removed xx 

[glitterykat]

Hi Jobey. Thanks for your post. But am I right in thinking a fibroadenoma is felt as a lump? I have extra breast tissue that I believe is causing me pain but professionals believe it isn't malignant. Puzzling. 

[Jobey68]

Hi, I'm sorry you are suffering but as Jill rightly says Inflamatory Breast cancer is very aggressive and it's highly unlikely it would have gone undetected for so many years, I wonder if you might have a fibrodenema, I had one which caused me bad pain for years , it was only when I was diagnosed with breast cancer that it was found so they removed it as well and now I'm totally pain free, you are right to pursue this if you don't feel your mind is being put at rest, clearly something is causing you so much pain but breast cancer is the least likely reason , stress can cause you all sorts symptoms and we can all confirm that we hurt all over while awaiting our diagnosis, I hope you get some answers soon Xx 

[glitterykat]

Which symptoms would these be Jill?

[Jill1998]

Oops pressed post before finishing -after 4 years -it is very very unlikely you would not have had other symptoms that would lead to a diagnosis if you did have breast cancer .

[Jill1998]

Ps

[Jill1998]

Some things are just not straightforward in medicine ( my Consultant told me that!!) frustrating when it's you involved eh !! The thing with a biopsy is it has to be very precise ,if they don't get the exact area of concern it can show nothing of any help to anyone.If it's causing you so much worry keep pushing for a diagnosis but it could be that all the stress around this is making your symptoms worse- same Consultant told me stress hormones can aggravate lots of
symptoms .Liked him,he made sense made me feel safe -hope I get him next I have my review !!!

[glitterykat]

Hi Jill, thanks for your reply.

ive only had ultrasounds but I'm thinking of a biopsy. I'm a bit scared of the pain and scared it might be malignant and if the prognosis might be very bad 😞 

it it does seem like a very strange case indeed 

[Jill1998]

Hi Kat,sorry you seem to be getting nowhere near finding a solution to your problem must be very depressing and frustrating .IBC is an aggressive form of breast cancer so if you have had these symptoms for 4 years without any further developments it would seem very unlikely it is that .What tests have you had /been offered so far ?

[glitterykat]

I've had pain in my left breast for at least 4 years now and still remember the night I felt a sharp stabbing pain in my chest.

ive been back and forth, back and forth to GPs, consultants, hospitals (private and NHS), had examinations and scans which have shown no malignancy. The consultants seem to think it's glandular pain and see no cause for concern and haven't given me a biopsy once. the pain stops me from living my life and I have to take ibuprofens quite regularly. I can't sleep on the side of the breast because it hurts like hell when waking up. One breast is slightly bigger than the other, this is the one with extra "benign" breast tissue. I used to have symmetrical breasts but now they're not and it really upsets me when I look into a mirror without a bra on.

over the last few months, I have been getting shoulder, neck, back and rib pains which I have seen a doctor about. He seemed to think it was muscular. I think it's related.

i have to now wait until next Thursday to talk to a Gp about a referral for a biopsy. I don't want to be fobbed off any longer. I'm afraid if it's (inflammatory) breast cancer and all this time I've been gone untreated and it's spread??

My private consultant categorically denied it was ibc, stating she's seen many women with it and it is very obvious there's ibc, as there will be visual signs and obvious something wrong with the breast. I only have slight redness around my nipple periodically, as If something flares it up and the ducts become more pronounced. It sometimes getc slightly itchy but other than that, no symptoms of ibc or other bcs. I think it's something to do with the extra tissue. 

Im suffering. I don't know what to do. Is there anyone else out there who can relate to my situation and what is your prognosis? I'm so scared. 😞