Does Breast Cancer Hurt - honest truth from bc patients
Comments
-
Im new here too, and I must say my breast cancer did not cause any pain. It was found on a routine mammogram. I was called back for an ultrasound, then a hook wire biopsy, then an excision. After that I had a lumpectomy and with no clear margin, I had a left masectomy. At the moment I am going thru the expander stage and will have swap over surgery in late Jan or early Feb. All in all, my outcome is good, but I am woried about my daughter inheriting what I have. Hence, we are off to see a genetic counseller tomorrow. Does anyone know what I should expect at the first meeting? Thanks. All the best justjen for a good outcome.
0 -
Patc142
Welcome to the sorority that no one ever wants to join, however this is a good place to be when you need information and or need to vent!!!
Sounds like you caught the beast early enough to not be life threatening!!!! I can understand your concern about your daughter. I talked to my MO about testing for my daughter and 4 grand daughters, and the geneticist for the cancer center said because of my age (68) when diagnosed it is much less likely to be a problem. He did suggest that they start regular mammograms a bit earlier than most gals do.
Good luck with your appointment tomorrow and especially in Jan/Feb.
Please have a wonderful Holiday Season!!!
Vickie
0 -
Thanks. What makes it really hard is that I tried bringing it up to my husband and I know he means well but I almost feel as if it's dismissed. He's like well... once you are on my insurance go see a doctor and then that is that. Like I shouldn't be worrying. It's my left side. I have noticed at cycle time they have become a lot more sensitive than before and actually my right has become extra sensitive in a good way (sorry for tmi) like it's trying to make up for the left side. I appreciate the responses and the warm welcome. :-) I'll have to write more tomorrow. He's getting out of the shower and I don't want him knowing that I'm BLOGGING about it. LOL. He says the internet just makes you worry too much. I guess that could be true but so does a stinging biting feeling in your nipple ya know??? ;-) Have a great night.
0 -
I'm on my third round of bc, started in late 2003, stage 3, now stage 4. I didn't have any pain in the lumps, first times. Unfortunately for me, my Onc and I both thought the armpit pain I had since early 2009 was nerve pain. It took me losing use of the arm and being in extreme pain before tests were done. If I had demanded tests, I might have been spared months of pain and the tumor growing into my muscle. It has tentacles growing into my latissimus dorsi , so no neat lump that can be removed. So yes, cancer can hurt a lot.
0 -
Thanks Vickie for the warm welcome. Im finding the worst bit is the expander, very achy under my ribs and around the back of my shoulder. I take zoplicone so I can sleep.
Im so sorry chatter that your doctor didnt send you for tests sooner and you endured all that pain.
Justjen, your husband is probably just as worried as you but doesnt wasnt to show it. Men cant deal with things like this the way we can. I really like reading the stories in this forum and am glad I found it. I dont feel so alone and am encouraged by the positive attitudes and humour. Thank you all.
0 -
I came to this page because I just recently was diagnosed with Fibroadenoma Tumor in my right breast next to my armpit . I have had it for years and it had always caused some pain but not that much until I got implants. Then it became very clear that something was not right, I could fill my mass at the surface of the skin and it would have sharp shooting pains. My dr thought it was just a cyst since I am only 33 with no family history. When my ultrasound showed a solid mass the dr ordered a biopsy and it came back as a fibroadenoma tumor. I now have been having a lot more pain with the tumor and can not even sleep on my right side, the pain is even worse during my cycle. I go back in February for another ultrasound to see if my mass has grown. I have also read about how many times these rumors are misdiagnosed. My question is should I just ask to have this removed? I don't want to always worry that it fine and then it one day not be?
0 -
Swellz, If I were you I would be asking for removal and biopsy. As you said, it will stop you worrying and always having this little lump whispering to you. Peace of mind is a grand thing.
