Menopause Matters Forum
Menopause Discussion => All things menopause => Topic started by: flo69 on January 04, 2025, 12:36:11 PM
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Hi, I went for NHS breast screening in September, they have a new machine :(
I screamed out loud with the pain when she crushed my right breast in the machine.
It felt badly hurt and it took a minute or two before I would even consider putting my left breast in because my eyes were flowing tears and I was very shocked at how hard she did it, less than one cm gap between the plates I'm certain and of course there is no escape unless you want to rip off a breast in the machine.
She said she wouldn't squeeze the left one as hard, so I agreed and yes, it wasn't anything like as painful, just an uncomfortable vice like grip.
I left quite shaken up by the whole experience and spent the next week putting ice packs or heat on my right breast, which had a bruise just above the crease under it.
The pain receded over that first week leaving a tender swollen lumpiness in the whole lower part of that breast which felt like mastitis, something I suffered frequently during my breastfeeding years (but I'm 55 now).
The main difference from mastitis was this time there was no red blotchiness on the skin surface and I'm not sure if it was hot.
I drink plenty of water every day btw and cranberry juice sometimes if I remember.
The test found nothing abnormal which is reassuring.
I've been buying new bras because my old ones dig into the sore part and there is still a defined lump below the nipple which was not there before the incident, it's still painful with random shooting pains and I'm left wondering how long does this take to get better?
I know some people get these tests done every few months if they have the faulty gene, but three and a half months later I've not recovered.
I had a cyclic bleed in October and in November but not September or December so I'm waiting until I bleed this month, see if the breast lumpiness comes and goes with my cycle.
I don't put myself through HRT progesterone hell, (why are women still doing that???) I'm on tibolone which the manufacturers say might reduce, increase, or leave unaffected the risk of breast cancer. Isn't that informative of them ::)?
My personal risk factors for breast cancer are low and I feel well otherwise so I don't feel the need to go to the GP. They might decide to take me off tibolone to protect themselves because they have no clue what the risk factors are. I'd rather stay on tibolone and see some doctor privately about the lump if necessary. Worst case scenario; I'd be taken off tibolone and put to suffer with no help on an endless waiting list.
My first question is this: Is there anything I can do other than the mastitis care routine to help it go down?
I'm already on the gynae waiting list because I have a postmenopausal bleed almost every month. They are booking April 2023 patients this month and I was referred in June that year, I hope to get a call in a few weeks.
So my second question is, what should I ask them or tell them about it while not losing my prescription?
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Mastitis needs to be diagnosed and treated appropriately.
Sometimes the press-down action is very painful, :o although the machine was designed by a woman . Apparently.
I suggest that you see your GP/Nurse Practitioner 4 an examination. I wouldn't expect to have symptoms after 3 months. As for waiting over 12 months for a gynae appt., R U sure that your GP has sent a referral? R U able to take a cancellation, last minute appt., if so ring the Dept and ask for you to be considered.
Cranberry juice: OK to drink but there is no Peer reviewed research about any benefits ;-).
Ice packs on the affected area and paracetamol. Make an apt with the Surgery to discuss. Let us know how you get.
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If you have breast symptoms this needs to be evaluated by a doctor without delay, irrespective of recent negative screening.
Screening (for any disease) is for asymptomatic individuals. Subsequent symptoms still need to be checked out.
Please don't take the risk for fear of losing your tibolone - it is unlikely they will stop your prescription pending investigation (tibolone is not associated with an increased risk of breast cancer) and even if they do, it is relatively inexpensive to self fund tibolone if you have to.
There may also be a local private breast clinic to which you can self refer if want to keep it separate from the NHS.
If you have a "postmenopausal bleed" every month and you are 55, that's called a period! Postmenopausal bleeding is not cyclical.
Tibolone is typically only prescribed to those who are postmenopausal, however if it suits you I wouldn't say anything,
You can get a private pelvic ultrasound for around £150 if you wish for peace of mind and then just cancel the NHS one.
That's probably what I'd do as I know how vulnerable it feels when you rely on the NHS for prescriptions that determine whether you have any quality of life or not, that someone could just cut off on a whim without understanding the first thing about your condition or circumstances.
