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Does Breast Cancer Hurt - honest truth from bc patients

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Comments

  • Vicks1960
    Vicks1960 Member Posts: 393
    edited July 2013

    Staylor:

    Welcome to the best support site on the net.... None of us really want to belong to the sorority but SO GLAD for each person's support.

    I am not any help for your symtoms, because I didn't have any, mammo found it (Dr's couldn't even feel it.) but still want to welcome you and let you know we are each here to help you and each other.  This is a scary new experience for you so feel free to cry, rant, rave whatever, we have big shoulders.  Let us know how your appointments go.  Maybe, we will all be in your pocket while you are there....

    Vickie

  • sciencegal
    sciencegal Member Posts: 546
    edited August 2013

    Hi Staylor,



    I just saw this post. Did you have your mammo today? How did it go?



    Hugs

  • MarinaB
    MarinaB Member Posts: 1
    edited August 2013

    I was dx with phyllodes mid grade in 2008 and had partial mastectomy .. For me there was only pain ( that I remember ) if some one poked (ie doctor) it..

    I am now looking at suspected IBC.. And it's hellishly painful , and in both breast. The left one especially.. Pain in breast, to side on rib cage, and into underneath of arm.. Sometimes back into my shoulder blades in back.. The right seems to go only to rib cage are .. The right breast tumor is at 12:00 position and left breast mass is at 9:30 position.. My menstrual cycle definitely makes it worse.. I go for mammo/us on 8/20 and see surgeon on 8/23..

  • SarahRoss
    SarahRoss Member Posts: 1
    edited August 2013

    How did you find out it was IBC if you had no pain? I'm very curious

  • cynthiaintx
    cynthiaintx Member Posts: 66
    edited August 2013

    I'm another one who was sore.... and the strange thing was, it wasn't gradual, it was - woke up one morning and I had a shallow bumb and it HURT!  I thought, I'm pre-menepausal, can I still get mastitis?  I also wondered if my little dog stepped there the night before?  It came and went depending on my cycle, how much coffee I consumed, etc.  EVERYTHING I heard or read said it was typical of a cyst.

    I had my mammogram and ultrasound yesterday, and the radiologist is very suspicious - so she has me coming back for a core needle biopsy on Tuesday 8/20.  Her words - "It doesn't look good."

    So yeah, it CAN and it DOES hurt.

  • Jody1202
    Jody1202 Member Posts: 11
    edited January 2014

    Good evening everyone, I am new to this forum. I have not been dx with bc but I am concerned. I am 45, mother of a 9 year old son. I was dx with endometriosis in 2004 when my son was 6 months. I had a fully hysterectomy. My dr left one ovary  so I would not go into early menopause. I started to experience hot flashes and night sweats about 2 years ago. So I started to take estroven. Not really working, though. Anyway about 18 months ago I started to experience severe pain, burning and itching in my right shoulder blade that radiated around to my armpit and right side of my breast. I thought I pulled something so I waited for about a month. I finally went to see my GP and he sent me for an MRI of cervical spin. Thinking herniated disc in my neck. MRI came back fine. Still in pain. Then referred to orthopedic surgeon. Another MRI of thoracic spin, results are fine. Then sent to neurologist. All test were fine. Then sent to neurosurgeon for brain MRI. Again dx fine. Then sent to rheumatologist  for more test. All the while telling them the pain is in not in my back but in shoulder blade and right breast area. Tests all negative. Including blood work and finally x-Ray on shoulder. Back to my GP I went. He ordered MRI of my shoulder. Negative again. I am sorry that I am rambling but I am very frustrated. Now I am at a lose, still in pain and it's getting worse.  I am not sure what to do. I haven't had a mammo in over a year. But I am making an appointment with my gyno next week. I do feel a small lump in my right breast above the nipple and pain in my armpit area and down my right arm. keep being told it is muscular. But for 18 months!! Is that possible.  I am just in a lot of pain and no one is listening to me. The pain makes it hard to sleep and to do any daily activities. I do light yoga every night just to stretch out. It does help for a little while but then the pain returns when I do any thing that requires me to move my arm. I still work but in pain every day. Please if anyone has any advice I would greatly appreciate it. Thank you for listening.

  • april485
    april485 Member Posts: 1,983
    edited January 2014

    Hi Jody. If no one is listening to you, find someone who will! We know our own bodies better than anyone and keep on them until you get answers. You will be in my thoughts and prayers.

