Last night while doing a self breast exam, I discovered a small, pea-sized lump in my left breast. It's under my breast, almost where my breast and rib cage meet. Of course I'm afraid of the worst, but I was searching the net today and found several other causes of breast lumps: diabetes, benign breast cysts, trauma, etc. As for trauma, a couple weeks ago I was lying on my back when my rambunctious three-year-old fell on me accidentally, jabbing his elbow in my breast and evoking a loud screech out of me. It was the worst! Years ago I was diagnosed with uterine fibroids, so I wonder if my body is just fibroid-prone.
I will be calling my doctors first thing Monday morning for an appointment, but in the meantime, I was wondering if any of you have had similar experiences where breast lumps DID NOT equal cancer. I've read/heard lots of cancer stories, so I'd rather not hear any more (and worry myself into a stroke before seeing the doctor).
**TUESDAY UPDATE** I went to the doctor today and she termed my breasts as being "fibrocystic." She said that she felt many small cysts (and also the "lump" in question), but that none appeared to be cause for alarm (i.e. cancer). I am scheduled for an ultrasound and mammogram tomorrow. I'll repost afterwards to let you all know how it went. Thanks for your replies and your well wishes. This truly is the best networking site there is!
**WEDNESDAY UPDATE** Today I received a voicemail message from my doctor's office asking me to call them to discuss my test results. I was no nervous. My hands were shaking, but I managed to dial. After all the nervousness, fear, and worry, it turns out that my test results were "NORMAL." Hearing that word was such a relief, but of course it doesn't change the fact that there are still lumps in my breast and they hurt. I'm researching fibrocystic breast and treatment options (like diet, etc.).
Thanks for all of your concern and support. You mamas are truly the best Internet friends a woman can have!
If it is fibercystic (sp?) non malignant lumps.... and hope it is
Everyone that has these or has - this is great:
Take vit e and oil of eve prim rose. Get off the coffee and on a low fat diet, drink water & they will go away. I got rid of about 30 in 2 months.
Hi there,
First of all, bless you for being a public school teacher! That is such a hard job! Okay, as far as the lump...Yes, I have had a few lumps over the years. I was told 30 years that I had fibrocystic breasts. The doctor told me that vitamin E is great for this and to cut out caffeine. Good luck at the doctor. Let us know what happens. I bet you will be fine.
D.
I have the same thing. It has been over 5 years that I have a lump in my left brest. It turns out it is a fibroid tumor. Make sure you tell the doc that you had some beore. It doesn't have to be Cancer, think positive. Let me know how your doing
I have been sporting a benign lump in my breast for over five years in much the same spot as you are, below my breast near the rib cage. I did have it aspirated when I first discovered it and have a mammogram every two years now. Try not to freak out, but do see your doctor. Peace
Several years ago I found a very small lump, similar to yours. I saw my doctor, she referred me to a specialist and after an exam the doctor was convinced it was nothing, just a small cyst. It disappeared on it's own, I just kept an eye on it with my monthly self exams.
Good for you for keeping up your monthly self exams!! I would suggest to go see your doctor just in case, but I bet it's nothing to worry about!
S E
My prayer to you. I am sure this is not something to worry, but do go to the dr.
and also Dr. Tootla is a World Renowned Cancer Specialist, listen to his audio I think this would ease some nerves.
www.DailyHealthJuice.com click on dr tootla.
and keep your faith up. God will see you through this.
Oly
I have had two lumps before, had the biopsies, and both were benign. It is just as scary, but the relief is unbelievable. The first time, I thought... if it is cancer, I dont want to know... I'll just be gone one day. Then I realized how selfish that was to my family... and me. I want to see my grandkids, etc. With medicine the way it is today... you will do great either way. Good luck with the results, and I pray you have the same report I got!
I too discovered a lump in my right breast and also have alot of pain in and around the area, as well as under the arm pit. I am very concerened and going to the doctor next week as I have three small children at home. But I was reading I drink alot of caffiene and I have heard that can cause problems like we are experiencing. But it is still best to get it checked out.