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I agree with bombsh3ll that you need to have a breast examination as soon as possible. I know you had a negative mammogram in September but they don't show up all problems.
Taz x
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Yes agreed you need to get this checked out with your GP. Any breast lumps in women age over 30 are automatically referred on the two week wait. I was told this when I had a lump(s) checked in April last year. I felt reassured when told by the nurse usually when it’s painful it’s nothing to worry about. When checked by a doctor at the hospital and given an ultrasound it was due to hormonal changes. He advised me to take Evening Primrose capsules daily and that has 100% alleviated the pain and tenderness although the lumps are still there. Probably what was the start of this awful peri journey I am currently dealing with I just didn’t realise at the time. Let us know how you get on x
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My breast surgeon told us that 'no healthy breast has lumps in it'. Mum developed breast lumps after eating shellfish, each had to be removed 'in case'. Let us know how you get on. If U can't get a GP appt then ask for Nurse Practitioner advice.
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Thanks for the replies, it helps me move along my thoughts.
Tibolone is prescription only, so it's not about the cost of a prescription, it's whether I can get one at all while I wait to get the lump checked.
It could be a long wait.
I'll try evening primrose oil, good idea.
The two week wait for suspected cancer is aspirational, dependant on available resources, it's certainly not universal.
Realistically on the NHS I'd be waiting a few months for a first appointment about the lump because I'm not high risk other than age and gender.
Yes, my other referral exists, every few months I phone the booking office to check on it's lack of progress, it's for gynae, that has very long waiting lists, over two years is not at all unusual.
I'm on two other lists as well and my 82 year old dad was recently put on a 7 year waiting list for a hearing aid >:( I know he won't die of old age though, he already has terminal cancer. If you happen to live in a postcode with better services, I'm very happy for you, but this is the NHS after all, it's the original postcode lottery.
I feel I can't risk losing tibolone, I can't face going back to feeling that awful.
I know I shouldn't leave this lump indefinitely either, the pain and lumpiness had almost gone when it came back stronger than ever and scared me.
At some point I'll have to speak up. More anxiety :-X
I hope my bleed comes soon and that resets everything, makes the lump go away.
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Why would U have to stop using HRT? :-\
As for your Dad, if he needs to pay for a hearing aid then go for it, they are much better than those provided on the NHS.
Let us know you get on?
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Why would U have to stop using HRT? :-\
Because that is standard practice. The leaflet says it might increase the risk of breast cancer specifically, so they have no choice but to protect themselves from possible lawsuits.
As for your Dad, if he needs to pay for a hearing aid then go for it, they are much better than those provided on the NHS.
That is very generous of you, they cost around £8k, but don't wait too long, we don't know how long he has left now.
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That seems a lot flo69 :-\. Remind me, R U in the UK?
As for waiting a long while, at my surgery I can get to see a Nurse Practitioner within 24 hours and a GP either the next day or in 3 weeks depending on what the symptoms are.
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That's just cruel to let your dad wait all those years for a hearing aid. We are in London and my husband waited just weeks for his NHS hearing aid which is perfectly fine to wear, not ugly and doesn't work any less efficiently because he didn't pay 8K for it.
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Hi Ayesha, London is great, I observed that when a friend there needed the same op as a relative here and got it within 4 months in St Thomas' London, while my relative waited two years both before and after the friend's wait.
Yes CLKD, I'm accessing the NHS from within the UK, it's where I've always lived and worked. My GP told me about having to put 80 year olds on orthopedic waiting lists that are ten years or more long, he said, "You know they won't all make it", he sounded sad, but helpless.
It's a shame the rents are so high in London, that's clearly the place to be if you want the NHS. Having said that, paying rent for a second home somewhere might still be cheaper than having to self fund cancer care. That might be worth a second thread on it's own! How to make it affordable?
I'm seeing a GP this afternoon, I'll update with what they say. It was a nice surprise they were offering face to face appointments for the first time since the pandemic, must be new for 2025, I hope it's a sign of better things to come.
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Do let us know how you get on.
