Referred to breast clinic due to lumps & pain - scared...

Hi, well the title says it all. So I've been waiting for my abdominal ultrasound on my liver gallbladder & kidneys due to lots of dull abdominal pain and slightly elevated liver enzymes. Ultrasound is taking place on Tuesday. Last night I woke up with sharp shooting pains in right breast and right armpit, and now I can feel a slightly hard kind of lumpy thing deep down in my right armpit. It feels quite tender and immobile. I had recently noticed a thickening in the bit between my armpit & breast with what feels like raised lymph nodes and thickened tissue, although I didn't think much of it because I've always had lumpy breasts since pregnancy 12years ago.
 

Ive got a fair few lumps in BOTH breasts, probably a couple more in my right breast than the left. Some of these lumps are huge but the big ones feel more like swollen tissue. The smaller ones are all moveable but bigger than pea-sized. There's quite a few. Is this a good sign? My breasts always swell and go lumpy and very painful just before and during my period (to the point where I can't even walk too fast or it hurts),  but then it goes away/settles down after my period has ended. This time it hasn't. I have lost about 1.5 stone in weight since last summer (intentionally). Not sure if that could be relevant. My main concern is I have felt some abdominal lumps, not sure if these are fatty lumps or lymph nodes but they're all quite tender. I guess the abdominal ultrasound will check this on Tuesday. I'm obvs very worried. I had a tel appt with doctor so she hasn't examined me but said the fact that there is pain is a positive sign. Although I've read BC causes breast and armpit pain! I've also got what feels like raised lymph nodes at the bottom of my back which are really sore. I'm really scared there's something sinister going on and it's in my lymph nodes. Please help! I'm a 33 mother of one and feeling really scared. I've had so many various symptoms this past year and I'm beginning to feel like I'm going mad. I was found to have a severe Vit B12 Deficiency in October and also suffer Fibromyalgia , but apart from that I don't have any other health issues touch wood. Anyone else had symptoms like mine and it turned out to be something other than C? 

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    Hi Butterfly,

    I am sorry to hear about your symptoms. Many people have breasts which respond to hormonal changes, especially at 'that time of month'. I am not a doctor, but your GP is correct in saying that pain is a positive sign, as this seldom occurs with breast cancer. Many of the symptoms you mention could possibly tie in with your fibromyalgia, so here's hoping that this is the case instead of what you're fearing.

    There are so many unknowns at this stage that many of us feel the same as you. I hope that you don't have too long to wait for your ultrasound and, that it all goes well. Do please let us know how you get on. We are always here for you.

    Kind regards,

    Jolamine xx

  • Hi, thank you for replying to email. Well it's 5am and I am awake for the second time tonight absolutely drenched in sweat. With all the lumps I am guessing this is something awful as I don't know what else causes night sweats. So scared right now. Laying here almost in tears. Im a 33yr old mother of one :(

     

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    Hi Butterfly,

    Try not to overthink things. It is so easy to do so, especially in the early hours. I am not a doctor, but I understand that here are a number of different reasons for night sweats.

    I felt just like you 11 years ago when I had my first breast cancer. The following year I developed a second breast cancer. I had two young teenagers at the time. I have since seen them go to university, graduate, marry and have families of their own. Irrespective of the outcome, you will feel better once you know what you are up against.

    Kind regards,

    Jolamine xx