Breast Exam

[CaseyK37]

So I went to the OB-GYN in July for my annual physical and they do a breast exam as well. The Dr. said she felt a lump in my right breast and to keep an eye on it and if it doesn't go away in a month to come back. She said she wasn't concerned because of my age and also no history of breast cancer in my family. I have thought about it since July and have been feeling for the lump and am unsure if what I feel is what she felt... So after much debate I have decided to go back in. I figured it is better to be safe than sorry! I have an appointment on Tuesday 10-20 at 4:30 pm. I am pretty nervous. I don't really think I have anything to worry about but it is hard not to get worked up over it. Lately I have been having these weird shooting pains through that same breast and I know with breast cancer it is usually painless. So I don't really know what the pain could be coming from but I guess I will find out soon! Wish me luck :crossfingers:

[FFC]

Oh wow... I hope everything goes well. Maybe it'll just be a swollen node or something. Please keep us updated... good luck!!!

[WebLady]

I am almost 36 and I have had something similar (with similar periodic slight pain) for over a year now. I go and have a mammo/ultrasound every 6 months to keep an eye on it. Then last time I felt something else, the Dr felt it too, but it didn't show up on the mammogram or the ultrasound, so they sent me to a breast health specialist.

I was really nervous seeing the specialist, but she said it could be just normal for me and since I am still fairly young and they have nothing to compare it to, then they are just going to keep an eye on that too. I am suppose to go back to the specialist for that in January I think.

I still feel stuff, but at this point I am not sure it is different or not; sometimes I think it is, but I don't know if it is just that I am more aware of it now or what. I try not to worry about it since I am going so often to have it checked.

I don't have any family history, but my mother does have thyroid and lymphoma cancer.

All the best to you; try not to worry, it is probably nothing :)

[melissa1031]

it's good that you have an appointment to have it checked.Like you said it's better to be safe then sorry!!Good luck!

[Kirby]

I've had something similar since I was 18 (I'm 24 now). Mine's called Fibroadenoma. I get it checked by ultrasound every year and I have also had two biopsies. Each time I have been told that it's nothing to worry about and that I just need to have it checked each year and watch for signs of change.

I know how you feel because it really scared me at first. But you are doing the right thing by getting it looked at again! Hopefully it is nothing to be too concerned about. Good luck and let us know how it goes!

[kgvettegirl]

My sister has had close to 25 needle biopsys over the years. Always come back that it is a cyst. Hopefully it will clear itself up.

[gwenshack]

My sister and mom have had stuff like that happen. There's no history of breast cancer in our family and every time they've gone in for mammograms they've been okay. So don't stress too much! Hope everything works out! :crossfingers: It's smart that you're going back to follow up. ;)

[CaseyK37]

My sister has had close to 25 needle biopsys over the years. Always come back that it is a cyst. Hopefully it will clear itself up.
What exactly are needle biopsys?

[kgvettegirl]

Once the doctors find a lump, they usually x-ray or ultrasound them. Occasionally they stick a needle in them to see if they can extract fluid (cysts) or a tumor (usually solid) basically they are trying to get a sample of tissue to examine under a microscope. Lou says they numb the area before they do it and the slight discomfort you may feel afterwards usually is treated with over the counter pain killers for a day or two.

[ksherlin]

Here is some info about it that I googled:

Needle Biopsy (http://www.mayoclinic.com/print/needle-biopsy/MY00088/METHOD=print&DSECTION=all)

[CaseyK37]

I've had something similar since I was 18 (I'm 24 now). Mine's called Fibroadenoma. I get it checked by ultrasound every year and I have also had two biopsies. Each time I have been told that it's nothing to worry about and that I just need to have it checked each year and watch for signs of change.

I know how you feel because it really scared me at first. But you are doing the right thing by getting it looked at again! Hopefully it is nothing to be too concerned about. Good luck and let us know how it goes!

Thanks for sharing that with me! I will for sure let you guys know how it turns out. :yesnod:

Oh- and that whole needle biopsy thing terrifies me!!

[kgvettegirl]

That's only if the ultra-sound or the mammogram is not conclusive.

[CaseyK37]

Well I am off to the doctor today and I am pretty nervous! :purplex: I will update you guys when I get home in a few hours.

[MrsDM]

Hey I just saw this now. No experience with it, but wanted to wish you luck today at your appointment! I hope everything goes well!

