Pain in left breast on upper left side towards armpit

Hey all, 

Over a month ago I noticed that my breast was really sore on the left side toward my armpit. I didn't think much of it first as I have lupus so I seem to always have aches and pains. But one day I was feeling it and I noticed that there seemed to be a lot more "tissue" in that area (if that makes sense?) than on the other side. It seems to only have gotten more sore the longer I've waited for answers. I've beent to the doctor a few times and to be quite honest I am just not impressed with Ireland's healthcare (ther is a bad rep for women's healthcare here). First doctor told me that he could not feel anything in my breast unusual at all, while poking around in the very painful area and clearly seeing me in pain. He said it was probably just an inflammation of chest wall, which seemed ridiculous to me as I can feel that it does not seem like it is in my chest wall. I told him I feel lumpiness but he wouldn't listen. 

Second (female) doctor told me that she could feel no cancerous lump but that it seems to be glandular - indicating she could feel something there but not a lump necessarily. She agrees with me that it is in my breast, however, so referred me to a breast clinic which she says could take 6-8 weeks to hear back from. 

I'm really worried as it is so sore and I can very clearly feel something there. Then I was reading about Inflammatory Breast Cancer and how it doesn't usually present with a lump and spreads rapidly and is virtually incurable and now I've seriously freaked myself out and feel that I get zero answers from doctors here. 

I was told even after the breast check they will most likely just prescribe me evening primrose oil and tell me to come back if it doesn't go away - this seems insane! What if it is cancerous? Surely that is too much waiting!

I have never had soreness in my breast before in my life. I am 29 years old and surely if it was hormonal or something I would have experienced something similar by now?

I'm really worried. Any advice would help greatly!

Parents
  • Hi im seeing my gp tomorow. Dreading it. My Left Breast has massive hard lump to my left side and expands to my nipple area. So i hope my doctors dont fob me off as i will go to A/E hospital. I think you should go there and say you want a scan or exray. Or you could ring the number on this site who will help you on the time you have to wait. I really hope its not cancer for you and i will say a prayer for you and myself that everything comes back normal. Take care and keep me informed on how you go.

  • Hi can u tell me how did u get in wit this because I have the same  pain or you and haveing be to anny  doctors  please 

Reply Children
  • Hi, 

    My doctor referred me to the breast clinic at the hospital. I was examine and had a mammogram. Thankfully it was all fine. Always best to get it checked out and the mammogram doesn't hurt at all.

  • Hi 

     

    I had same problem last year. My left breast was swollen and the pain in my armpit/ side of breast horrendous. Got referred to the breast clinic and had ultra sound. Ends up I have fibroadeoma which is cysts in the breast which are hormonal. They can get bigger which they would then remove but as I was only 28 they said I was still too young. Mines comes and go when at the sorest. 
     

    hope this helps some people may be that this is the case? 

  • Hi @sophsw, I have the same problem and I am the same age as you. Did your left breast feel particularly heavier and sore in one particular spot? I have got a doctors appointment next week (video with everything that is going on) but I'm really concerned.

  • Yes I was more on the outside of my left breast. It is uncomfortable to lay on that side whilst sleeping when at its sorest. Wearing a bra can rub it also. 
     

    Hopefully they help on the video chat as I imagine it would be difficult to see on this what they are looking at. My doctor examined me and felt right away how swollen and lumpy it was. 

  • Hello,

     

    did you find the cause for you’re pain?

  • hello 

    I’m glad you are OK

    did they tell you what was causing it?x

  • Hi,

    I'm going through something very similar. I've been having a dull ache/ throbbing/ heavy feeling in left breast. It started about 8 months ago. I also have been having pain in the rib around the area of my left breast. I've been told it chostochondritis and they're looking into issues with my heart as they heard a heart murmur. They want to do an echocardiogram on me but obviously with the current situation it's not happening for a while but the consultant in cardiology doesn't think it's anything to do with my heart. So everytime I ring the doctors about the pain they just say I'm under the cardiologist and need to wait to find out the results. I'm so worried there's something more serious wrong as under my left breast I can feel a swelling and all I seem to be doing is taking pain killers and using ibuprofen gel but can still feel the pain even after that. 

    Worrying so much that I'm going to ring the doctors again tomorrow. Hoping they'll send me for a mammogram to put my mind at rest. Anyone else had this? 

  • Have you had any answers? I've been suffering with a pressure feeling to upper right breast, armpit, upper back and right side neck since December and was told it was chostochondritis. I get short of breath sometimes too and fatigued. I'm interested as to how you're getting on???

  • Hi,

    I rang the doctors and finally got to speak to a doctor who didn't brush off my worry's and tell me to keep taking ibruprofen. He was really understanding and could see why I was worrying. He's referred me to the breast clinic and due to Covid my app will be a telephone consultation with a breast specialist over the next few days. I will let you know what is said. I would really like a mammogram just to put my mind at rest even though I know they're not great for you under a certain age and I'm only 31.

     

  • That's reassuring. I've contacted my gp's every week pretty much since December due to being fobbed off with 'anxiety' as my diagnosis. You've done the right thing. I also had a breast referral and I'm only 40 as I felt a fibrous area to my right armpit, I had a phonecall from the consultant too, he said to come to clinic and they did a consultation, physical examination, mammogram and uss within an hour. The uss didn't detect anything but the consultant did feel the fibrous tissue, so I'm thinking of having a private uss??