Being passed back and forth between breast clinic and GP.

Hi, I'm currently feeling like a ping pong ball.

I've had pain in one breast and armpit for a few months. I had a mammogram which was clear apart from calcifications on the non hurting breast so back to GP.

Then veins started becoming really prominent in painful breast, as well as my bra starting to dig in on that side, felt like I had slight puffiness in the armpit area. Sent back for mammogram and ultrasound, (not of armpit), told that breasts are very dense, but nothing jumping out, so back to GP.

5 weeks ago swelling became so big in the painful armpit, that my arm cannot lie flat against me, its almost 45 degrees in the upper arm. Pain is very, very bad in my breast, armpit and down my arm, I also get pins and needles and numbness. I can no longer wear a bra and cannot sleep due to pain. Went back to GP, referred me for 'Urgent' visit back to breast clinic in a few days.

I'm dispairing, I'm in so much pain and feel sick. I don't feel like the breast clinic could have missed something twice, so im feeling like time might be being wasted for checking up on something else that it might be.

Has anybody else had any experience of breast clinics missing things, or symptoms such as I have?

  • Hi there

    I was given both mammogram and ultrasound and diagnosed with DCIS, right up to 10mins before op I was told this is only DCIS. 2 weeks post op diagnosed with invasive, when asked how they could have missed it I was told the technology used doesn’t pick up invasive in dense breasts, I was sent for a breast MRI to ensure there was no other invasive in the breasts. If I were you I’d be demanding a breast MRI just to be 100% sure nothing is being missed.

  • Thanks for the reply, thats an awful experience, im so sorry. 

    I had no idea that dense breasts caused problems, i did wonder why they mentioned it to me though. Makes you question why they bother keep doing tests that don't work properly!

    I will deffo ask for an MRI then, thanks for the advice, the pain is now so bad that I doubt that I could tolerate either a mammogram or ultrasound anyway.

  • Also lobular cancer is difficult to spot with this technology. MRIs are expensive but there’s no point having breast screening with technology that’s not fit for purpose for all breast types. There will be women given the all clear when in fact they will have breast cancer. Dense breasts are problematic, there are some great YouTube videos that will shed some light on the complexities of dense breasts. 

     

  • Thanks again Maggie, I'll have a look and go armed with stuff to help my case, I'm so grateful you replied!

    Hope things are going ok for you. X

  • Things are fine, thanks to DCIS, otherwise I’d be one of those woman who walked away from scanning being told I’m in the clear.

  • Hello, and welcome. I’m so sorry to hear about what you’re going through, it’s so scary waiting whilst being in so much pain and more keeps happening. I totally relate, sounds as if I wrote this post myself I have very similar symptoms. I’ve added you on here so we can message if you need a chat. This time is always so horrible. I’m here if you need :) good luck at your appointment stay strong it’s not always the worst case hun. I know it’s easier said than done. X