Breast clinic today and prognosis not looking good

Symptoms discovered very recently.

About 4 weeks ago, a day after weight training at the gym I woke up the next day with a pulling feeling under my arm.

it was mild pain and just felt like a muscle sprain. I had intermittent pain on extending my arm out to the side but still continued with my sports activities as it seemed a minor niggle. I iced and took Ibrobrufin and the whole thing seemed to be no biggie.

2 weeks after the initial pulling feeling the pain it seemed to be there on a daily basis rather than just occasional tightening.

when I had originally felt the tightening I had a good feel around the arm,shoulder,side of breast region and felt nothing untoward.

So fast forward to going to bed last Sunday. I turned in bed and felt worse pain under the arm. I was very alarmed to find a very large hard almost egg like lump about 5cm or so outer left side of breast.

i had a sleepless night and examined the lump and boob in the morning. It had not changed and I thought I could see a small pink area . As the day wore on the pink area started getting bigger and I was now getting burning pain in the whole breast.

I made a decision that if no change overnight I would phone drs and ask for an urgent appointment.

Next morning pink had gone to red and the breast was throbbing. Redness was about an inch in diameter.

i called my nurse sister over. She took one look and said A &E as she thought it looked like a severe infection that would need possible draining and strong antibiotics.

saw 2 drs who treated as abscess until they could not get any pus out with needle aspiration.

Sent away with antibiotics which made no difference and breast clinic spot today.

Dr says lump solid and immovable . Again only blood on aspiration. Has grown since hosp last Wednesday and redness worse but confined to less than quarter of breast. No orange peel look. No heat. ,no nipple change. Not feeling unwell.

mammogram reveals probable tumour. Ultrasound much the same. Punch biopsies taken of breast and underarms for lymph nodes.

called back into dr after all tests and he says things not looking good. He says he suspects tumour and lymph nodes appeared enlarged on ultrasound.

i said how quickly it had appeared and grown but he says that was me finding it. I check my breasts monthly and had a normal mammogram 2 years ago.

i go back in a week for biopsy results and am under no illusion as to what it probably is.

He has ruled out infection,cysts,abscess,fat necrosis and says does not think fat necrosis due to inflamed lymph nodes. Does not think inflammatory breast cancer.

Anyone else had similar circumstances

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  • Dear J63

    I am so sorry that you are going through this too.

    I am with you in the fact that I that I thought I did all the right things to stay healthy.

    Speaking to some of the lovely ladies here it seems that there is no discrimination with this terrible disease.

     My breast nurse said you are at risk if you are a woman with breasts

    It is scary but apparently common that we can carrrry on our lives totally oblivious as to what is going on inside our bodies.

    I honestly thought I would have known if something this big was invading my body but like you I had no idea.

    I will wish you the very best with your appointment tomorrow. I am glad you have someone going with you for support . It is s big day for both of us tomorrow as I have a CT scan making sure my lungs and liver are clear .

    it is hard staying strong .

    keep in touch

    Lorna x

  • hey there,

    i am also new here having been diagnosed yesterday with Grade 3 triple negative breast cancer and DCIS in my left breast.

     

    my lump is relatively small 14mm by 9mm so they think I have caught it early but have been told today that they want me to have an array of scans which has now freaked me out! I have been told will need a CT scan, a bone scan and an MRI  scan to check that it’s no where else and I have an appointment with my oncologist on Monday to discuss my treatment which I am

    told will start with chemo.

     

    If you want to chat to anyone going through this at the same time please shout.

     

    chez xx

  • Hi I’m joining in the chat as I am mid treatment .. having a mastectomy next week .. I had annual mammograms so was shocked to have cancer at this years with no apparent external lump .. different areas have their own services but there’s are some I have found useful .. breast haven , breast cancer care Macmillan someone like me .. the hospital should be able to tell you what’s locally available .. I have found connecting to others hugely beneficial xx

  • Hi there

    i just replied on your other post.

    The waiting round is awful. I have my CT scan tomorrow and am awaiting the bone scan appt.

    Once these tests have been done then I am back to the surgeon to discuss my treatment plan.

    Everything crossed for us both that we get the best prognosis in the circumstances we find ourselves in.

    Lorna

  • Thank you so very much for your encouraging words and support.

    it is good to speak to someone who is a little further down the line,

    Lorna x

  • yeah they have told me I need to have a CT, MRI and bone scan before they confirm my treatment. Trying not to freak out and stay positive but it is difficult xxxxx

     

  • Dear Chezza

    i am in agreement with you. Trying to stay strong for the the family but very nervous re the scans,

    you find the strength to get through lots of tests to get where we both are now.

    You then presume treatment will start so more tests equals more anxiety.

    Thinking if you x

  • Fingers crossed for positive results for us both x

  • Dear Lorna

    Thank you so much for your lovely supportive reply. I will be thinking of you too having your scan and hoping all is clear.  I hope you have someone with you as well.

    I think I will feel better knowing what the plan is - the last 10 days have crawled by and been an emotional roller coaster.  

    I have a lovely friend who has been clear from Breast Cancer for 10 years now and she came by this afternoon with a beautiful bunch of flowers - I burst into tears!  

    One more restless night to go,

    Best wishes,

    Julia

  • Dear J63

    Thinking if you tomorrow and sending positivity your way.

    Please can you keep me updated here or maybe we could do PM on here ?

    Seeing as mine is just a scan I am sure I will find out nothing tomorrow.

    Given up all forms of exercise here at the moment.

    That was always my feel good distraction and even finding that hard

    Spk soon

    Lorna x