Found lump in my breast

I am hoping that someone can lead me into the right direction . . .

I found a lump on my left breast a few weeks ago on a Saturday night. My tissue around my breasts has been sore and that was how I found the lump. My doctor got me in for my very first mammogram that Monday morning (I am 35, had a vaginal hysterectomy last December keeping my ovaries) - the mammogram did not show anything so they followed up with an ultrasound which also found nothing . . . although everyone can feel the lump. I started to have pain where the lump was and my nurse practioner said it is just probably hormonal. I have never had problems with my breasts - when I had my period, I had awful cramps and back pain and mood swings so I thought that maybe the hormonal stuff was now coming out in different ways. The lump is still there although it hasn't been hurting. My nurse practioner said I could have a surgeon look at it or leave it. I don't know what to do. I HATE HATE HATE needles but am I letting that stop me from doing something that should be done or can I just leave it and let it go?????

Since it couldn't even be picked up by the ultrasound - is it nothing??? If a lump is there, even if it is just a cyst shouldn't it be showing on the ultrasound????

Any help that can be given, I would greatly appreciate. I'm at a loss on what to do. I know I have always felt you need to go with your gut but I have no idea what my gut is saying on this one and I'm thinking the fear of a needle going inside my breast is stopping me from making the decision I probably should be making.

Rachelle

I found a lump several yrs ago. It took me 2 yrs to get the nerve to go in and have it checked. After a mam and sg i was given the choice of watching it for change or having it removed. I had it removed. I was nothing. Same day surgery. Able to leave after i drank water. No pain. Let them take it out if given the option. The peace of mind is worth it. I never should of waited as long as i did.

I would agree with peipaws advise.
You are obviously concerned enough about this that you felt the need to post.
If you are not emotionally prepared to move forward with having it biopsied or removed, perhaps a second opinion would alleviate your anxiety over this.

I also want to add that often times various imaging results don't pick up on everything at all times.

Best of luck to you and please keep us posted.

Rachelle, Very strange that it is palpable yet does nothing shows on mammogram or ultrasound. Your medical professionals don't recommend doing anything about it? I think I'd want it biopsied. Today there are a number of different types of minimally invasive needle biopsies. I've had experience.... I'd definitely prefer a needle biopsy to a surgical biopsy / having lump removed if not necessary. Don't let the needles stop you from that.

Remember 80% of breast biopsies come back with negative results.

Mary D.

Rachelle
I currently have 2 friend with BC. One is 34 and one is 32. My advise is to make them take it out ASAP. The best lump is one in a jar. Please at the very least get a biopsy. I know 35 seems young but age is not a determining factor here. I am of the belief that you should get it out and know what it is so you don't waste any time worrying if you don't have to. I wish you the best of luck with this. When you go for the biopsy, take a walkman along and put your favorite music on. Go to your happy place and before you know it, it will be done. Don't focus on what is actually being done if it scares you.

PS - I should really take a bit of my own advice! LOL

Renee

Hello Rachelle,

I had a lump checked out in February, but the mammogram and ultrasound showed that it was a bocked milk duct. I am very careful because my mum and sister have both had breast cancer. My sister was 36 at the time and I am now 37.
I was told as well that I now have polycystic breasts, and that this is common for a woman in her thirties. So this could explain your lump.

However as the other sisters have said, I would want to know more. If my scan/mammogram hadn't explained my lump, I wouldn't have been happy to just leave it. I really think you should have the biopsy. Even if it's unpleasant, it's a small price to pay for peace of mind or for finding out something very important. I have also learned over time that a worry gets bigger and bigger and bigger - for me anyway - and I end up getting obsessed about it. I would have to know once and for all.

So to summarise - it's probably nothing to worry about, but please find out for sure. Good luck with everything,

Miz x

Rachelle,
You should ask your doctor about breast-MRI. This is a special MRI for looking at breast masses. It's being done at a few centers/hospitals that are equipped to do so. There has been evidence to suggest that MRI is better than mammo/ultrasound at picking up breast lesions.
I hope everything turns out well.
millie

RachelleS, I too found a lump in my left breast. When I press on it, it hurts. If I bump it it really hurts. It was back in Feb and went to my gyno right away. She told me it felt like fatty tissues.She told me to take Vit E 800 IU's a day and cut out my cafeine. She said since I was due in Aug for a mammo to wait for that time. After a couple months it was still hurting after doing what she told me to do. She then sent me in for a Ultra Sound and that came back negative, they found nothing. SO I decide to give the Vit E and no cafeine more time. After some more time went by she decide to try to cut back my estrogen from 0.05mg to 0.037mg to see if that would help. She really wasn't worried that this lump was cancerous at all. After I tried the lower estrogen and had too many symtoms of night sweats and hotflashes,ect. I went back to my normal 0.05mg. She then sent me to a Oncologist for him to check it out and to give me peace of mind. I had my mamo in Aug first so that he could the test results. That came back negative too! I went to the oncologist and he could barely find the small lump. He wasn't concern,but he said he would do a needle biopsy anyways to confrim it. He did it right then and there and the nurse and doctor were both so sweet talking to me andkeeping my mind off of the proceedure. Yes, it did hurt some BUT it was totally worth it!! He said it was up to me to leave it or have it taken out if it really bother me. When the test results of the biopsy came in he told me it was non cancerous and it is called a lipoma. I decided not to have the surgery as of now. I figured that it is small and not cancerous it could wait. IF it gets bigger or starts to hurt nonstop all day long then I will go back to him. He also told me he thinks it is on my chest muscle and that is why it hurts when I press on it. Otherwise it doesn't hurt if I leave it alone. I am 41 yrs old now and it has been over a year since my TAH/BSO am taking Estraderm 0.05mg once a week and feeling pretty good. I will watch this closely. So as you can see my didn't even show up ona mammogram and an ultra sound. I have confidence in my oncologist, he even has written a book. When I told him I am not having the surgery he was fine with that. I really hope you go in for the needle biopsy. Atleast you will have a peace of mind once you do. It took a week for the results to come in. I have a friend who just beat breast cancer and told her all that has happened to me. She also goes to the same oncologist and is a major support for me. Let us know what you decide to do and God Bless you.
Cyberlady40(really 41 now )

I would have it biopsied. There's no way to know by looking at it alone if it is cancer. My lump was thought to be a Fibroadenoma. The breast surgeon recommended removing it because it would likely just continue to grow and that would have bothered me. I had it removed and it turned out to be Invasive Ductal Carcinoma, Stage 1. I was 35 at the time. I'm so glad that I didn't just ignore it. I'd likely be in a much more serious position now if I had. As was mentioned above, most lumps are benign... they say about 80%. But being sure yours is benign is PRICELESS and I wouldn't risk waiting in case you are part of the 20%... like me.

Hugs to you!

Dear DanaHollis, when you mentioned biopsy, I did have it biopsy and it came back as Lipoma, beneign fatty tumor. He said it probably is on a muscle and that is why it hurts sometimes. I was concern if I had it removed the muscle could be damaged. He said it is not cancer and I was told he is the best in the field and even wrote a book about breast cancer. I felt that if he thought is was serious that he would state that it needs to come out right away. But since he didn't and he left it up to me I thought why go through that right now. IF by chance it does get bigger I will go get it out. I only hope and pray that I am doing the right thing now. Isn't the needle biopsy any good? If not why put ourselves through it in the beginning? Is that what you mean "biposy"? I had a needle one done. Or did you mean once it was taken out have it biposy? Because they normally biopsy it once they take it out. I sometimes get confuse but only going on my doctors advice too. Thank you very much for your concern. I truely hope mine will be okay.
Cyberlady40