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
  • Hello , 

    has anyone had any answers yet ? I was referred over a year ago to breast clinic and the women said it was hormonal as I had no lumps and as I was only 27 st the time she felt no need to scan me . But I do not belive its a hormonal . This pain is unbearable I’m takin pain killers way to often it’s just not right . I noticed this past year my left breast become much lumpier but when I returned to GP she didn’t feel anything unusual tho I’d never had lumpy breast before and I dnt st all in right breast. Iv stopped wearin bra jus to feel some ease st times  and Iv even found myself holding my breast in public without realising because of the pain .   I’m returning to GP this week for the 3rd time  . Hope you all find positive answers .

  • Hi, 

     

    I went to gp and he also said hormonal to me but I get this pain when I have a tight chest from asthma so I went back he upped my inhalers and its not come back since.

    I'm sorry if that doesn't help but maybe worth checking if it's that? 

  • Hi did you ever get results from this Iv had exactly the same as you for 13 weeks now I have 2 xrays on Monday one on chest and one on thorac spine xx 

    my nipple on one side looks different and feels so sore but boob in itself is like a burning stinging pain scaring the hell outta me now no lump but can feel like more tissue than other side :|

  • I could have written this original post!!!

    breast pain for 18 months, 3x ultrasounds 1x private's breast specialist, told its mastslgia.

    feeling so unsettled as it did improve but back again.

     

    do I have a fourth scan?

    when will I be satisfied it's nothing sinister?

    x

  • Hi

    i have exactly this problem / these symptoms. It's been going on for about 10 months. Did you ever get anywhere with a diagnosis?
    Thanks

  • I’m very scared I’ve had this uncomfortable feeling on the left outer side of my breast for months and eventually just before lockdown went to the doctors they gave me antibiotics but said to come back and they would refer me if nothing changed, but they didn’t mention breast cancer and I put it to the back of my mind.  It was still the same but by then we were in full lockdown so I stupidly didn’t go back until yesterday. The nurse practitioner got me to put my hands on my head and immediately said I had a noticeable swelling on the outer side of my left breast,my back just below my shoulder blade feels uncomfortable too. Anyway she said she was going to refer me for an urgent app at the breast cancer clinic she was also saying she’s very concerned, she did also say only 1 in 10 is BC but I’m scared. I said I’m away Saturday for a week and she said could I postpone which has worried me but my husband said if necessary he will bring me back for the day just for my appointment we’re staying 5 hours away. Anyway she also said why hadn’t I come back sooner and she should slap my wrist for that. Once home I looked in the mirror with my arms in my head and could so obviously see the swelling, my left breast isn’t round like my right it’s sort of gone wide on the left it’s not a lump as such it’s like a soft ridge but I had been feeling for a lump and totally missed the swollen feeling and when my arms are down you can’t see it at all but I feel so stupid to have missed it and so stupid to wait another three months because of lockdown. I had a scare with my right breast in 2011 and had a biopsy for a thickening after a fine needle to remove a cyst but this feels different and quite a large area I also had breast reduction surgery in 2014 so wondering if that has had any effect but to be honest I’ve scared myself looking on the internet about one type of cancer with these symptoms that’s rare but has a very poor prognosis I know I shouldn’t of looked. I had an email today to say I’ve been referred and if I haven’t heard by this Friday about an app I’m to ring, thats quick...that’s scared me too. Has anyone else on here having the same symptoms as me I’ve scared myself silly. 

  •  

    Hi Bumblegal,

    A very warm welcome to our forum. i am so sorry to hear about your symptoms, but am glad to hear that you have already been referred to the breast clinic.  Please try not to worry about the speed of referral. All urgent referrals (and this includes most of them) need to be honoured within 2 weeks, although, some areas are taking a little longer due to the current pandemic.

    Try your best to avoid consulting Dr Google. This is never a good idea and will only serve to frighten you even further. It is a pity that you have left these symptoms during lockdown, but what's done is done, so don't let that get you down. You have made the move now and, that's all that matters.

    I sincerely hope that all goes well for you and that there is a simpler explanation for your swelling.

    Do please keep in touch and let us know how you get on. We are always here for you.

    Kind regards,

    Jolamine xx

  • Hi lovely!

     

    nope gotten nowhere the pains eased off but still come and go gp isn't much help so I've given up and booked myself a chiropractor appointment so helpfully they can help, I'm convinced whatever is wrong is coming from my back (since my last post I had a chest X-ray that showed nothing) so I'm thinking it's my spine or tore muscles that are taking a long time to heal, over the months I've began to notice that the pain doesn't seem to be in the breast although it can feel like it is I think it's the ribs/muscles behind it and it just makes my boob hurt! 

