Armpit pain & Breast pain - Need ADVICE

Ok so I had a TAH BSO on July 17th of this year. Due to tumors, endo, etc..

Right after my surgery I had severe pain in my left armpit raditing into my left breast. The pain has gotten worse. When I saw my gyno 2 times for post ops he pushed on them and saw that I almost jumped off the table in pain. He asked me to wait it out and see if it "got" better. So I did.

Well it is now a sharp shooting pain and it hurts like heck. I mean it is always painful and I am just nervious about what is going on.

My doctor's nurse called me today and said my doctor wanted me tested for BRCA1 and BRCA2. If I tested postive we would go from there but I most likely would want to do a mastecomy (or however you spell it). It would most likely be preventitive but warned that I really needed to think about it, see a specialist and "consider it".

I am wondering a few things:

A) What is he not telling me here?

B) What could this pain really be?

C) If I test postive for this or these genes do I really need a preventitive surgery? I have lots of women suffer breast cancer in mom and dad's side of family including my mom, sisters, aunts, etc..

D) Any other advice? If I had to "have" the breast removed would I be able to get implants to have some sort of breast there? I am only 32!!!!!

Please help give me advice... I am a nutcase tonight..

Thank yoU
Traci

I can't really advise you about what to do.. What I do want to say is that I too come from a family history of cancer, including breast cancer. My mom has had it twice with both breasts removed. I have had questionable mammograms and have had other testing done, but not for the BRCA gene.
I had my hyst in Jan and have also had the pain you are describing. However, mine has gradually gotten better in the past month. I have limited my coffee intake and try to get plenty of exercise. I believe (and this is just my opinion) that it is the hormonal reaction to the surgery. Will know more when I get a mammo next month.. Good luck.

if you google breast pain, you mostly see hormone issues as the cause. are you on any hrt? has your dr discussed your hormones with you?

My doctor and I have discussed many times. He felt like it was something more than my hormones because of the area where it is and how it is just not letting up - even after chaning and lowering hormones.

I guess we will see. I am having the test done and a dianostic mammogram and ultrasound to see what is going on.

Thanks!

(((Traci))) I think it is premature to be worrying about mastectomies and implants until you learn whether or not you even have anything to be concerned about. Most times, breast pain turns out to be from benign causes; most breast cancer does not hurt. I had no pain either time before I was diagnosed.

About the BRCA1/2 ... you might want to do a search here and in our Cancer Concerns forum for threads on this topic. It is very controversial. Some women prefer not to be tested because it can have implications in terms of your health insurance coverage since, IF (big if) you are positive, you would already know you are at higher risk. If you have daughters, it might provide information that could help them understand their risks, but then again it might also affect their ability to get health insurance coverage as well.

Personally, I have elected NOT to have BRCA1/2 testing done. It is very expensive, and I already know I am prone to get breast cancer because I've had it twice. At this point, whether or not it's genetic is really of no interest or comfort to me. I don't have daughters so no benefit there.

Have you spoken to a genetic counselor about the pros and cons of having this testing done?

Best of luck with your upcoming mammogram and ultrasound.

s,
-Linda

Hi linda,

I have actually been researching and reading my heart out. Breast cancer is VERY high in my families including my mom, sisters, etc. So I think I want to have the test done.

I just feel my doctor is hidign stomething because he is pushing for all this test and has told me to "prepare" myself and already talked to me about the mastecomies and reconstructive so it makes me very nervious. I hope I am worrying for ntohing...but time will tell.

Thanks!!

Hi ladies,
I had my TAH 5 years ago, and in July 2008 I started having a burning and cramping pain in my right armpit. I thought it was a swollen lymph node (although I couldn't find one), and dismissed it. The pain is now getting worse, so I plan to discuss it at my next dr's appointment. It now goes down the breast and down the outside of my upper right arm.
I have read similar accounts of this type of pain on other websites (although most women describe it on the left side). Some women believe there is a hormonal link.

I had a similar pain in 1998 and eventually found a lump in my left breast. After lots of testing, which was all inconclusive, we decided on a lumpectomy. It turned out to be peri ductal mastitis much to my relief.

Since then I have had many more lumps, always in my left breast, and usually without any pain at all. I have had numerous mammograms, ultra sounds and needle biopsies and they have all turned out to be cysts.

Although I am very fed up with the constant testing it is very important to do regular self exams to get to know your breasts and every change should be investigated.

So far post op there doesn't seem to be any change, I still have lumps and bumps and am waiting to have the most recent checked out on the 26th.

Hello again,
I saw the doctor today and asked him about this armpit pain. He said armpit burning is almost always caused by a reaction to deodorant. I told him I had tried going without and still had the pain. He poked around a bit and didn't see or feel anything (same as me), but thinks it could likely be breast pain. He recommended that I avoid salt and caffeine and told me to take 50-100 mg of Vitamin B6 daily. I hope that'll do the trick. He said breast pain is often cyclical, but of course, I've no idea where I am in my "cycle" despite keeping my ovaries.

Hi Carmypooh,
Thanks for the info you said about going to your doctor. I needed to know what he said.

I had my hyst. 3 years ago and have not been in for a mamo yet. I am 35 and for the past 2 years my doctor said that I should go in. I am a big chicken.

Well, for a month now, my right underarm has been hurting something bad. I thought it may be from my bra, but the pain starts too far away. So today I finally called my doctor and she basically said that I now have to have a double diagnostic mamo with an ultrasound of my right underarm. I am sure it's nothing, but better safe than sorry? I do not have any family that have had any of these problems either so I am sure that it will be nothing major......okay I am hoping so. I am scheduled for next Friday...fun times.