Cancer Research UK main site

Age 35,new firm ridge on left upper outer quadrant of breast

rachael28b
Offline

Have read lots of posts looking for similar experiences....

I'm 35.5 years of age and a week ago I had a sharp pain in my underarm during my sleep. I felt around and found a new small oblong shaped ridge/lump in the upper outer quadrant of my left breast. I managed to see a GP the following afternoon and she could feel it right away.

I explained it was tender to touch (but I had also been making the mistake of touching it a lot!), and I could feel a heaviness on that side when usually it's my right breast that is bigger. She said it's hard to tell how firm/moveable it is but that she would get it referred. I come to find today that she had sent routine referral which could take up to 12 weeks so I spoke to another doctor who said he would refer me for the two week pathway right away.

I appreciate that I'm relatively young, and it may just be a cyst or a "breast mouse", but I'm still worried. My mother-in-law came through two lumpectomies last year and hers was the same size, texture, and placement as what I have found. I have no blood family history of BC on either side.

I have had itching, redness, and flakiness in my underarm on that side for several months, and now itching on my left nipple and on the skin above the lump. But I don't know if it's just because I'm stressing!

  • Offline

    Hi Rachael, I'm sorry to hear about your uncomfortable symptoms and I'm glad you managed to get the 2WW referral. I've been there and I know it's worrying, but I hope you can find ways to keep busy and distracted until you know for sure what may or may not be wrong. I hope you get your appointment through soon. Is there someone who could come with you and even drive you there? If you're anxious, that would help. And whatever is explained to you may go over your head, so the person who is with you could take some notes or at least remember what is said. I do hope it turns out to be nothing to worry about, as most breast lumps do. One last piece of advice: try not to look up your symptoms on Google. You'll probably find a lot of information that is not applicable to you or is just unreliable and you'll just end up getting more anxious. Take care x

  • Offline in reply to Amy321

    Thanks so much for your reply Amy! I'm a very pragmatic person so when my mother in law was diagnosed last year I researched everything and attended at the hospital with her, so I unfortunately know more than I would like to. That being said I've avoided randomly googling things now as I know it's not helpful.

    My husband or mum can come with me but they are such worriers themselves that I end up comforting them when it comes to these kind of things lol! I'm a note taker so I may go myself and write everything down but I know my mind might go elsewhere. I have a 4 year old daughter who is my world and I keep getting wobbly whenever she gives me a cuddle, otherwise I go between scared and numb.

    Do you mind sharing what the outcome of your experience was?

  • Offline in reply to rachael28b

    Sure, I don't mind. I was diagnosed last summer with a Grade 3 locally advanced IDC (spread to at least one lymph node), HER2 positive, ER negative. I've just completed 7 rounds of chemo and an MRI shows that there has been an excellent response to chemo. I am now waiting for a date for my lumpectomy surgery, then I will have radiotherapy. I am a firm believer in cancer prehabilitation. I'd started taking better care of myself just before I found the lump and when I was diagnosed, I discovered that being active can reduce the risk of recurrence of some cancers by up to 50%. So I started walking every day which I have kept up throughout my chemo, bar 5 days when I was in hospital with an infection, and a further 6 days or so when I really couldn't face it or we were busy and didn't get a chance. Feel free to ask any other questions :) x

  • Offline in reply to Amy321

    Sounds like you've been through a lot but what an amazing mindset you have! I suffered nerve damage after an electric shock a couple of years ago, and have found staying active helps both in mind and body, definitely.

    When did you first learn you need to get checked? Did you find a lump?

  • Offline in reply to rachael28b

    Yes, I found a lump just by chance, not through screening or self examination.

    Sorry about the electric shock, wow. But you're right, being active outdoors is good for the soul as well as the body.

  • Offline in reply to Amy321

    Agreed! Thanks for sharing, what was your lump like? Mine feels about 1cm across, quite firm and immoveable. I had a call today that I will be seen tomorrow afternoon, so will soon see what they find it to be!

  • Offline in reply to rachael28b

    How did you get on with your hospital appointment? Hope your well . 

  • Offline in reply to D-dee

    The general rule of thumb is, if someone creates a post and you never hear back from them after their appointment day, it usually means they're fine.

Speak to a nurse

Quick links

Follow us

Registered with Fundraising Regulator (logo)
Cancer Research UK is a registered charity in England and Wales (1089464), Scotland (SC041666), the Isle of Man (1103) and Jersey (247). A company limited by guarantee. Registered company in England and Wales (4325234) and the Isle of Man (5713F). Registered address: 2 Redman Place, London, E20 1JQ.