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I had a benign lump removed from my left breast about seven years ago. I had a surgeon who I would visit yearly to keep and eye on things and maybe about four years ago, I noticed a teeny lumpy area with some firmness at the bottom part of the right breast. My breast doctor checked this out and said that it was nothing. My MD also looked at it and said that it may have been caused by my underwire bras and like my surgeon had said, felt that it was not even really in the breast tissue, but more on the rib. I have quite lumpy breasts anyhow.
I can feel it often when I wake up in the morning. A bra may hurt it a little sometimes.
It hasn't really changed in about four years but I still wonder what it might be. So many allopathic doctors don't have answers. My breast doctor's answer is always to cut any little thing out, which I don't believe is always the answer.
I have just moved and been to another doctor and she also didn't even notice what I was talking about. She offered a mammogram which I didn't accept as I am under 40 and I also have read that they can be dangerous in themselves.
I am on the pill, in my late thirties, have absolutely NO history of cancer of any kind in my family. Any ideas what this firm lumpiness might be and if I should see another doctor and/ or get a mammogram.
Thanks.
L.R.
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Thanks Alysia.
April 13, 2009 - 10:29pmThis sounds like it could be a fibrous cyst. It is a little lumpy and sore if I press on it. I will talk to my doctor. Actually, I may try a new doctor as my current one is quite dismissive.
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Thanks so much. I will meet with my doctor and try to organize this. Hopefully my insurance will cover it.
April 13, 2009 - 4:42pmI appreciate your advice.
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Hi, Anon:
You might also ask about the possibility of a fibrous cyst. The reason I mention this is because my daughter went through a similar experience. Her doctor was less dismissive than yours and suggested a biopsy. Fortunately, the lump was benign; but, she has to have an annual mammogram to check for any further developments. Her ENT was also very observant and helped locate another growth in her neck.
So, you may not necessarily have an indicator of breast cancer, but of something else less "obvious." It's your health and there's no reason to take anything for granted, even when a doctor says "it's nothing."
Hope you're well.
April 13, 2009 - 5:50pmThis Comment
Hey Anon, thanks so much for your patience and for writing. We asked Lillie Shockney , RN., BS., MAS, and Assistant Professor, Johns Hopkins School of Nursing and Johns Hopkins Avon Foundation Breast Center about your question. Here's what she had to say:
"It's a good sign that it hasn't changed over a long period of time. The way in which a diagnosis would be made would to do an ultrasound of the specific area where you feel this thing."
Did you find this information helpful?
April 13, 2009 - 3:01pmThis Comment
Thanks. I appreciate this. I had a bad dream last night that I had cancer. I guess that it's really on my mind.
April 13, 2009 - 1:20pmThis Comment
Hi Susanc,
April 13, 2009 - 11:08amI am just checking back to see what an expert has to say about this. I really would love someone to guide me on what to do next. Having already had three doctors tell me it was probably nothing, I don't want to get more expensive tests just to hear that again. Any word from the expert?
Thanks.
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