If your GP brings up the tibolone, I would say to them that it is crucial for your quality of life and that you would only consider stopping it if you were actually diagnosed with anything, since the vast majority of breast lumps turn out to be benign.
They may well agree that this is a reasonable position.
Regarding your dad, I would maybe try contacting somewhere like Macmillan to see if there's any help for people terminally I'll to get NHS hearing aids faster.
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flo69 - 2nd Homes are being taxed above local rates ......... so it certainly wouldn't work out cheaper by the time moving fees, Estate and Solicitors costs are taken into account.
Macmillan certainly used 2 give off a 1-off payment if someone qualifies, it's worth asking.
Why is your Dad needing to self fund cancer care? Sadly ageism is necessary in the NHS, depending upon the condition of course.
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I just wanted to say that my 81 year old friend has just bought his hearing aids - he got an appointment for NHS ones within a month of having the free hearing test but prefers something more high tech - and he paid just under £3000 for a pair. He could have got a pretty good one for just over £1000 but liked the look of the more expensive ones. It's not much different to the NHS one in my eyes. They both can work from a phone app so when he's out and about he can adjust the sound or the type of sound i.e. direct conversation, background noise, nature sounds etc. really easily. I'm not sure what type your dad needs if they are going to cost £8,000 though. Other friends (from my local pub) have all got their NHS hearing aids within three months of their hearing test. Has he had his hearing test at one of the opticians? This seems to be the way forward. Could your dad attend a different area or is he too ill to travel. I've done that before - waiting lists vary as you say from postcode to postcode.
I hope you get on well at the docs tomorrow and your lump is less painful now.
Taz x
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So the doctor saw and felt the lump, she said I missed a big chunk of it when I said it was only 2cm, the other bit feels a totally different texture, I didn't know it was part of it.
She's referred me as possible cancer, her face was stone.
She recommended I phone the hospital in about a week to make sure they got the referral. She said the waits aren't good, but they might be able to give me a rough idea where I am on the list.
Then she asked if I was still on HRT, I said I couldn't tolerate normal HRT in any way, I hated it, which is why I'm on tibolone instead. She had a quick check through the notes, saw I'm not on oestrogen and left it alone, :)
She didn't know what tests they would do, she mentioned they might ultrasound it, which has me thinking ultrasound direct might be worth a go, I could make an appointment then if the NHS are quicker I could cancel it.
It's been really sore after all the poking about :(
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So stop poking? Well done on getting the appt., do ring the Hospital first so that you remain in the NHS system. If U get a result from another source U will still be on a waiting list for any treatment that may be necessary.
Get an idea about the waiting lists is important: also could U go along at short notice should some1 cancel?
:bighug: who will go along with U to the appts.?
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Sorry to hear that but I would definitely book a private breast scan immediately if you can afford it. I have a mammogram every two years immediately followed by breast ultrasound which picks up more than a mammogram. I have breast ultrasound every year. It's extremely quick and results are immediate unless you need a biopsy but they can rule out cysts and other benign conditions immediately.
Breast specialists I've spoken to vary on opinion but generally speaking, mammograms are better at picking up calcification but ultrasound is needed immediately after a mammogram because things can be missed. It sounds like you could have a breast injury because something that size would have been picked up on the mammogram.
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I'm in shock, I owe the NHS an apology, they have already given me an appointment for a mere 17 days after my referral!
It is a bit scary that they bumped me to the top of the list but it's hurting so I can't forget about it if I tried, it's causing a lot of stress to me, so I'm glad they have.
The referral has the only suggested diagnosis as breast cancer. I went and got the letter to go private, but no need now.
A 2cm lump in the right breast following on from an injury in a 55 yo postmeno woman who bleeds five days every month in a regular cycle only if I take hormones. My monthly bleed is late by over two weeks now. That is very rare for me. Is that because my own hormones are doing the next stage thing? I went through "menopause" four years ago. Or could I actually be ill?
My right arm went numb like plastic exactly four weeks ago, GP said go to A&E if it gets worse but lets hope it gets better instead. It slowly has felt less weird every day, but still isn't right. Could the nerves in my right arm (thumb side of the arm only) be pinched by swelling from my right breast? Is that possible?