0 -
Thanks Patc142
I think your right, I feel like I am going crazy. I was good for a couple months after being told it was not cancer but then when my pain started to get worse that feeling I had waiting for my results started to come back. I don't want to talk to anyone about it because I don't want them to think I am a hypercondreact. It was so good to find this page and know that I am not alone in my feelings. As women I think we are in tune with our bodies and know when something is not right. My husband was great through the whole process but felt that I should have requested it be removed right away! I will keep everyone in my prayers! Thanks for the advise I think it's time to take it.0 -
To justjen
I went about a year after my last son was born to the Dr about a tiny little lump that I could rarely feel. He said it was nothing most likely a swollen duct from breast feeding and I was only 25 at the time. Fast forward to now 34 and all the years in between thinking to my self my lump is getting bigger more painful, but I am still too young and bc doesn't hurt and if I have had it this long there is no way it's cancer. Well I didn't have cancer but was told very fast that it was not a cyst! I have done a lot of research on the Internet during my waiting period and found so much helpful info. Some breast cancers can go a very long time without symptoms and some get bad fast! The only thing that made me finally go back to the Dr was my body, every time I went to bed, put on a bra, took a shower, or grazed my breast a certain way I would get that reminder that this is not right. Like you I have two kids that I want to see every moment of their life's. It's your body and your feelings, don't take the chance and wait to long! I thank god everyday that mine was not cancer but I am now left with the same tumor that is still nagging me everyday and making me question if I should be doing something more? I am done, I want some piece of mind and like you don't want to feel anymore like a ticking time bomb! Insurance or not get it checked, you can be billed for it and make very small payments without it affecting your budget or credit!0 -
I feel very silly... maybe this is all in my head. The bee sting has hit me a few times in my right side now so I'm thinking maybe it's something else right? Then I had my husband feel and he says he doesn't think I am feeling a lump, he thinks it is just tissue. As for being tired, maybe it's just cause I've gotten so out of weight and out of shape. Mleh... I just feel like maybe I'm being ridiculous. It's just I don't understand that bee sting feeling. After being very sick with the flu about 2 weeks ago, I developed this horrible cough. So my husband said maybe the pains are from coughing so hard but I think they started before that actually. I don't know... I just know I am starting to feel like a hypochondriac and don't want to be that way. :-( I can't wait until I can have better insurance and just go get a check up.
0 -
justjen
Don't be so hard on yourself. Once we are diagnosed with BC or even suspicion BC we become more conscious of everything going on in our bodies.
Keep yourself busy and maybe that will help distract you....
Good luck..
Vickie
0 -
BUMP PLEASE
0 -
I guess I'll chime in on the bump
I am still waiting on the path report from an excisional biopsy done this past Monday, so I don't know if this is BC, but this little 7mm subareolar hard mass HURTS. Well, it did hurt. It made the lower and left side of my breast ache and it hurt when I touched it. After the excision I have the same pain, only it's 5x worse. At least I know they got the right spot? Every once in a while I get a sensation like someone sticking an ice pick in my nipple. I can relate to the "bee sting" analogy, as well.
Why is it that "if you don't hear from me by Friday morning" always seems to mean I won't know anything until Friday?0 -
kyml
Those waiting times for medical reports are torture to those of us waiting to hear the results. I am glad you have followed thru with you Dr. and have had it checked. I hope you get good news.
This forum is a good site for receiving support from other gals that have been thru it or are going thru this.
Feel free to post back anytime you need to vent or even just to read the experiences others have.
Merry Christmas (or Happy Hanuka).
Vicks
0 -
BUMP PLEASE
0 -
Bumping . . . I just had to share too though. I had a breast exam today and I have some pain in my left breast with my lump. And she said "Generally there is no pain with breast cancer so that's a good sign". And I was just about to tell her about this thread and she said "wait, that's GENEREALLY. There are lots of women who do have pain prior to dx of BC. But we'll keep the good thoughts in mind".
