Need advice
JenniferJames70 posted:
Hello. I am new to this site, so I hope I'm doing this correctly. Long story short~~Every time I go for my yearly exams, pap & breast exam, my Doctor finds a lump or mass. I've had mammos, ultrasounds, had lumps removed and drained. In 2009 I had a solid mass which was tested with a core biopsy. Benign, thank goodness. The last mammo, which was performed 3 & a half months ago showed I had a lump in both breasts. The one drained was as big as a ping pong ball. When drained the fluid looked like mucous & was green. My breast looked like a quilt & was badly bruised for 2 weeks, which did'nt bother me at the time. However, now, the site is partly numb and feels like I have someone pricking me with a needle & is painful. It's been 3 months since my procedure. Is this normal? I see my doctor tomorrow, but I like to be armed with info before I go. Now, the OTHER lump the mammo found? I did'nt even know it was there~~could'nt feel it all~~until now. Everytime I lay on my left side it is very painful. I do know that most cysts are benign & nothing to worry about, but that does'nt stop me from worrying. I am 42, my mother passed away & I have zero female relatives over the age of 24(& she is my daughter), so I have no one to really discuss this with. So~~I guess I'm asking if anyone else "out there" goes through this issue of continuous findings? Thank you 
4 Replies |Watch This Discussion | Report This| Share this:Need advice<b>Hello. I am new to this site, so I hope I'm doing this correctly. Long story short~~Every time I go for my yearly exams, pap & breast exam, my Doctor finds a lump or mass. I've had mammos, ultrasounds, had lumps removed and drained. In 2009 I had a solid mass which was tested with a core biopsy. Benign, thank goodness. The last mammo, which was performed 3 & a half months ago showed I had a lump in both breasts. The one drained was as big as a ping pong ball. When drained the fluid looked like mucous & was green. My breast looked like a quilt & was badly bruised for 2 weeks, which did'nt bother me at the time. However, now, the site is partly numb and feels like I have someone pricking me with a needle & is painful. It's been 3 months since my procedure. Is this normal? I see my doctor tomorrow, but I like to be armed with info before I go. Now, the OTHER lump the mammo found? I did'nt even know it was there~~could'nt feel it all~~until now. Everytime I lay on my left side it is very painful. I do know that most cysts are benign & nothing to worry about, but that does'nt stop me from worrying. I am 42, my mother passed away & I have zero female relatives over the age of 24(& she is my daughter), so I have no one to really discuss this with. So~~I guess I'm asking if anyone else "out there" goes through this issue of continuous findings? Thank you <img src="http://img.webmd.com/community/images/smile.gif" align="top" border="0"></b>
Rachael67 responded:
Jennifer, please know that someone will espond soon! Without some research, there is little I can offer. Tomorrow, if no one has come foreward, I will do that...I promise! No one willl leave you dangling in the wind! This is a great group and tho' I cannot supply info right now, know I am extending my hand and sending caring thoughts!
Blessings.
Rachael
Blessings.
Rachael
A bird doesn't sing because it has an answer; it sings because it has a song.
Maya Angelou
Maya Angelou
Report This| Share this:Need adviceJennifer, please know that someone will espond soon! Without some research, there is little I can offer. Tomorrow, if no one has come foreward, I will do that...I promise! No one willl leave you dangling in the wind! This is a great group and tho' I cannot supply info right now, know I am extending my hand and sending caring thoughts!<br /> <br />Blessings.<br />Rachael
mhall6252 responded:
Jennifer,
So sorry to hear you have had so many problems, which I am sure causes so muchc stress. I don't know the answer to your questions because I never had a problem until all of a sudden, when I had a big problem. Is it possible to ask your doctor if it would be worthwhile to remove the cysts that are causing so much pain and anxiety. There must be some answer.
This isn't much help, I know, but we'll all be thinking about you and I hope you'll come back and let us know how your doctor appointment goes.
Hugs,
Michelle
So sorry to hear you have had so many problems, which I am sure causes so muchc stress. I don't know the answer to your questions because I never had a problem until all of a sudden, when I had a big problem. Is it possible to ask your doctor if it would be worthwhile to remove the cysts that are causing so much pain and anxiety. There must be some answer.
This isn't much help, I know, but we'll all be thinking about you and I hope you'll come back and let us know how your doctor appointment goes.
Hugs,
Michelle
Michelle
Read my blog at www.mch-breastcancer.blogspot.com
Smile and the world smiles with you!
Read my blog at www.mch-breastcancer.blogspot.com
Smile and the world smiles with you!