So I've just over 2 weeks to twiddle my thumbs and watch this thing get bigger by the day, or is that my imagination?
I've been visiting my Dad most days on the brand new cancer ward, we live closeby, it was hard to walk though there yesterday, which has four corridor beds always in use as well as the 24 rooms. If I end up there I hope I get a room, the corridor beds don't even have a tv or charging point, I've felt sorry for those people for weeks now.
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It could be several factors. Is a bleed usual on Tibolone?
Stop prodding the area. U will imagine that the lump is getting bigger.
Make a list of your concerns to take to the appt. with you and ask the questions. Write down the answers.
Did the GP examine your arm 4 weeks ago? The nerves may well have been impacted by the injury or could be a consequence of the swelling - put on the list to ask. It's a worry, all this waiting!
How is your Dad?
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Thanks for asking, my dad is doing about as well as possible for his situatuion and we're all glad he looks like he might see another summer, or the springtime at least, he's not in pain.
I spoke on the phone to a private GP about my numb arm, like plastic, he said go to A&E if it gets any worse at all, it didn't. He advised me to see my NHS GP in person at the time, but the first question the NHS receptionists ask is, "is it an emergency?" to which I said no because I'd already spoken to the private GP. Throughout December they were too busy to see me, I wasn't offered a face to face appointment until I said "breast lump" then everything has moved like lightening ever since.
I'm a bit annoyed they leave us patients to triage ourselves, it seems lazy of them not to ask at least a few questions about the non-emergency, I've no medical training, all I know is if it's an emergency I go to A&E, I phoned the GP because it wasn't an emergency imo. Regardless, they were only speaking to the self reported emergencies.
I've a period-like bleed almost every month with tibolone, it's usual. I've all my days of bleeding marked on calendars because I found the doctors wouldn't believe me otherwise.
Honestly, I'm not poking at it, just feeling to see if it went away yet.
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We get asked at our Practice if it's an emergency if so seen within 24 hours. Otherwise it's a 3ish weeks wait :-\. Tnx for the update on your Dad.
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I do sympathise with you. I had a mammogram in my thirties due to a lump that turned out to be a cyst, but they pressed the machine down on my collarbone as well as my breast and I thought it was going to break. Luckily it didn't. I did cry out but they just carried on as I think they thought it was just my breast getting squished. They must have looked at the image and realised as they came out into the waiting room to check I was ok. I can't give you any advice as my knowledge is limited on this one but I hope you get sorted soon.
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I do sympathise with you. I had a mammogram in my thirties due to a lump that turned out to be a cyst, but they pressed the machine down on my collarbone as well as my breast and I thought it was going to break. Luckily it didn't. I did cry out but they just carried on as I think they thought it was just my breast getting squished. They must have looked at the image and realised as they came out into the waiting room to check I was ok. I can't give you any advice as my knowledge is limited on this one but I hope you get sorted soon.
Thank you Katherine, it's good to know I'm not the only one who think those machines need to improve, or their radiographers! I think I'm too scared to put my breast in one now theres a painful lump in the middle of it. It's so painful when there's no lump, unless this lump was already starting then in September and that's why the test hurt me so much. The test result came back as no abnormalities seen.
Then it came on the news there's to be an investigation into the number of misread breast scans, it all has me wondering if it was starting then, whatever it is. My comfort is that I check my breasts in bed quite a lot and it was only in December I couldn't get my right one to cooperate with me flattening it out, not a lump at that stage, but something was off that wasn't that way before.
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Headlines sell papers!
How long ago where these investigations were done and in which Health Authority.
As for checking in bed: the advice is to stand in front of a mirror ....... so that the chest and breast 'hang' naturally. Once a month should be adequate though I can't remember which 'time of month' would be best.
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Flo, I really wouldn't worry - I would assume that the lump is an injury caused by the mammogram. It sounds to me like nerve damage, it sounded like that when you described it in your first post and when you said your arm was going numb, that sounds even more like nerve damage.