I was so proud of her correcting herself. And not worrying about looking dumb for correcting herself and for not giving me false hope. Just positive thinking. At that point I wasn't concerned about listening to her at all.
0 -
T8 just that one med person is a good sign of the change, bc and pain being recognized as possible.
JustJen - the insurance is bothersome to wait on. I would never just wait though, not for a dx or anything, there is too much to do, changes to be made. If I suspected, which I did that there was bc I would go all cannons blazing to deal with it in any way possible. For me, I used alternative choices too though I did do a surgery in Nov 2011. The tiredness is telltake something is really wrong for you, whether an infection or bc, who knows. The stinging could be an infection in the breast too, you never know. Fear gets us, think positive and make all steps in a positive direction, but keep the medical way on your arm too. It all goes hand in hand for your good.
My nodes bother me under my arms, I am large so hard to tell anything without tests. But the nodes loading with toxins and such need cleared which is what I am focused on now. Since July 2012 I have been very well, regardless of the tests I had the end of June. Am just grateful and keeping on. And yes, sometimes things still sting and scare the bejeez out of me, I guess it is called reality striking, we have reason to keep to reality, it can save lives too.
LOVEEssa
0 -
Had my surgery in Oct 2011, been on Letrozole (Femara) since Nov. 2011. I continued to have discomfort (sometimes pain) for a long time... After about 9 months, my PCP finally paid attention to my comments, he drained 11 ccs of seroma from the breast. It continued to bother me, and I kept feeling bumps, this time the PCP said, we had better have a radiologist drain it with ultra sound guidence. ( He drained another 10ccs.) Well, I had that done on Nov. 20 2012. Since then I have felt normal, only an occassional ouch, no more muffin top in the bra. The path report, is there was "abundant blood with inflamatory cells, but no cancer cells". I go back for diagnostic mammo, see the RO/and MO in mid April.
I finally feel that I can consider myself a survivor...
SO, my suggestion, if a person feels there is something wrong, just keep at it until something can be done.
Here's to hoping good results for all!!!!
Vickie
0 -
Good Afternoon Ladies,
I have had extreme itchiness in the left bottom of the breast and including the nipple. This lasted for 2 weeks. Then the pain started. A stabbing pain, that I associated sleeping on my left side and must have pintched it during the night. This pain since the middle of December 2012 has radiated from my bottom of my breast, to the side of it near my arm, and I have a sence of heaviness. To me it seems my breast is not the shape it was. Now most recently my left arm pit is sore and has a toughen skin sensation. Though I have saline implants from three years ago I was fearing that my implant leaked. I went to my Doctor and he said that "breast cancer does not have pain" and he thinks it is mechanical with my implant. My plastic surgeon examined me and everything is normal, no movement, no leaks etc.
Though I'm scheduled for an ultra sound in three weeks, my symptoms are getting worse. Today at work the top of my breast feels hard.
Any suggestions?
Thanks to all.
ValL from Ontario
0 -
Vail,
I would suggest, if there is anyway possible you can have them move your exam up to do so, (even if you have to make a last minute trip for it because of someone cancelling.
Listen to your body, at times we have to be our own advocate.
I had continued to have discomfort after the surgery, even though the mammo didn't show anything, and the Doctors said they didn't know why. After my PCP aspirated 11 ccs, it still bothered me so the PCP had me have a US. Then the radiologist used guided ultrasound and drained about another 10ccs. The path report on the second aspiration was "abundant amount of blood with inflammatory cells, but no cancer cells"! Since a few days after that I have had no more pain and discomfort, and the 'bad boob' doesn't have a muffin top in the bra cup anymore...and that was last November. 13 months post surgical.
Glad I persisted to find the reason..
I hope you are able to find the cause for your problem SOON!!!
Vickie
0 -
Thanks Vicks1960 for your support.