  • proudtospin
    proudtospin Member Posts: 4,671
    edited January 2014

    Jody, do try to find a doc  who listens, I just went through 3 months of the Hell as my sinus were blocked and I could not breath, as in it felt like I had beans up my nose.......took a while but found an ENT finally who listened, surgery last week and I can breath now!

    keep looking and best of luck

    by the way, my BC was found in routine mamo, DCIS and nothing was ever felt, we are all so dif

  • Jody1202
    Jody1202 Member Posts: 11
    edited January 2014

    Thank you for responding proudtospin and april485. First, above all else, I have to say that this web-site is a wonderful thing. Each and every one of you are couragous and an inspiration. I made an appointment with my gyno for tomorrow. The fact that the pain has gotten worse and I feel a small lump (size of a pea) under my arm pit that wasn't there before, has me a little worried. I know I should be positive but it's very hard to be. I know that this sounds terrible but I hope that they find something ( not cancer persay) but maybe a cyst that will explain all this pain for so long. Then they can remove it and I will be out of pain. Wishful thinking, so far things haven't gone my way in this department. I try not to get my hopes up anymore ( thinking before each new test finally some answers and then nothing).  We will see. When I was reading through the symptoms that other women have had. Some said that they had nightsweats and I have that every night for the last year and a half. I never though anything of it. Think that I was probably going into early meno. I am not taking HRT but I do take Estroven. I still have nightsweats. I thought that the esrtoven stopped working or my body just got used to it. Thank you so much for listening and letting me rant. It really helps to have someone to listen. don't get me wrong my husband, family and friends are great and very supportive. But I have the feeling that they are getting tired of listening to me whine about the pain. So thanks again. You all are in my thoughts and prayers!!! God Bless. 

  • Jody1202
    Jody1202 Member Posts: 11
    edited January 2014

    P. S. Should I have just the mamo or should I ask for an ultrasound as well tomorrow?

  • proudtospin
    proudtospin Member Posts: 4,671
    edited January 2014

    my script is generally written as "Mamo and ultrasound if needed.' as It prevents having to come back but the ultrasound may not be needed

    good luck, deep breath and stay busy till the appt

  • pinktiara
    pinktiara Member Posts: 716
    edited January 2014

    Yes! Breast cancer and any cancer can hurt. For a year or more I was feeling the "bee sting" in my right breast. I thought it was because my, then 20lb puppy, ran full tilt and hit me in my breast causing a bruise and small lump.Yeah, whatever. In October at the urging of my new PCP I had an ultra sound.(didn't want a mammo because I have 20 yo implants) ultra came back highly suspicious for malignancy....whaaaaaat!    Diag mammo....can't tell...sheesh....MRI....lit up like a Christmas tree....uh oh.  Biopsy....PCP said Atypical ductual hyperplasia....whew!      BUUUUTTTTT!  Many satilitte lesions and the biopsy showed highly suspisious celss suggestive for malignancy. still have to have a lumpectomy.....I have 3 different areas in my very small breast that are questionable...great!    Went to my breast surgeon.....she was examining my breast and said very quietly "It's CANCER"  After all the tests....she could tell by the "feel" of the lumps. She Knew. Tell you what I Knew too.

    My point is:

    Yes cancer can be painful.

    Go with your gut feeling and push for answers.

    Just because you don't have or know about your family history (my case) doesn't mean you are at a lessor risk of getting breast cancer.

    Find a really great doctor.  Mine asks me what I want....and doesn't discount it. She tells me the truth about outcomes......and then follows my wishes.

    January 17th I am having a nipple sparing double  mastectomy...one side might not work we'll try.

    I don't have insurance.......never, not one time has anyone been worried about getting paid......

  • Jody1202
    Jody1202 Member Posts: 11
    edited January 2014

    Thank you, proudtospin. I will try. I work for the military so I am always busy. Lol. Thank god, not a lot of time to sit and think... I will let you know what is found if anything. Thanks again. God bless.

  • proudtospin
    proudtospin Member Posts: 4,671
    edited January 2014

    Jody, you know you can come back and ask for clarification if needed but remember, it may end up as an alert and nothing more, hoping for that for you

  • Jody1202
    Jody1202 Member Posts: 11
    edited January 2014

    Momaton, and to all of you thank you for such great advice. I know that I need to be an advocate for my own health. My husband is going with me to the appointment tomorrow. In the past when I was seeing all the different drs for my pain. I let them steam roll me and tell me there was nothing wrong with me. The pain was all in my head, blah, blah. Not in so many words but I knew the drill. They would pawn me off to another doctor. I left every doctors office more frustrated and depressed than when I walked. So for a while I thought that I would never find out what was causing the pain and stopped going to the doctors.  Then I happened to googled severe pain in shoulder blade radiating to arm pit and side of breast, low and behold this web site popped up. Thank god.

    Good luck on the 17th momaton, which is my sons birthday btw and he was a gift from god. God is watching over all of us and sending us gifts when he knows we need them. I truly believe that because I didn't know I couldn't get pregnant. I didn't know I had endometriosis until after I had my son. My doctor said that I was luck I got pregnant with him in the first place. He said that the lesions were so bad that my bladder was so damaged that he didn't think he could save it. He said it was the worst case he has seen in a his career. I was in surgery for 6 hours because every was fused together. Anyway, rambling again... Lol sorry. My prayers are with you momaton and every one on this site. Thank you. Much love and prayers. Will post again.