When nerves get damaged they can take a while to heal again and there can be some neuropathy in the meantime. I'd try to put that top of your list of probable causes at the moment.... I have had nerve damage in my neck and also around a nerve in my hip which got crushed when I slept in a tight belt in an attempt to fix some lower back pain (didn't work!!). It took many months for those nerves to heal.
I really don't want to get mammograms done. I am almost 47, so not quite old enough yet on the NHS. I had a weird lumpiness in my breast when I was about 35 and got referred to the breast clinic. They said they didn't do mammograms on women under the age of 40 or maybe 36, I can't remember - because younger women tend to have dense breasts so they can't see much anyway - but they do ultrasounds instead. I was very relieved not to need a mammogram. The ultrasound was fine. They said I was good to go and it was nothing.
I really hoped that by the time I hit 50, they would have created a more humane way of checking breasts than crushing them between plates. When apparently this can just cause cancer cells to spread, if there are any. I cannot believe this is still standard. There is a new test available in the US called QT Imaging. You lie on a scanner bed with holes in the chest area and are gently lowered into water which is used to image the breasts. No radiation, no crushing of boobs.... and results are better than a mammogram and MRI combined. I am seriously thinking about combining visits to family in the US with these breast scans to avoid mammograms Here is someone getting it done: https://www.instagram.com/reel/DEYSJdoyIWG/?igsh=ZXI4cW9na2s2ZnUw
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However more women than is realised develop breast disease in their 20s ......... :'(
R U taking any pain relief flo69?
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However more women than is realised develop breast disease in their 20s ......... :'(
R U taking any pain relief flo69?
Pain relief is problematic, the GP told me to take the painkillers I can get. None offered.
A friend gave me a pack of pregabalin, which is a better painkiller than morphine imo, plus a bit of that too. I guess they'll take over the pain relief when they get around to me at the hospital, I've enough to last until the appointment. I had 0.5mg clonazepam for sleep last night as well, that one is becoming too frequent, I'm sure I've had some of that four times this week.
In the past week alone it has changed from an indistinct lumpy mass, to a distinct lump, to a lump now pulling in my nipple.
I can see both the lump to the outside of the breast and also the nipple turning in, I can see it from across the room in the mirror. There was nothing visible last weekend, I was still deciding whether or not it was anything to tell my GP last weekend.
I feel it all the time now and it's grown to 3 or 4 cm now by my measuring, the GP put 2cm on the referral, correct at the time, last Monday. It's a painful tug when I move, even to type. When I don't move the pain recedes to a dragging weight pulling on the surrounding skin.
Five days waited, twelve days to go. I'm so scared.
I think I'll phone again on Monday to tell them how fast it's changing, see what they say. Probably they'll say the wait must go on.
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Over the counter pain relief is adequate, 1 shouldn't take opiates unless under supervision :-\. Where R U getting morphine from?
MayB take photos on your phone?
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Over the counter pain relief is adequate, 1 shouldn't take opiates unless under supervision :-\. Where R U getting morphine from?
MayB take photos on your phone?
OK, this is perhaps not allowed on the forum, we'll find out I'm sure!
I accidentally got dependant on morphine around the time my dad was diagnosed and it became a daily habit only recently, I don't know whether it's better to get clean before my appointment?
My plan was to quit new year, I often do the same thing at new year.
But this year, the new year brought me a lump.
Now, quitting can't happen, because that would temporaily put my body under extreme stress which might help the possible cancer
So I'll still be taking morphine when I get to my appointment, it's only a little bit.
do I tell them?
or should I keep it to myself?
The pregablin I could choose not to take and within three days I'd feel back to normal, it's much easier to manage, but I've decided to keep taking them instead of the gabapentin I'm prescribed because pregablin works so well they might change my prescription over, who knows?
The only fly in the ointment is getting a continuous supply of morphine, like you referred to, it's not freely available.
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My advice would be to contact the GP ASAP, tell them how quickly it is changing and ALSO contact the breast clinic directly as they may well get you in sooner.
I would also be completely honest and upfront about the morphine, you need help with this and it's too much of a burden to carry on your own. You'll be doing yourself no favours keeping this quiet. They can help you taper off gradually, but you defo shouldn't be using your friends pregabalin. Truly not judging you here, but it's really unwise to keep all this to yourself and go it alone.