Though the ultrasound techs are only in once a week, on Tuesdays, I did call twice to see if there was infact a cancelation. By the second call the lady rudely answered that to stop calling her, as she will call me if there was an opening. Unreal.Another question I have, did anyone ever have the sensation of the likeness of heart burn in theie breast, before the stabbing pain started? Sometimes I get this on going sensation that I have heart burn, but it is not in my stomach, throat, or heart, it is in the breast. Then afterwards a sharp throbbing stabbing pain starts.
Any ideas?
Thanks again.
Val
0 -
I guess I'm the poster child for routine mammograms with your annual physical. I had no lump, no pain, no clue my mamo would come back bad. The Dr didn't feel a lump during the exam either. The radiologist didn't see anything on the mamo, but the software on the digital mamo machine flagged it. Tiny cluster microcalcifications that turned out to be idc.
0 -
ValL I too get the heartburn sensation, right now my left arm above the elbow has stabbing pains along with my left armpit yesterday it felt like I was having let down and I kept checking my shirt at work cause it felt like I was about to leak my youngest is ten I haven't breastfed since he was 3 months old. have my mammo tomorrow hoping for some answers
0 -
ilovemyboob,
I'm glad I'm not crazy regarding this symptom and I too, had the sensation that I was leaking. As I got in bed the other night I dabbed my breast with kleenex to see if ther was fluid. My boys are 20 and 18, so it's been a while.
Good luck to you and keep us posted.
Val from Ontario
0 -
Hi I am not diagnosed but concerned. I have had an itching sensation on and off through the side of my right breast, with a point where my dominant cyst (2.5cm) of dull pain is. But the point of pain for me is on my right collar bone towards the centre. It is an uncomfortable funny point that makes me feel nauseous if I touch it. I do have multiple cysts through my right breast and up into my armpit and have a referral for the BS in Feb.
Has anybody experienced a funny point of pain on the collar bone.
Regards
Y
0 -
{{{Huggs}}} to you all waiting, or wondering, or scared or confused.
From my experience, the sooner the better for seeing a dr., getting a mammo and ultrasound, biopsies, etc
I had pain! And my cancer is an aggressive little bugger - - faaaaaaaaaaast growing. Pain in arm, armpit and breast.
(not now I'm NED....for now)
Snowtime, Vail, Ilove, I have not experienced your symptoms = heartburn in the breast, or pain by the collarbone.
You are all in my thoughts.0 -
Thanks SeattleMama
Mammo and ultrsound all done - now on referral for BS -Waiting is such a mid bending pest.
Y
0 -
Last year I went to the doctor to find out why I had a ten day long period. The doctor did a finger palpatation breast exam and found a small pea size lump near the nipple. It was movable and mostly unpainful except from fiddling around with it and I was told to keep an eye on it and let her know if it changes. I don't think it has grown or not much at least but the last few days I have been experiencing sharp burning stabbing pains in and around the nipple and the whole area is very sensitive and tender which made me initially think it was menstrual related except for the burning sensation. Not sure if its actually tender or if I am recoiling because I am expecting pain on touching because it is hard to pinpoint when I touch it WHERE the pain is. Not sure if I should worry or not. Cysts are painful too I hear. Doc suggested that is what she thought it was last year since it was very moveable and just kind of floating in there near the nipple. The lump is actually off to the side of the nipple just outside the aerole towards center of chest. The pain is decidedly in the center and just below the actual nipple.
0 -
Have you thought about a biopsy? that is the only real way to tell if it is any trouble or better...if it is part of the 80% B9 stuff
0 -
Thanks SeattleMama.
So I raised a stink with my Doctor that I wanted something done today for an ultra sound. Well low and behold they got me in this morning and at the end the radiologist said to me that I have three cysts, do big deal, and I'm too young for BS. He suggests my pain is my chest muscle and the famous line BC doesn't hurt. That was that!
I could not believe it! Well the three cysts are by the nipple and that is where this stabbing pain also is. Now what? Who is going to listen to me now?
What would my next step be ladie?
Worried...
Val
0