  • Hi hun 

     

    just read over your post and honestly I can see why your gp wants this checked out but given your reduction history I believe this could be your issue, I know someone who had a reduction and years later suffered a lot of pain I'm not sure about swelling but pain yes, I have everything crossed for you that it's just a side effect of the reduction! 
     

    I have a breast clinic referral after finding some lumps in my right breast and I mean (lumps) not one hard lump it's lots of little soft movable ones I have lumpy breast in general but this is different been to my gp and she instantly said she wasn't concerned but because I have lumpy boobs she thinks it would be good to speak to the breast clinic people she had a name for the lumpiness but can't remember what she said, il probably wait ages on my appointment but glad your gp has fast tracked yours 

  • Thankyou guys for responding, sorry I'm only just replying but I've come away with my family to a devon cottage for a week and the signal for internet dips in and out as we are deep in the countryside.

    i got a call on Friday offering me Monday 13th for my appointment (which is good because I get back saturday) at the breast clinic at my local hospital, I'm very nervous as she told me it will probably be mammogram, then scan then possibly the biopsy, I had a biopsy back in 2011 and it did distress me as the person doing it did the biopsy before the anaesthetic had properly worked I know that was just bad luck but of course it's made me more scared for another one, also they have said I probably will have to do all this without my husband due to the ongoing COVID situation . I'm trying really hard to stay positive on my holiday and have not told any of my family except my husband obviously but it's hard, I put my new swimsuit on today to go to the beach but it's underwired and it was hurting a bit across the swelling so I changed to a soft one but I must admit I had a few little tears in the bedroom then. I switch from oh it's going to be nothing to worry about to oh my god I'm in trouble.

    JLRT I hope they can get you sorted quickly and it's nothing serious. Xx

  • Update: I went to the breast cancer clinic on Monday had a mammogram and a scan, didn’t need the biopsy as at the scan the doctor said nothing suspicious at all and definitely no cancer, they have told me that it’s just swollen breast tissue and he showed me that on the scan,he said sometimes after reduction surgery a small amount of tissue can come back he also said it can also happen because of my age being 54 and nearly through the menopause and suggested cutting down on alcohol, smoking and caffeine (I don’t smoke and only drink now and again but drink masses of tea) also to start taking evening primrose oil which can help. Then later when I spoke to the consultant she said to carry on wearing the sports bras I’m now in as I found underwired were too uncomfortable across the swelling and she said she wishes all women would wear them as they are more friendly to the breast tissue  and she wears them herself. With regard to the extra tissue they rarely operate on the nhs as it’s really cosmetic but she warned me that even when they do the tissue can grow back so advised that unless it gets noticeably bigger to leave it. Needless to say I left the hospital on cloud 9 so relieved and went straight to the shop for evening primrose oil and decaf teabags. Hope my story gives you ladies some positive vibes as I was thinking all sorts of dreadful scenarios. Wishing you all well xxx

  • Hi Bumblegal54,

     

    After reading your post I feel a bit relieved. I've had a strange feeling in my right breast for a few weeks and went to dr today. Thar breast has always been bigger than the other one. She didn't find any lumps, but gave me an antibiotic and antiinflammatories for a week, i need to come back after two weeks and if it won't go away she'll refer me to a breast clinic as she said it's a but weird that the feeling is in only one of them. I'm now scared to death and the more I think about it the worse i feel. I did google and I fear the inflammatory cancer. I have myself dead and burried, anxiety and fear through the roof. I'm only 29, I don't know how to relax :/

Reply
  • Hi Bumblegal54,

     

    After reading your post I feel a bit relieved. I've had a strange feeling in my right breast for a few weeks and went to dr today. Thar breast has always been bigger than the other one. She didn't find any lumps, but gave me an antibiotic and antiinflammatories for a week, i need to come back after two weeks and if it won't go away she'll refer me to a breast clinic as she said it's a but weird that the feeling is in only one of them. I'm now scared to death and the more I think about it the worse i feel. I did google and I fear the inflammatory cancer. I have myself dead and burried, anxiety and fear through the roof. I'm only 29, I don't know how to relax :/

Children
  • Hi Ferenique

    You are doing all the right things and it’s so hard to be positive when you’ve been on google the same as I did but there are so many other things it could be rather than cancer. I know though when you are in this bubble it’s scary. It may be that after the anti inflammatories and antibiotics everything is fine but if you get referred just take one day at a time and try to stay calm. I hope everything turns out well for you please let me know how you get on. 