[SkippyNXC]

hm i missed this thread too n ur already off to the docs but i'll chime in that when i was around 20-21ish I had a lump in my breast and have a family history of breast cancer... i had it examined and the doc dx'd me w/fibrocystic breast disease... mine is exacerbated by caffeine so the more i drink the lumpier my boobs get... he had me cut out caffeine from my diet for a few months then went back for a follow up n lumpy boob syndrome had virtually disappeared... so i just need to be careful and do regular BSE's (which any of us should be doing ANYWAYS but i gave the task over to FH who isn't complaining and does em more than monthly LOL)

[CaseyK37]

Thanks everyone! I just got home and the lump is still there so they are going to call me tomorrow to schedule an ultrasound of the area. They said since I am so young that they usually don't do mammograms and I guess an ultrasound will do the same thing. Oh, and they also checked me for mono since I have been so dang tired and sick feeling all the time. I will get those results by the end of this week I think.

[CaseyK37]

hm i missed this thread too n ur already off to the docs but i'll chime in that when i was around 20-21ish I had a lump in my breast and have a family history of breast cancer... i had it examined and the doc dx'd me w/fibrocystic breast disease... mine is exacerbated by caffeine so the more i drink the lumpier my boobs get... he had me cut out caffeine from my diet for a few months then went back for a follow up n lumpy boob syndrome had virtually disappeared... so i just need to be careful and do regular BSE's (which any of us should be doing ANYWAYS but i gave the task over to FH who isn't complaining and does em more than monthly LOL)

Hmm.. That is really interesting. I have never heard of anything like that before.

And I should give FH the task of examining me! hehe - I don't think he would know what he is looking for but I did make him check them when I first found the lump. He claimed he couldn't feel anything so I guess I will do it myself. :yesnod:

[yam102284]

Hope everything turns out okay! :) :crossfingers:

[FFC]

Good luck tomorrow Casey!!

[MrsDM]

Hoping everything goes well tomorrow!

[SkippyNXC]

Hmm.. That is really interesting. I have never heard of anything like that before.

And I should give FH the task of examining me! hehe - I don't think he would know what he is looking for but I did make him check them when I first found the lump. He claimed he couldn't feel anything so I guess I will do it myself. :yesnod:

lol i should add fh is also a doctor so knows what he's lookin for n it did take him a few rounds to learn what's "normal" n whats not... i have hi breast bones so they felt like lumps to him at first but it was really bone LOL

but if u don't do monthly checks already u really should get in the habit now so that you know whats normal for you and whats not...

[fireprincess2009]

I just saw this thread. I hope everything goes well with your ultrasound.

I had a benign cyst removed at the age of 25 so I know this can be scary. Good luck.

[WebLady]

One thing that bugs me is that I was told I had lumpy breast for years by different NP's and then when I started seeing an MD it was all of the sudden something she wanted to get checked out (of course this was now that I am over 30).

I have had several ultrasounds and mammograms over the last year and a half and had the radiologists tell me it could be many things and just to keep coming back every 6 months.

Then I found something they couldn't see so they sent me to a specialist; she told me it is probably nothing and we just need to keep an eye on it as well as the other issue to be sure and to give a reference of what is normal for me. Now if they had told me that from the beginning I wouldn't have been as freaked out. Though I do still worry from time to time.

I still try to do the monthly thing myself, but I never know what to think anymore. Everything I bring up something I always get the same thing; it is nothing or they can't see it ... so I guess I try not to worry since I go get screened every 6 months anyway.

But then I also worry about radiation; they say that repeated exposure can give you cancer too!

Sorry Casey ... hope everything goes well for you!

[CaseyK37]

One thing that bugs me is that I was told I had lumpy breast for years by different NP's and then when I started seeing an MD it was all of the sudden something she wanted to get checked out (of course this was now that I am over 30).

I have had several ultrasounds and mammograms over the last year and a half and had the radiologists tell me it could be many things and just to keep coming back every 6 months.

Then I found something they couldn't see so they sent me to a specialist; she told me it is probably nothing and we just need to keep an eye on it as well as the other issue to be sure and to give a reference of what is normal for me. Now if they had told me that from the beginning I wouldn't have been as freaked out. Though I do still worry from time to time.

