Breast Cancer Now Forum

p.s. just realised it's Wednesday today and it was tomorrow I was focussing on for the GP. I've heard of baby brain but I think this must be fear of cancer brain.... ... View more

Hi Knic   Thank you for posting. It is so worrying isn't it. I worry more because of my age too....and the doc making me feel so guilty!  I will have to book in to see the GP after Christmas now (wanted to go today but they close Thursday afternoons...always makes me smile at the thought of this, just like a shop) so it will be a tough Christmas.    I hope you get on okay in the New Year. Please do let me know what happens! By the way, how old are you?  I am guessing considerably younger than my 67 years.... Hopefully yours will just be cyclical and nothing to worry about. Says me, who, like you, cannot stop thinking about it whilst the pain is present.  A constant reminder.   Anyway, thank you so much for writing.  It is nice not to feel so alone with your worries.  I hope you manage to have a nice Christmas. xx ... View more

Thank you Optimissy, you are so kind.   Yes, maybe I should highlight the anxiety I am feeling. I suffer badly from anxiety anyway (post natal depressions, OCD etc. and struggle to go out of the house and so on...but that all started many years ago yet doesn't go away even though I am now 67....) so I will say how it is if I don't get a referral this time.   I did mentioned to the GP who left,  the pain I am getting in my right shoulder and aching down my arm and also that I have been suffering from a painful neck for a similar amount of time (7/8 months) but she simply dismissed it by saying that she could not cover everything in a 10 minute appointment! Surely these symptoms COULD have been relevant??? Sigh. I just hope it is not too late now ....   Christmas will be difficult. As I know it will be for many ladies on here.   Thank you again for writing and your kindness. xx         ... View more

p.s.  I did have mammograms in April as I was at the Breast Clinic with an indentation in the same breast. They also did US of the indentation but the pain I get is on top of the breast and the indentation is below... I am assuming that as my GP knew I had these in April, she is basing her verdict on that and the fact she could feel nothing. The pain began several weeks after I was discharged from that appointment and I first went to see her regarding the pain in July. xx   ... View more

Thank you so much Optimissy for your quick reply.   Yes she did breast examinations and could not feel anything but as I am post-menapausal, as you say, it is nothing to do with my cycle and that is why I am so worried.  The last time I saw her, in September, she was positively curt with me and made me feel awful saying stuff like, we are not doing our job properly are we! And clearly we are not (coming across as quite sarcastic)....what can we do to convince you....etc. very fed up with me it would seem. She was then very rough when she examined me, pressing so hard on both breasts that I actually found myself calling out at one point when she pressed hard on the area where I get the pain. She said, is that where you get it, I said yes, then she said no more and continued.   I left the surgery feeling very guilty for going. I always trusted her and always tried to see her but this time she was quite awful to me. I found out later that she was leaving withing a few weeks. She has since left so if I go back, will be seeing another GP by default.   I just get so confused because the pain is not there all the time and when it is not, I put it out of my mind. But it dosen't seem to go away altogether.   Thank you so very much for your very instructive and sensitive reply. I am not usually very assertive in such a situation but you are right, I need my mind at rest one way or the other so must put on a brave face.   Thank you again xx ... View more

Hi Michelle   I am in a similar situation to you. I have been having breast pain/discomfort since May this year and have been back to my GP a few times with the problem. I have also been to the breast clinic (last time in April) with other problems BUT because she cannot feel anything she is convinced all is fine and has not referred me this time! In fact, the last time I went (a few weeks ago) because of nasty pain through the nipple in the night, she was positively unpleasant with me saying stuff about them obviously not doing their job properly! And what can we do to convince you! She then examined me again and so severly, that every press and prod was so hard it really really hurt. I am sure she was cross with me and examined me as such. I have never ever had an examination like that before!!!   She made me feel a real nuisance and I got the distinct impression she was fed up with me! She was so severe and positively nasty with me, I felt awful and it put me on the defence immediately and I was meek and apologetic!! When possibly I should have asked for a scan? Still getting discomfort and do not know what to do....   I learned last week that she is leaving at the end of the month. Hmmm. Wonder if she wasn't happy and took it out on me. But that doesn't help my dilemma.   Good you have been referred. That is definitely the place to be. They are so caring at the clinic. And I hope you get some answers too. Good luck and let us know.   By the way, I too get it in my armpit, down my arm and even my shoulder blade etc. It is so worrying and very confusing.   Take care Bassplayer ... View more

Thank you so much for your reply. I really appreciate it.   I get very confused as the pain is not constant with days in between that are pain free. It's just that we all have learned that pain indicates something is wrong.....and it is hard to ignore when it is present.   xx     ... View more

Thank you xxx ... View more

Ah bless you Jo and thank you so much, again, for replying.   Yes it has helped me. I am thinking that as my pain is not constant or regular and nothing can be felt, then maybe similar to you and possibly in time, something will present itself if it is going to.   I have had my pain on and off since May this year so I feel a little better that it is a short amount of time by comparison. Thinking that maybe I should tell myself nothing has been felt (yet) so to get on with my life and try and put it behind me.   Thank you again, so  much, for writing and also for saying I can ask any more questions that may arise. That is very comforting. Oh, out of interest, may I ask your age?   Many thanks you have been very kind   best wishes Bassplayer ... View more

Hi Jo   Thank you for writing.   Could I ask you a few questions please?   Firstly, did you have any lumps with your breast pain? Or was it just pain? As my GP (have been twice) cannot feel anything anywhere which is partly why I feel she may be so convinced it is ok?   Were you referred with the breast pain alone? And when the begnin lump was found, was it due to a referral for the breast pain or something else?   How long did you have the pain for before going to the docs? Or did you not go for that?   What were your symptoms when they were investigating for cancer?   Sorry to ask so many questions and I do thank you very much for responding to my message.   Bassplayer ... View more

Hi...that's exactly how I felt/feel but am now taking a risk as I was too, dismissed without a referral and now, feeling maybe I should be moving on.   Good luck   Bassplayer ... View more

Hi Chaz   I know how you feel.  I have had various symptons all this year since January and have been referred twice already.   My current symptom is breast pain and I have been back to my GP twice with this, the last time being last week, and she is firmly convinced there is nothing wrong!  She has not referred me for this pain.  And I too, am a bit worried that something may have been missed, having not been referred, but she is adamant all is okay!  Even to the extent she was quite harsh last week saying to me...."What can we do to convince you?" and that "Clearly we are not doing our job properly."  This took me aback a bit as also, like you, I was a bit anxious in going back again thinking they would be getting fed up with me.  And those comments sort of said maybe they are!!   Anyway, I am writing to say, try not to worry.  You have even been to the breast clinic which must be very re-assuring for you.  I just wanted to say that I think maybe now I should try and get on with my life and not to worry about the possibility of something having been missed and keep my fingers crossed that she is right.  I do hope you are able to do that too.  I also suffer from anxiety etc.. and it doesn't help does it.   Good luck and let us know what happens. They are clearly confident that all is fine and that is very encouraging, especially coming from the Breast Clinic.   Take care Bassplayer ... View more

Well, I did get an appt. yesterday and my GP is firmly convinced that there is nothing wrong having re-read my notes and examining me again. She told me to take Ibuprofen and Evening Primrose Oil every day for 6 weeks and stop it when the pain stops. She said to go back if the pain is still there and she would think about possibly referring. She said that if I was referred they would not be looking for cancer.That is how convinced she is that all is fine.   Maybe I should now accept it and just get on with my life and hope that nothing has been missed.   Thank you again for your reply.   Bassplayer ... View more