Re the lump, given its grown that rapidly could it be a cyst? Where are you in your cycle?
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Where R U getting morphine from? Why were you prescribed it?
U can contact support groups via many sources which is probably your best way to tackle your dependancy. It is obvious to medics to note if someone taking opiates regularly , if they bother to look. Let us know how you get on.
Some ladies cloakrooms in Pubs have support phone numbers for many issues: Samaritans: gay helplines ........ mayB quicker than going via your GP unless they are prescribing it.
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Be honest and tell them exactly what you're taking so they can factor that in. There are drug interactions to consider and if you don't tell them, they may prescribe you something which conflicts with the morphine or pregabalin.
Cancer doesn't grow this quickly so you should be even more reassured by this. And pregabalin is prescribed for nerve damage, so if it's helping, again an indication that you've damaged some nerves in your breast with the mammogram.
Really try not to worry but do keep them informed on any changes and on the meds you are taking.
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Let us know how you get on!
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Thanks guys, time is moving quickly for me now since the lump became well behaved yesterday and is back to it's former size. Whatever it is, it's capable of getting sore and inflamed if not left alone, so that reassures me, with my lack of medical knowledge to contradict it.
So as I'm feeling much better about it, I'll tell them about the other meds if it turns out to be cancer, otherwise I won't.
CLKD, what are the long term outward signs of opiate use? I didn't know that, I'm interested because I know two people who kept it hidden from outsiders for decades, now out in the open as the world gets less judgy about these things and they both had recent health issues, which is probably the real reason. Noone noticed for over 20 years! I've been on and off it on repeat for maybe ten years now and I don't see the problem either, except I don't want to get in trouble with it, but in my experience people who are going to get properly addicted do it fairly quickly.
I'm more fearful of pregabalin in many ways. Coming off morphine is more a physical challenge, while pregabalin is just as big, it's mostly in your head, unpleasant doesn't begin to describe either and they might want me off them both for some arbitrary reason in a rulebook that won't even affect my outcome.
Do pub toilets have better phone numbers than the internet? I don't often drink in pubs and I haven't noticed any, maybe they are online these days and spend less time defacing private property? ;)
The numb arm is radial nerve damage, I saw the GP again this morning (they are seeing patients face to face for the first time since the pandemic but only allowing one problem per visit), she says I can have a blood test at the end of the month to see if I'm low in anything that might cause it, after that we'll try imaging resources. By then I'll know if I have cancer as well.
Last year it was possible to get a blood test done within a week, now it's over 2 weeks wait, that's what happens when they start seeing patients again!
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How pupils react to light. A professional would notice if they were looking ...... also the colour of skin is sometimes affected.
Depends on where you drink - a lot of the Pubs/cafes that we go to, not often , do have information . Samaritans. Gay phone lines. The info is out there when 1 looks.
When I had to stop one AD B4 beginning the next: and this isn't always the case: I had supervised tapering for 9 weeks. It was my head that kept asking 'What if I can't get off this?' but once I realised that the bounce back anxiety lasted no more than 36 hours between dropping each dose, I relaxed more. My GP had access to smaller doses than are available on prescription suspecifically to help.
I don't think that seeing patients face2face makes any difference to getting results. The NHS is overwhelmed, there are less staff due to people leaving the Service as well as sickness/holiday leave: plus bank holidays will impact. Who does the blood testing in your Practice, we have 2 specified Nurses who do almost nothing other than drawing blood. Can B seen within 5 days.
I'm glad that U R feeling better, hopefully it won't be cancer.
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Wow flo, whereabouts do you live that your GP is only now seeing people in person?! :o
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Ah CLKD, the narrow pupils thing, with dark eyes I'm ok for that sign, it can't be seen at normal speaking distance, but I've wandered off topic in general and I apologise.