I still try to do the monthly thing myself, but I never know what to think anymore. Everything I bring up something I always get the same thing; it is nothing or they can't see it ... so I guess I try not to worry since I go get screened every 6 months anyway.

But then I also worry about radiation; they say that repeated exposure can give you cancer too!

Sorry Casey ... hope everything goes well for you!

ugh! That really sucks. It is hard not to worry when they give you the run around like that. I hope they can figure something out right away. I think it would be hard to just accept the fact that it is normal and there is nothing to worry about especially when you had to deal with it for so long. And that exposure to radiation thing would be scary too.. I wonder why they don't do an ultrasound since you get it so often? Hmm. Thank you for sharing that with me.

[CaseyK37]

Well the breast center just called to set up my ultrasound and it is for tomorrow morning at 8:15. I am glad it is early so I don't have to worry about it all day.

[WebLady]

And that exposure to radiation thing would be scary too.. I wonder why they don't do an ultrasound since you get it so often? Hmm. Thank you for sharing that with me.They say the ultrasound is not always definitive with everyone; and sometimes the mammogram is not either, so they like to do both *shrug* They did tell me last time that I should not get both checked because of the risk (original issue was with one and I requested to get both checked while we were there); so now I worry sometimes about something in the other and not finding it ... but at my age anyway they say I should be getting checked once a year (35-40), just that twice a year is not recommended unless the the risk is necessary.

[ChristineLS]

Good luck Casey! I'm hoping they tell you everything is fine and you worried for nothing :crossfingers:


On a sidenote...
I saw this yesterday and though of this thread:

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/21/health/21cancer.html?_r=1&em

[acidcookie]

hm i missed this thread too n ur already off to the docs but i'll chime in that when i was around 20-21ish I had a lump in my breast and have a family history of breast cancer... i had it examined and the doc dx'd me w/fibrocystic breast disease... mine is exacerbated by caffeine so the more i drink the lumpier my boobs get... he had me cut out caffeine from my diet for a few months then went back for a follow up n lumpy boob syndrome had virtually disappeared... so i just need to be careful and do regular BSE's (which any of us should be doing ANYWAYS but i gave the task over to FH who isn't complaining and does em more than monthly LOL)

One of my friends actually has this too. She had a lump and the Dr. told her to kick the caffeine (she's a Coca Cola fiend!). Never heard of it before than, interesting that it's more common than I thought.

[CaseyK37]

Well I went to the doctor this morning and they did an ultrasound. Turns out it is just some extra breast tissue and fluid filled cysts. She said it was nothing to worry about :confetti: So my mom took me shopping! While I was shopping the nurse called with my mono test result and it was positive. So I have mono... ugh! It is fine because I have felt so crappy lately I am glad to finally know what is wrong with me. It sucks though because this is the 2nd time I have had it and they say you should only get it once. Thanks everyone for your kind words! Now it is time to celebrate - just kidding, it is time to clean the apartment! Boo.

[melissa1031]

I'm glad everythings alright!!

[WebLady]

Glad it was nothing ... sorry you have mono; hope you feel better soon!

[yam102284]

I'm glad it was nothing, but sorry you have mono! That stinks; I've never had it, so I have no clue what it feels like. Hope you feel better soon! :)

[NOTKT]

Glad everything with your breast is negative! I hope you get better fast with mono!

[fireprincess2009]

Sorry about the mono but I'm glad you are otherwise ok! Get well soon!!!:hug:

[CaseyK37]

Thanks everyone! :flower4u: I had mono before and it kicked my butt and I had every symptom in the book except I wasn't terribly tired. Now, I don't have many symptoms except being extremely tired. School was killing me and I couldn't get enough energy to do anything! Now I know why! I saw a doctor about 2 weeks ago and he said it was just a viral infection.. well he was wrong. Luckily I took the weekend off with plans on going to Chicago. Well those plans fell through, now I can relax :)

[FFC]

Mono sucks! I had it in high school and it seemed to last forever.

I'm glad that's the only thing wrong though!!!

[hsteward90]

Good thing it was nothing to worry about!! Mono on the other hand does suck! I had it in high school and missed like 2 weeks then was only allowed to come like half days because I got so tired. They actually say that awhile after you have mono your immune system is still low so your more likely to get sicker in the months following mono. I know for like a year I had spells where I just felt like **** and the doctor said it was from mono. Hope you can get over it I can't imagine having it twice!!