  • Jody1202
    Jody1202 Member Posts: 11
    edited January 2014

    Thank you,proudtospin.. I will keep that in mind and try to be positive. I will keep you posted.

  • Jody1202
    Jody1202 Member Posts: 11
    edited January 2014

    Hi all,

           I went to see my gyn yesterday. He didn't feel any lumps ( which is very positive ) He is sending me to get a DX mammo and ultrasound because of the pain. I asked him THE QUESTION--- "Can breast cancer be painfull!!" He replied... " Of course it can, very painfull!! If there is no lump and pain, You should always investigate!" Wow, that was such a surprise. I went in there with guns blazing (LOL) and there was no need. So I am going to my tests 23 January. I will let you know what is going on. Heres hoping for good results but if they don't find anything then I am back to square 1 with my pain and no DX. Catch 22!!! Thanks again for this wonderful site. It is such a great thing to read all the posts of those who have been in the trenches and we can all learn from them. YOU ALL GAVE ME THE COURAGE TO GO IN THERE AND NOT TAKE ANY !@iT....!! Thank you!!! You all are truely angles sent from God to help the rest of us. God Bless and you are all in my prayers.

    Jody

  • april485
    april485 Member Posts: 1,983
    edited January 2014


    Praying for a good outcome Jody. Chances are good that it is NOT breast cancer but you can't ever ignore breast pain.

  • Jody1202
    Jody1202 Member Posts: 11
    edited January 2014

    Thank you, april485.. you a probably right that it is not BC but like you said it is better to be safe that sorry. I will let you what happens.

  • pinktiara
    pinktiara Member Posts: 716
    edited January 2014

    Thoughts and hugs with you Jody.

    my son was born on the 15th.

    I had 2 miscarriages(sp) before he came along.  and then his little brother :)

    can't change things...just YES push for a diagnosis......my PCP could not feel lumps in October....and now....oh yes I can feel all 7 of them.

    Can't wait until next Friday and they are gone.

    scared but relieved...

  • Jody1202
    Jody1202 Member Posts: 11
    edited January 2014

    Momaton,

                    Yes I will keep going until I find out what is wrong with me. I hate not knowing. 2 boys, that's great!!! 15th? Well happy birthday to him. How hold are they? I wish I could have had another baby but it wasn't in the cards for me. But I thank god every day for my little man. LOL, he is 10 now and he is still my little man. Guess he always will be. He hates when I call him that. LOL.. Thoughts and hugs to you as well. I pray all goes well on Friday. Keep me posted. Take care!!!

  • pinktiara
    pinktiara Member Posts: 716
    edited January 2014

    Hi Jody.

    I was re-reading my post...came out kinda funny, that's what a couple of glasses of wine can do to you...lol

    My son will be 30 (omg) next week. My other son is 27. They are still my babies. Wouldn't tell them that though ;)

    Have a good day!

  • RuthD
    RuthD Member Posts: 1
    edited January 2014

    I have a lump in my left and right breast and one under my arm.  I go for a diagnostic mammogram today in about an hour.  None of the lumps hurt.  I just hope I'm okay but don't know.  I am not worried too much for some odd reason.  Someone told me it could be other things besides cancer.  Please say a prayer for me. Thanks.Happy

  • Jody1202
    Jody1202 Member Posts: 11
    edited January 2014

    RuthD, I am in the same boat. Saying a prayer for you!!!

  • Jody1202
    Jody1202 Member Posts: 11
    edited January 2014

    Momaton,

    LOL, I could use a glass right now. Work is crazy today. Yea, don't tell them that. LOL.

    Have a great day, as well!! and weekend..

  • Bluebird-DE
    Bluebird-DE Member Posts: 1,233
    edited January 2014

    Jody - good to hear you are seeing a dr that knows bc can hurt. the other half. my GP has bc run in her family, three w it and she told me it did not hurt. they are learning. good sharing to all. sometimes it hurts, sometimes not. we have to push through and find the truth to our issues, so be our best advocates.

  • Smileypeach
    Smileypeach Member Posts: 1
    edited March 2014

    Bump

  • juneping
    juneping Member Posts: 634
    edited March 2014

    mine didn't really hurt but it was bothering me. When I carry heavy stuff on the arm of the right side (cancer side)...I felt a little dull pain. I would just say it's more on the agony side instead of shooting pain. 

  • NeedingHelp
    NeedingHelp Member Posts: 6
    edited March 2014

    Omg this is making me very very scared now. Im convinced i have BC :'(

  • bearcub
    bearcub Member Posts: 59
    edited March 2014

    I am going to chime in, I also felt the bee sting kind of pain.  I went into the doctor because I was worried it was my heart.  We did all sorts of tests for the heart and everything was fine.  He asked when I had my last mammogram and I had said the previous year.  About a month later I went into have my mammogram and ....BC...I have not had the bee sting pain since my lumpectomy.

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