Joziel, my GPs were recruiting a new doctor, now she's working full time the pressure on them has eased a little, they simply couldn't fill their vacancies, therefore couldn't see enough patients. It was chaos for a while and they are still trying to recruit a new treatment room nurse. That's why I can't get my bloods taken for a couple of weeks ::)
At least I get to stay on tibolone, she made sure I'm not on any oestrogen, tibolone is an odd one that is made for women who don't tolerate progesterone, like me, yet tibolone is itself a progesterone!
I forgot to say about the vagifem, but that is the tiniest dose a long way away. If I quit vagifem I might start weeing myself!
So it's tomorrow week, not long to go until I find out what this lumpy lump is. It's lumpier this morning, all little nodules, like a bunch of miniature grapes. The other day it was completely smooth on the surface, it keeps changing but isn't getting bigger, I think that was me panicking.
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U sound brighter?
Vagifem etc. can be used every night when necessary.
MayB make a list of your worries to take with you.
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My list of questions could be lengthy. Right now I'm wondering why my nails are coming away from their nail beds, one forefinger and one big toe, no idea why.
I'm still using vagifem, I need it!
This time next week I ought to know what it is, I can't believe how the time is flying in, I expected it to drag by.
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Do take that list: it doesn't worry how long, go through and put your main worries at the front. Let us know!
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It's quite obvious that my boobs are not the same as each other any more. It was two weeks ago today that I saw the GP with a barely noticeable lump.
The sore boob has visible swelling at any angle now. If I lean forwards it doesn't hang like an empty sock any more. The left one hangs free, the right one is held up by the thickened tissue and the skin looks dimpled held that way.
Around November time I leaned forwards like that and both looked the same.
If I lie on my back I can see the lump, it's about the size of my nipple now.
There are two odd types of tissue to it, one lumpy lump, like a collection of tiny pebbles, I found that 16 days ago.
Then there is thick feeling tissue connecting the lump to the back wall of my boob meaning it doesn't fall down when I lean forwards. That is what I've been thinking is scar tissue from the mammogram.
I'm thinking this might not be good.
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U can't do anything until U have seen a Surgeon and undergone examination etc.. Remind me, when is your appt.?
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U can't do anything until U have seen a Surgeon and undergone examination etc.. Remind me, when is your appt.?
Thursday
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That probably seems ages away. Have U made the list to take? How do U feel overall? Would taking photos on the mobile be appropriate?
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I don't feel ill, just worried.
I took photos just incase it changes dramatically, but I've been reading about cysts and how they grow in bunches right behind the nipple, just like this has reached my nipple now, I can't decide if it's changed in the last couple of weeks.
My age (55) will have steered the GP away from thinking cysts because google says they are rare after menopause, but most common during menopause. The initial delay was to see if the lumpiness went away when I had a bleed, which is a month overdue now, am I waiting for my oestrogen to crash back down now?
I'd say that not bleeding when due might mean my hormones are shifting again, possibly brought on by the stress of my Dad's terminal diagnosis.
I've been thinking stress seems to make cancer more likely, but hormones are affected by stress for certain, that is a much more logical thought to follow.
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Worry ain't logical is it :-\
Plus the worry about your Dad!
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One more day to go, this is going slowly now.
Tomorrow I get told whether this lump and heaviness is cancer or benign.
If I lean forwards the right boob doesn't fall down, it's held up by the tougher tissue inside.
It could be cysts, a little bunch of them, I was always getting mastitis in that boob when breastfeeding.
It feels so very heavy compared to the soft little left boob that is behaving itself.
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R U sleeping? Have U written the list to take ?
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I don't have a list, what would I put on it?
If it's cancer, then to live, I need specialist help from the NHS so it's entirely in their hands and I just do as I'm advised by doctors.
If it's not, then I'll want to throw a party.
Not sleeping great, no, I was up at 5am this morning.
But the list, do I need one?
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That is your decision entirely.
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I found a notebook and took that, but didn't need it.
I'm glad this story has a happy ending to it which I can leave here because the lump was indeed caused by menopause and not by cancer ;D ;D :boobs: ;D ;D
I was scanned by ultrasound this time and she drew off a few ml of a pure white liquid for testing but she was fairly certain and the doctor even more certain that all I have is milk ducts in my right boob that decided to wake up and randomly produce some milk even though my youngest kid is now 23, so it's been a while since I was using milk from either boob.