Just try to remember that God is in controll. Most of the time if it is a bad lump it can be removed. I have even heard of where a needle has been used to remove it. We will be praying for you...both that it is nothing to be worried with and that you have peace of mind. I always do best when I am distracted try to plan the thanksgiving dinner or even christmas lists now.
I had 1 at age 19 that was firm and the size of a silver dollar. Benign, had it removed surgically. I had 2 more fluid filled in the last 20 yrs that I had drained, benign. Some of us just grow cysts...who knows why! Get it checked and let us know.
Hi S E, I see no real reason to worry. My mother in law has a lot of cysts in her breast and have for years.That's all it could be. Just be positive and call your doctor. Fibroids could also be the cause. Best wishes
The best course of action, of course, is to have it checked right away. But, I have had problems with lumps since my early 20s and they are fibrous or fatty tissue build-up. They come and go. My mom has always battled cysts. Sometimes they can be drained. I've even heard of underwire bras causing friction at the rib cage causing a lump. Many reasons exist for lumps, but peace of mind is essential. The digital mammagrams are very non-invasive, today. If your doctor suggests a mammagram, ask if you can go to Victory in Dickinson, if it's not too far. It's a very comforting facility, almost spa like.
I hope it is just a Fibroid or muscle bruise. I will pray that you can get an appointment today and that it turns out to be nothing. Let us know what you find out. Good for you keeping up with the self-exams!
Ok, your right to call your doctor and see him/her asap. I have whats called fibrosistic tumors in my breasts and these are not cancerous. The first time i noticed one it scared the living daylights out of me but I remained calm, called my doctor and went for a checkup. These are scary but like you said not all are cancer. I still have to have mamograms once yearly since I was 33 and I visit my doctor usually every 3 months for them to check because they make self breast exams dificult, but not every lump found is cancer. Do take them seriously though, better to be safe than sorry. Good luck and i will be praying for you.
It's always best to check it out, of course, but "yes" I've had lumps that were nothing. I've had one for several years now. My doctor told me that drinking large amounts of caffeine (which I tend to do!) can cause them, also. Worry doesn't do any good, so try to be positive and expect the best. There are TONS of things that could have caused this that are non-cancerous and wouldn't require anything to be done.
Blessings,
M.)
While you defintely need to get it checked out, I have had similar lumps - a couple turned out to be lymph nodes due to an infection and a couple of fibroid. The lymph nodes resolved themselves and the fibroids were biopsied.
i discovered a lump in my breast at the age of 18 that was a fiberadenoma (sp?). basically it means that it is a benign tissue mass. although this is not always the case, what the dr told me is that if the lumps are round and move (not a lot but are not stuck in exactly one place) they usually don't worry about them as much. now, there are a few things that can cause it. first of all, have you started or changed birth control pills? this can cause lumps due to the fluctuating hormones. by any chance are you pregnant? again, hormones can cause lumps. although they will tell you otherwise, i can tell you first hand that caffeine DOES affect lumps. it will make them increase in size and sometimes pain. i cut caffeine out of my diet completely and it made a huge difference. i ended up having mine removed almost a year after i discovered it. it started out the size of a marble and was the size of a quarter when i had it removed. they told me i could not worry about it and leave it in if i wished. it would either shrivel up and be like a grain or if i got pregnant or significant had hormone changes etc it could increase and cause disfigurement in the breast. needless to say removal was my option..... in my case i have a family history of very fiberous breast tissue making it more likely that i have lumps like the one i did. the other option is that it is a cyst. they did an ultrasound and confirmed mine wasn't a cyst. if it is a cyst they will usually aspire with a needle. good luck! you're in my prayers.
Hello friend,
I discovered a breast lump and it was not cancer, during my next years mamogram I had to take the exam three times before they new it was not cancer. They told me that breast change shape and masses form all the time. I hope your exam comes out great!