Report This| Share this:Need adviceJennifer,<br />So sorry to hear you have had so many problems, which I am sure causes so muchc stress. I don't know the answer to your questions because I never had a problem until all of a sudden, when I had a big problem. Is it possible to ask your doctor if it would be worthwhile to remove the cysts that are causing so much pain and anxiety. There must be some answer. <br /> <br />This isn't much help, I know, but we'll all be thinking about you and I hope you'll come back and let us know how your doctor appointment goes.<br /> <br />Hugs,<br />Michelle
Rachael67 responded:
Jennifer, here I am back again as I promised. I still hope that some of our ladies may offer their own experiences which might be similar to yours. During the summer many members are off vacationing and won't check the boards until their return so I've not given up hope on that issue!
I briefly searched for possible causes of recurring breast lumps/masses and found several possible causes; Fibroadema...Cysts...Mastitis...Breast Cancer
(Please know that this was just a quick search, and there may be many other causes.) I would suggest that if you have not looked into each of these, you do so. You can gage the symptoms and treatments which you have had and see how they compare.
Also, I certainly would suggest that you seek a second opinion just to get a bit more input and evaluation. Preferably find someone who works at a breast care center since generally they are the most well informed on all issues of the breast and have the most up to date equipment, etc!
Please let us know how you re doing, and feel free to ask questions, etc. We will do all we can to ease your concerns and offer you the support you need!
Blessings.
Rachael
I briefly searched for possible causes of recurring breast lumps/masses and found several possible causes; Fibroadema...Cysts...Mastitis...Breast Cancer
(Please know that this was just a quick search, and there may be many other causes.) I would suggest that if you have not looked into each of these, you do so. You can gage the symptoms and treatments which you have had and see how they compare.
Also, I certainly would suggest that you seek a second opinion just to get a bit more input and evaluation. Preferably find someone who works at a breast care center since generally they are the most well informed on all issues of the breast and have the most up to date equipment, etc!
Please let us know how you re doing, and feel free to ask questions, etc. We will do all we can to ease your concerns and offer you the support you need!
Blessings.
Rachael
A bird doesn't sing because it has an answer; it sings because it has a song.
Maya Angelou
Maya Angelou
Report This| Share this:Need adviceJennifer, here I am back again as I promised. I still hope that some of our ladies may offer their own experiences which might be similar to yours. During the summer many members are off vacationing and won't check the boards until their return so I've not given up hope on that issue!<br /> <br />I briefly searched for possible causes of recurring breast lumps/masses and found several possible causes; <b>Fibroadema...Cysts...Mastitis...Breast Cancer</b><br />(Please know that this was just a quick search, and there may be many other causes.) I would suggest that if you have not looked into each of these, you do so. You can gage the symptoms and treatments which you have had and see how they compare.<br /> <br />Also, I certainly would suggest that you seek a second opinion just to get a bit more input and evaluation. Preferably find someone who works at a breast care center since generally they are the most well informed on all issues of the breast and have the most up to date equipment, etc!<br /> <br />Please let us know how you re doing, and feel free to ask questions, etc. We will do all we can to ease your concerns and offer you the support you need!<br /> <br />Blessings.<br />Rachael
Jennifer,
Sorry it took so long to answer your post. My family was here this past week and Rachael brought it to my attention. Thank you, Rachael!
There could be many reasons for painful breasts. Rachael has mentioned a few.
Some of the other reasons could be chest wall tenderness also known as costochondritis, an injury or trauma to the breast, shingles ( a virus) that usualluy gives pain in 1 breast and is accompanied by a rash. Also certain meds like Lanoxin, Aldomet, Aldactone, Anadrol and Thorazine to mention a few can cause breast lumps and pain.
Some of the things you might want to do to see if it helps with the pain is to limit your intake of caffeine - in coffee, tea and chocolate and see if that helps.
If you have fibrocystic breasts than you might want to take vitamin E - but do not exceed 600 mg. per day.
Wear a tight well fitted bra especially if you are large breasted as it will support your breasts and you might also want to sleep in a bra too.
You can apply warm compresses to your breast.
And you should also keep a diary that documents the frequency and severity of the pain.
Hormonal fluctations related to your menstrual cycle are known as cyclical fluctuations, but you could also have non-cyclical hormonal fluctuations that could cause the pain.
The presence of pain is telling you that something is wrong - it does not necessarily mean cancer - but you should try to find the cause of your pain.
At this point, I would try the things I listed above, and also go to a BREAST CENTER and see a breast specialist at this time. Please ask your current doctor for copies of all your tests, reports and scans.
