I have had this shooting pain in my left breast for a few months on and off. Not sure what to think of it and it is not related to montlhy cycle. I talked to my OB a few months back at my yearly check and I was not having the pain but asked what age I should have a mamogram and he said not until 40's and only if there is an issue. Well, I am 37 and now feel like maybe I need one. Thoughts on pains in breast and/or age of mamogram?
caffeine, caffeine, caffeine! It's the culprit every single time for me!
I back off the caffeine....& it always subsides.
You should have a baseline mammogram when you're around 35. Get one done. I almost feel like you need a new gyn if this guy is telling you not until your 40's. He's wrong.
If he won't refer you, get another doctor to.
Dawn
I had a mammogram done when I was 27. You are the patient, do not ask, but TELL the doctor you want to get a mammogram done and it will give you peace of mind.
Hope all is well
I had a similar thing, and still do actually. It's the weirdest pain. My doc was not worried, but is super conservative, so I had a mammogram at 36. Turned out to be nothing. In fact, my Gyn, and primary care, and the mammogram tech all told me that pain is not a symptom of anything bad (like cancer). That makes me feel SO much better. I hope it does for you, too. But if you're worried, keep pursuing it until they prove to you that it's nothing. Mine is something called fibrocystic disease (nothing scary, hate that they call it disease).
What he said is probably true - because breast tissue is so dense in young women, they don't usually do mammograms until 40. Unless there is an issue. But your pain (and your peace of mind!!!) is an issue and you should absolutely go to your doc and request a mammogram. If he doesn't suggest some sort of follow up I might consider switching doctors! I am also 37 and felt a small lump and had a mammogram a couple weeks ago. They followed it up with an ultrasound because they can see some things better that way, especially on more dense tissue. It was a cyst and I will follow up with another ultrasound in 6 months. But the point is, I knew something wasn't right and now I know its okay. You are the only one who is ultimately going to pay the price if no one advocates for you.... be your own advocate! Take charge of your health!
I would think "shooting pain in breast" would be enough of an "issue" to make a mammogram advisable. It could be nothing, a referred pain from a muscle or internal organ (I have many pains that are apparently referred from some other body area), or something like a cyst or a tumor.
At any rate, if you are concerned, that's worth some follow-through. And speaking from experience, the relief from finding any suspicious pain is NOT a worst-case-scenario is worth a lot.
Wishing you the best.
May sound a bit weird, but switch to a natural/organic deodorant (one withOUT aluminum). I would always get pains and once I switched to a deodorant without aluminum they went away.
Call and schedule a mammogram.
If they ask, tell them you're 37, have had a shooting pain in your breast for a few months but didn't yet have it at your yearly, and don't let the receptionist make you feel like you don't *really* need one. They can be like that, but stay strong and get yourself scheduled within the next 2 weeks. If your regular OB can't handle that, call somewhere else, get it done and have them forward the results to your OB.
I used to get them when I weaned my son. It was even months afterwards. They ended up being clogged ducts.
I had a mammogram when I was 38. I felt a tingling/pain sensation in my breast too and thought I felt a lump. I went to my doctor and he thought he felt a lump, so I went for the mammogram. It showed nothing unusual. They concluded it might have been a clogged duct or something from when my milk came in. I had had my daughter within 6 months or so prior to that. Sometimes I will get that tingling/soreness feeling if I have gone very long without wearing a bra. It is good to get it checked out. The earlier, the better if it turns out to actually be something and the peace of mind is always worth it too. Good luck!
A.
That is about the first doctor I ever heard of that didn't send you running for a mammagram. Why play with this? If you don't have good insurance there are programs in different states that can help. And it probably is nothing. Cancer is usually not determined by pain. But ruling it out would be number one.
I get shooting pains too, but they are not in always in the same place. Usually they are sort of on the side, and i associate them with laying on my side all night or wearing an underwire bra all day,almost like a stretching pain.
As for mamogram, I had a baseline at age 38, just this year. And my Gyn starts them yearly at age 40. If your doctor said, only if there is a problem, I would not trust that. Althought there have been various suggestions in recent years, I don't think most doctors are changing their guidance on yearly after 40. Are you maybe part of an HMO? They may do the least testing...
Do you do self-exams? Has anything changed? I think if it is worrying you enough to ask this question, you should go see a different doctor. Why risk anything?