    Bumblegal

  • Hi Bumblegal54,

     

    Thanks for your words, I have myself dead and burried with the fear. The pain isn't severe or anything, it's more like a strange feeling. It's gonna be very long now. Haven't told anyone, dreading even talking about it :/

  • I've found this post reassuring but also worrying so many women are going through this but just being fobbed off with a leaflet - we are in pain! 
     

    I've had the same on and off for years, pain in left breast radiating to the armpit, had many 'costocondritis' diagnosis' too! 2 years ago the doctor finally referred me to the breast clinic, being 31 at the time I was too young for a mammogram so I had an ultrasound. 

    On initial examination from the consultant they thought it might be a cyst as slightly swollen so prepared me for a biopsy. I went through to another doctor at ultrasound scan and he said nothing to worry about (just dense tissue?) and it should just go down, he said at my age it should just go away eventually ‍♀️ I got a leaflet about managing the ongoing pain... 

     

    2 years later and still feeling it! I thought it might be my contraceptive pill but I'm completely off them now and it still comes and goes. Given up going to the doctor now, but did find it was a male doctor who actually referred me (he kinda panicked when he heard it was a breast exam and wanted a chaperone, not sure if the receptionist counts but she had a good look too ) he hardly did an examination before he made a decision, whereas leading up to that at least 3 other female doctor/nurses had checked and didn't refer me - maybe something to consider if you are looking for a referral lol!

     

    It is so much harder with the pandemic, it's good we have something like this to share our experiences on. 
     

    x

     

  • Thank you so much everyone for sharing. Really eye opening to see how many of us have experienced this! I ignored it for months thinking I was being paranoid. Had a phone appointment with my GP today and he got me in straight away for an examination and has given me a fast track referral for further investigations. Nauseating to think of it but I'm so very grateful to him for such swift action. Sending lots of love to you all. Xxx

  • Hi Feronique

    how are you, I’ve been thinking about whether you have had any results. 

  • Hey Bumblegal54,

     

    Thanks for thinking of me...I was meant to go to gp this week but couldn't make it with work and stuff so going next week...the odd feeling in the breast seem to be gone now, buy doesn't seem to be that ot went away after the antibiotic...so we'll see.

  • Thanks :) hope so too. Hopefully it will stay away and never comes back :D we'll see what the gp thinks. X

  • Hi! I just came across this whole thread. I am an 18 year old girl currently away at university and about 4 weeks ago i began to experience chest pain. After going to the doctor's, I was also told it was costochronditis like many others on this thread. The day after i attended the doctor's a swollen 'lump' looking area appeared between by left breast/armpit. Along with this, I have had pain in both breasts as well as pain around the swollen area on my left breast and down my arm. Originally, I described the pain as feeling almost like brain freeze but in my breasts, however this has changed and now its more of a dull ache. It is inconsistent pain that comes and goes, but has been there for about 4 weeks.

     

    Finally last week, I gathered the courage to go to the doctor's on campus at my university and got checked out. The doctor felt the area and said she can see what I mean, it just looks like this swollen lump almost yet is not actually lumpy to the touch. She advised me to take anti-inflammatories and I have a follow up telephone appointment next week to see if there has been any change or if it has disappeared.

     

    My doctor is not worried but I am. My mother was diagnosed with breast cancer 11 years ago so i know it runs in my family. Coming across this thread has made me feel better knowing that others are also experiencing this pain and that i am not going insane. Yet it is incredibly frustrating that so many of us are experiencing this yet not getting a proper diagnosis.

     

    I am only young so I am hopeful that it turns out to be nothing, but I'm quite scared as I am away from home and don't want to go to hospital for an appointment by myself if i need to. I will see what my doctor says next week but I just wanted to share my symptoms for others who also come across this thread

  • In March I started getting left breast pain and armpit pain, I also get a dull ache down my arm. After many doctors phone calls they sent me for a breast examination and I had a ultrasound on my breath and armpit and they found nothing. The consultant said he thinks it's to do with my cycle and it was called cyclical and told me to take 1000mg of starflower oil for 1 month then 500mg for 2 months. I have done that and 1000mg helped a lot but 500mg the pain came back 40%. I still have the pain, its scared me most days making me depressed and worry something is seriously wrong. I have trouble sleeping with constant burning in my breast and armpit and dull ache down my arm, I also get pricking sensations as well.