You should not have breast pain, and I think you should get another opinion from a doctor associated with a breast center. It seems that your doctor is glad that your mammos and ultrasounds are clear, and is going no further - and that is not enough at this point.
You have not mentioned whether or not you have had an MRI which you really need to insist on at this point. An MRI will show things not picked up by the mammo and ultrasound.
Please be proactive and go to a breast center and get the answers you need to have. You deserve to have peace of mind!!!!!!!!!!
Please come back and let us know how you are doing.
Much good luck to you,
Judy
Sorry it took so long to answer your post. My family was here this past week and Rachael brought it to my attention. Thank you, Rachael!
There could be many reasons for painful breasts. Rachael has mentioned a few.
Some of the other reasons could be chest wall tenderness also known as costochondritis, an injury or trauma to the breast, shingles ( a virus) that usualluy gives pain in 1 breast and is accompanied by a rash. Also certain meds like Lanoxin, Aldomet, Aldactone, Anadrol and Thorazine to mention a few can cause breast lumps and pain.
Some of the things you might want to do to see if it helps with the pain is to limit your intake of caffeine - in coffee, tea and chocolate and see if that helps.
If you have fibrocystic breasts than you might want to take vitamin E - but do not exceed 600 mg. per day.
Wear a tight well fitted bra especially if you are large breasted as it will support your breasts and you might also want to sleep in a bra too.
You can apply warm compresses to your breast.
And you should also keep a diary that documents the frequency and severity of the pain.
Hormonal fluctations related to your menstrual cycle are known as cyclical fluctuations, but you could also have non-cyclical hormonal fluctuations that could cause the pain.
The presence of pain is telling you that something is wrong - it does not necessarily mean cancer - but you should try to find the cause of your pain.
At this point, I would try the things I listed above, and also go to a BREAST CENTER and see a breast specialist at this time. Please ask your current doctor for copies of all your tests, reports and scans.
You should not have breast pain, and I think you should get another opinion from a doctor associated with a breast center. It seems that your doctor is glad that your mammos and ultrasounds are clear, and is going no further - and that is not enough at this point.
You have not mentioned whether or not you have had an MRI which you really need to insist on at this point. An MRI will show things not picked up by the mammo and ultrasound.
Please be proactive and go to a breast center and get the answers you need to have. You deserve to have peace of mind!!!!!!!!!!
Please come back and let us know how you are doing.
Much good luck to you,
Judy
Report This| Share this:Need adviceJennifer,<br />Sorry it took so long to answer your post. My family was here this past week and Rachael brought it to my attention. Thank you, Rachael!<br />There could be many reasons for painful breasts. Rachael has mentioned a few. <br />Some of the other reasons could be chest wall tenderness also known as costochondritis, an injury or trauma to the breast, shingles ( a virus) that usualluy gives pain in 1 breast and is accompanied by a rash. Also certain meds like Lanoxin, Aldomet, Aldactone, Anadrol and Thorazine to mention a few can cause breast lumps and pain.<br />Some of the things you might want to do to see if it helps with the pain is to limit your intake of caffeine - in coffee, tea and chocolate and see if that helps. <br /> If you have fibrocystic breasts than you might want to take vitamin E - but do not exceed 600 mg. per day.<br />Wear a tight well fitted bra especially if you are large breasted as it will support your breasts and you might also want to sleep in a bra too.<br />You can apply warm compresses to your breast.<br />And you should also keep a diary that documents the frequency and severity of the pain. <br />Hormonal fluctations related to your menstrual cycle are known as cyclical fluctuations, but you could also have non-cyclical hormonal fluctuations that could cause the pain.<br />The presence of pain is telling you that something is wrong - it does not necessarily mean cancer - but you should try to find the cause of your pain.<br />At this point, I would try the things I listed above, and also go to a BREAST CENTER and see a breast specialist at this time. Please ask your current doctor for copies of all your tests, reports and scans. <br />You should not have breast pain, and I think you should get another opinion from a doctor associated with a breast center. It seems that your doctor is glad that your mammos and ultrasounds are clear, and is going no further - and that is not enough at this point.<br />You have not mentioned whether or not you have had an MRI which you really need to insist on at this point. An MRI will show things not picked up by the mammo and ultrasound.<br />Please be proactive and go to a breast center and get the answers you need to have. You deserve to have peace of mind!!!!!!!!!!<br />Please come back and let us know how you are doing.<br />Much good luck to you,<br />Judy
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