The pain is less since she drew off some of the fluid, it was stuck there in the milk ducts getting thicker and gungier, my body didn't think it through.
So three weeks to the day after I noticed it, I have my answer for what was giving me a 2cm lump so suddenly. It feels like little water balloons in a bunch, she said they are in a line and as each one fills it flows into the next one so you can end up with a whole bunch filled together quickly.
She said it's always important to get these things checked, so if it changes, gets worse or happens on the other side I should still see my GP.
I'm glad I went and found out, it's called ducto-... I can't remember the rest of the word. They'll send a letter to me with the test results, but my goodness, it's exhausting, thinking you've cancer.
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Hi flo69,
So glad the outcome is good news for you.
:tulips2:
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Hi Flo69
Very very pleased that it was good news for you!!!!
I bet you feel so so relieved xx
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I can feel your relief pouring off the page - tnx for the update!
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Really pleased to hear this Flo69. Such a relief for you. I think you must have duct ectasia which apparently is a normal part of getting older but can be very alarming and obviously needs checking.
Taz x :foryou:
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Bet your Dad will be pleased too :tulips2: :tulips:
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Wonderful news, so glad this was a happy ending.
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That is wonderful news after such a worrying time for you. Good to know you know exactly what it is in case it happens again. Hoorah for you!!
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I'm so pleased to hear this ordeal is over for you!
What a relief! And good to hear that in this area at least the NHS is still functioning.
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Great news and what a massive relief!
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Thank you all for the well wishes, Taz said the name of it, duct ectasia, basically where my milk ducts are so widened with age that they've filled with some milky gunge and they are too old to care, so just leave it there for a doctor to pull off with a syringe!
CLKD I didn't tell my Dad, that could have finished him off, so we told him as little as needed, he knew I was going for a repeat test even though I only had one in September but not that I had a lump or that I was worried beyond just hating mammograms. My Dad did his 82yo thing of tossing his head and dismissing it as a women's issue, I knew he would, so I was able to raise the subject (so he couldn't say we didn't tell him), but so briefly I said nothing much at all.
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Did U celebrate :cupcake: :party09:
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I'm going back for my review appointment today. Three and a half months later it doesn't seem to have changed at all. The lump is still there and only hurts when touched, but it isn't reducing in size.
I'll ask if it will go away, but I already know the answer. I'll be told, "Sometimes they go away, sometimes they don't."
I'm just posting to update and say this appointment feels so different from the last one where I didn't know.
In January I was scared, now I'm not. I don't mind having a lump if it's harmless and it was caused by the pressure from the mammogram plates, so I won't be putting that breast back into the machine ever again. They can scan my left one at screening, but they won't get the chance to injure the right one again. It was always prone to mastitis when I was feeding and clearly is too vulnerable for their methods. I've had a connective tissue disorder from birth, at a few days old I was put in a cast to protect my legs, they didn't know if I would ever walk, I'm in receipt of PIP, yet the NHS don't make adjustments if your disease is unusual, it's not their speciality, they work off a list of named disorders, anything else is ignored, but I'm not going along with them causing me injury any more, I refuse.
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Good 4 U! Ultrasound exam would be much kinder all round. This is of course what your GP should be referring U for ::)
Let us know how you get on.
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Well, a needle biopsy hurts a bit, but much less than a mammogram, I've had each test twice now.
After an initial examination, they stick a wide needle in behind the nipple then rapidly push it back and forth to collect some of the lump for testing, no pain relief available, I assume that's because it's not done on men.
It's the same lump, it's not likely to have turned nasty since the first test in January.
So all being well they are discharging me when the results get back, she said she expects it to be absolutely fine.
The answer to my question of, "Will it go away?" was, "Well, let's have a look", so they don't know.
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Well, a needle biopsy hurts a bit, but much less than a mammogram, I've had each test twice now.
After an initial examination, they stick a wide needle in behind the nipple then rapidly push it back and forth to collect some of the lump for testing, no pain relief available, I assume that's because it's not done on men.
Just to say that this test is done on men with possible breast cancer.
Taz x